For many years, Emanuele has been a pillar of the IJF photography team, following events across the globe, documenting victories, defeats and the countless human moments that make judo unique. It was therefore only natural to see him on duty once again at the Paris Grand Slam, working alongside Gabriela Sabau and Tamara Kulumbegashvili.
During the Paris weekend, however, Emanuele stepped out from behind the lens briefly, into the spotlight. He was presented with the Robert Danis Photo of the Year award, organised by L’Esprit du Judo.
A Tribute to a Master of the Image
Created to honour the legacy of Swiss photographer Robert Danis, who for decades was a central figure of international judo imagery and a close collaborator of the magazine, the prize shines a light on the men and women who freeze the decisive fraction of a second.
The rules are straightforward: photographers from around the world submit one landscape colour image taken during the previous year. Competition scenes, club life, technical details or attitudes, everything is open as long as the picture tells a judo story.
Emanuele follows in the footsteps of last year’s winner, Isabelle Geiger, and joins a lineage of specialists whose work has helped build the visual memory of the sport.
The Instant That Stood Out
The winning photograph was captured on 14th February at the Baku Grand Slam during the round of 32 in the –66 kg category. It shows Germany’s Martin Setz scoring a spectacular ippon against Mongolia’s Nyamrenchin Badamragchaa.
For Emanuele, the choice was obvious. “This image captures an ippon that, for me, represents the harmony of technique by freezing the moment of flight. The intensity in Setz’s eyes, together with the composition, led me to select it from all my photographs of 2025. I see it as a true reflection of the way I approach action photography.”
Selecting a single frame from thousands is never easy. Yet this one remained imprinted in his memory. When the invitation to take part in the Robert Danis Prize arrived, that precise instant came back immediately.
A Recognition That Matters
Emanuele rarely enters competitions. He knows how subjective a photographer’s relationship with his own work can be and judo itself requires expertise; what seems evident to a specialist may not be understood by everyone instantly. But for a publication he has read and respected for so many years, participating felt natural.
“At a time when quality print media is becoming rare, winning this photographic competition has even greater value for me.”
The award in Paris was accompanied by warm applause, with the magazine thanking Martin Setz, present for the ceremony, for being the athlete behind the decisive moment. For the IJF family, the distinction is also a celebration of all those who dedicate their talent to showing judo to the world. Through Emanuele’s lens, the sport continues to fly.