About
During 2020, she photographed a week long turbulent protests in the Serbian capital and the photo she took there marked the previous year by winning Grand Prix at Press Photo Srbija. Currently, she covers ecological issues in Serbia where citizens' struggle to prevent the arrogant government and investors from destroying the environment for the sake of their material gain, the struggle which is frequently charged with high tensions and results in conflicts with the authorities. Through her photography Sanja helps raise awareness on critical social issues with the aim to motivate people getting involved in defending public interest. In such a way, Sanja primarily documents the (wrong)doings of the current Serbian regime.
Sanja's photojournalistic approach is also recognisable in her commercial work such as event photography - weddings, birthdays, corporate. Sanja equally enjoys capturing decisive moments at these events since they are dynamic, unpredictable, and of huge importance for the people who engage her.
Sanja Knežević graduated photography at the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade and attended prestigious workshops and festivals, which contributed to developing her career. From 2012, Sanja spent several years living in one of the most vibrant countries in the world - Indonesia, traveling and taking pictures in the South-East Asia. In 2018 she was chosen to be among 10 female photographers from all over the world at the Festival Pil'Ours in France. She won awards at the biggest national photography contests, among them Grand Prix at Press Photo Srbija and Beta Photo Contest. At the ''Photo Week D.C'' in Washington D.C. she won the first prize for a portrait. Sanja's work has been published in the National Geographic Serbia, Vice UK, The Economist, Financial Times, Boston Globe, KfW Chancen - Hamburg, Global Post. She has also been collaborating with UNOPS, Open Society Foundation and Amnesty International.
Sanja is a board member of the ULUPUDS – The Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Serbia.
Awards:
2016 Ljubljana, Slovenia – II award Different worlds, for the project ”Family Matters”
Exhibitions/Festivals:
2015 Belgrade, Serbia – ArtGet gallery – Kamar
Sanja Knezevic
It's more important to click with people than to click the shutter.