Visual Story Award Editors’ Picks of February 2024

“Photography is by nature a documentary art.” – August Sander

Following the results of January’s Visual Story Award, judged by American photographer, Nichole Sobecki, the editorial team is delighted to share some of the competition entries that didn’t make the final selection, but we believe are well deserving of exposure.

A child laborer in a Bangladesh brickfield struggles under the weight of her heavy burden. A nomadic goat herder navigates Mongolia’s snow-covered peaks. Thai Buddhist monks and Madagascan Christians display profound reverence towards their respective deities: these striking images demonstrate the enduring importance of photographic storytelling, serving as a testament to its ability to shed light on critical matters while capturing the resilience of the human spirit.

“Strength and Tradition: Avaniyapuram Jallikattu” - Tamil Nadu, India
This photograph captures the essence of the ancient tradition of Jallikattu, celebrated at the Avaniyapuram festival in Tamil Nadu. Amidst the dust and fervour of the arena, a courageous bullfighter stands firm, showcasing the indomitable spirit and cultural heritage of the region. Through visual storytelling, this image offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Tamil Nadu’s cultural landscape, where strength, tradition, and community converge in a spectacular display of bravery and pride. © Sundaram Perumal
“Makha Bucha day” - Wat Dhammakaya, Thailand
The Symmetry and Shapes of Makha Bucha at Wat Dhammakaya located an hour outside of Bangkok. Thousands of Buddhists gathered at Thailand’s Wat Dhammakaya on Wednesday to observe Makha Bucha, a religious holiday that marks the anniversary of Buddha’s mass sermon to the first 1,250 newly ordained monks 2,558 years ago. © Aleksandra Lasota
“Stolen childhood” - Borodyanka, Ukraine
This photo was taken a couple of weeks after the deoccupation of Borodyanka city by Russian soldiers. This city is only 30 km from the capital of Ukraine - Kyiv and was occupied in the first days of the full-scale invasion. The city was almost empty. Every house on the central street was damaged or destroyed. After the deoccupation life began to return to the city. © Andrii Zabolotnyi
“Salt of the Earth” - Maras Salt Mines, Peru
In the Maras Salt Mines of Peru, this photograph depicts the daily work of a local worker descending into the depths of the mine and carrying a heavy salt bag, navigating the intricate veins of this vast salt network. Amidst the vibrant orange hues of the terraced salt pools, this image encapsulates the toil and shadows that weave through this expansive open-air anthill—a mosaic of salt pans etched into the mountainside, each unique pool a testament to the geological marvel of Maras. It illustrates the silent dedication of those who extract nature’s precious crystals from the heart of the earth. © Thibault Gerbaldi
“Motherhood in Many Glacier” - Glacier NP, Montana USA
After a two-day-long standoff with a young grizzly bear at Swift current Lake in Glacier National Park, a moose mother and her two calves faced exhaustion and danger. The grizzly would eventually make its kill, taking the life of one of the calves. As the two moved away from the direction of the grizzly, I caught a moment where the mother looked back. I do not know if she was merely looking to see if the grizzly threat still loomed or if something deeper was happening here. I know what a goodbye looks like. It is something you feel. I believe it’s all in the eyes. © Ike Linde
“Olaf Brandt - Opal miner” - Coober Pedy, South Australia
Olaf Brandt is a German 85-year-old retired Opal miner. He moved to Coober Pedy, South Australia in 1971 with his wife and they looked for opal every single day of their lives ever since. Nestled in the arid landscapes of South Australia, Coober Pedy is a unique and intriguing town renowned for its underground homes and opal mining operations. Often referred to as the “Opal Capital of the World,” Coober Pedy’s residents have embraced subterranean living to escape the harsh desert conditions. After his wife passed away, Olaf stopped any mining activity. He retired in Coober Pedy because “he found enough opal to live but not to retire in a city or move back to Germany”. In this picture, he’s portrayed in his dugout - a typical underground house of Coober Pedy. This room, in particular, was dug by Olaf with explosives. © Mattia Panunzio
“Soatanana” - Madagascar
Mystery unveils right in front of my eyes when I enter Soatanana village. A large procession, everyone wearing white and singing religious hymns, moves towards the local church. It feels like I am an unwelcomed outsider, who will ruin the solemn moment by the sound of a camera shutter. Is it even possible to capture this divine light, this overwhelming feeling of being inside this sacral celebration? But for these people, I’m just a nomadic wanderer, no matter with the camera or without it. So they humbly do whatever the church teaches them. They invite me to join the worship and share the meal afterward. They are keen to wash my feet — right as their holy teacher would do. And it feels even more marvelous when you realize that this truly biblical story revives here, right in the middle of rural highland Madagascar. © Denys Kutsevalov
“Cold only affects the lazy” - Western Mongolia
Koke gathers the herd on a very cold morning before starting another day on their yearly winter’s migration. © Thomas Cytrynowicz
“The reality of child labour in Bangladesh” - Dhaka, Bangladesh
Seven-year-old Antora is working alongside her mother in brickfields on the outskirts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Due to heavy rains, the bricks did not dry and are now carried away so that the molding can start all over again. Like many other children in Bangladesh Antora has to support her family through labour, meaning that she cannot go to school, let alone have time to play like any child should be able to do. It is heartbreaking to see how many childhoods are lost in Bangladesh. © Inge Colijn
“A Lonely Rider” - Altai Mountains, Western Mongolia
An eagle hunter traverses the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia, looking for prey. The trained golden eagles will take down rabbits, foxes, and sometimes even wolves, all of which are hunted for fur. The vastness of Mongolia is difficult to comprehend. It is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, outranked only by Greenland. Especially in winter, the landscape is empty, monotonous, and harsh – and yet you will encounter people almost everywhere. The nomadic population is spread out across the country, with most families moving their tents, or gers as they are called, four times per year. If you are traveling in Mongolia and need a place to stay, or a bite to eat you can stop by any ger, and the nomads will welcome you to their home. It’s this sense of community and mutual support that makes life in such a hostile environment possible. © Diana Barthauer
“Dohar Mainat Ghatworkers” - Dhaka District, Bangladesh
Portrait of a group of workers taking a nap during a break, using bags as blankets. These workers are filling hundreds of bags with sand in an incessant ballet. The bags are thrown into the Padma River to build a protective dam. Part of the series ‘Climate Injustice’. For this series, I chose to shoot portraits of people in their respective environments, or what is left of them. For many, it has changed (and will continue to change) drastically over the years. I felt it was a good way to show that they are not responsible for what is happening to them. © Alain Schroeder
“Lamu Delivery” - Lamu Island, Kenya
There are no convenient road access or bridges to Lamu Island, a small island off the shore of Kenya in the Indian Ocean. Everything has to be brought in by boat and unloaded one bag at a time. © France Leclerc

Published March 14, 2024 - Congratulations to all selected artists: Sundaram Perumal, Aleksandra Lasota, Andrii Zabolotnyi, Thibault Gerbaldi, Ike Linde, Mattia Panunzio, Denys Kutsevalov, Thomas Cytrynowicz, Inge Colijn, Diana Barthauer, Alain Schroeder, France Leclerc,

black and white street photo of woman walking by Mania De Praeter

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