# From wrestler to photography's top prize

> Damir Faizulin wins Leica's 2026 Oskar Barnack Award after turning pro wrestling into documentary photography.
- Title: From wrestler to photography's top prize | Shortify
- Summary: Damir Faizulin wins Leica's 2026 Oskar Barnack Award after turning pro wrestling into documentary photography. Damir Faizulin, a former professional…
- Keywords: damir faizulin, leica oskar barnack award, 2026, dagestan, russian north caucasus, professional wrestler, documentary photography, laila annmarie stevens, clayton sisterhood project, valentina sinis, leica q3, women grant
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/photography/awards-and-competitions/from-professional-wrestler-to-photographys-top-prize-meet-the-remarkable-winner-of-the-2026-leica-oskar-barnack-award
- Published: 2026-10-09T09:20:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: damir faizulin, leica oskar barnack award, 2026, dagestan, russian north caucasus, professional wrestler, documentary photography, laila annmarie stevens, clayton sisterhood project, valentina sinis, leica q3, women grant
## Leica Oskar Barnack Award winners
Leica announced 2026 winners: Damir Faizulin takes top prize, Laila AnnMarie Stevens wins Newcomer Award, Valentina Sinis receives Women Grant.
## Damir Faizulin's winning series
Faizulin won for 'Preserving Nature as Preserving Ourselves' exploring Dagestan's changing communities and traditional ways of life.
## Faizulin's background
Faizulin was a professional wrestler until age 33 before turning to documentary photography, his first international competition win.
## Laila AnnMarie Stevens
Stevens won Newcomer Award for 'Clayton Sisterhood Project' showing Black women's family connections in Clayton, North Carolina.
## Valentina Sinis
Sinis received Women Grant for 'The Last Butterflies' documenting Kurdish women in Iraqi Kurdistan's armed resistance.
## Award significance
The award highlights photography that addresses social, cultural, and environmental issues through meaningful storytelling.
## Award details
Faizulin receives €40,000 and €10,000 in Leica equipment, Stevens gets €10,000 and a Leica Q3, Sinis receives €10,000 and a Leica Q3.
## Exhibition plans
Winning projects will be shown at Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar, Germany, with a catalog and international travel.
## Jury selection
A five-person jury selected winners from over 400 entries, with 130 experts from 50 countries evaluating the main award.
## Next steps
Sinis will continue documenting Kurdish women's experiences with support from the Women Grant for her next project phase.
## Key takeaway

Damir Faizulin, a former professional wrestler, won Leica's 2026 Oskar Barnack Award for his series 'Preserving Nature as Preserving Ourselves' documenting Dagestan's changing communities.