People Award December 2022


  • color portrait photo of a youn Nenet in front of his chum in Siberia by Tommaso Vecchi

    Winning Photographer Tommaso Vecchi

    Winning Photographer Tommaso Vecchi

    “Before the migration” - Siberia
    Nenets are indigenous Siberian people whose traditional economy has long been rooted in nomadic reindeer-herding, fishing, and hunting. They live in chums: small huts made of reindeer skins, in order to ensure a minimum of thermal insulation, especially during the winter. In this picture Roman looks out of the chum, with his red cheeks worn by the cold, -50°C. © Tommaso Vecchi
  • black and white portrait of a man on the beach in Northern Sri Lanka by Adam Docker

    Second Prize Adam Docker

    Second Prize Adam Docker

    “Sebastian” - Northern Sri Lanka
    I met Sebastian on a remote beach in North Sri Lanka. He was homeless and picking up litter on the beach. I asked him to pose for me in front of the crashing waves. © Adam Docker
  • color photo of a young man riding his reindeer in Northern Mongolia by Kelsey Eliot

    Third Prize Kelsey Eliot

    Third Prize Kelsey Eliot

    “Reindeer Rider” - Northern Mongolia
    A young man rides his reindeer across the broad river near his home after riding out to check on the well-being of the herd. He is one of the few remaining reindeer riders in the northern part of Mongolia. Orphaned at a young age, he was adopted by a neighbor and travels around the valley with their family. © Kelsey Eliot
  • color photo of Fire dragon dance in Meizhou, China by Leo Kwok

    Finalist Leo Kwok

    Finalist Leo Kwok

    “How to train your dragon” - Meizhou, China
    Fire dragon dance in Meizhou, China on the first full moon day of Chinese New Year. This traditional celebration has been performed since the Qing Dynasty and was listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage in China in 2008. © Leo Kwok
  • color portrait photo of girl dancing in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya by Mauro De Bettio

    Finalist Mauro De Bettio

    Finalist Mauro De Bettio

    “Life in balance” - Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
    Wearing brightly-colored dresses, children dance through the labyrinth of shacks and narrow alleys in Kibera, the largest urban slum and one of Africa’s most desperate areas. Nairobi’s slums, with over 2.5 million people, represent more than half of its population, occupying only 5% of its area. And because of their constant population growth, there is an increase in unemployment, poverty, crime, scarcity of water, and infections. Due to this heartbreaking scenario, children are the only ones who can afford to dream. © Mauro De Bettio
  • color studio portrait of a woman by Daniela Constantini

    Finalist Daniela Constantini

    Finalist Daniela Constantini

    "Nadine"
    My most recent portraiture work is an ode to the women in my life. Women in my family have always been strong figures, hard workers, feral, outspoken, and pillars of the family. I became a photographer when most of the women I looked up to and grew up with were no longer in this world. I decided to honor the women of my past by honouring the women in my present whom I met since I moved to Bern, Switzerland, who are new acquaintances, family, or close friends, and muses to my work. I occasionally include garments or pieces that belonged to my grandmother, great-aunt, and great-grandmother. This work balances past and present, desire, and memories © Daniela Constantini
  • color portrait of twin brothers in Longyan, China by Jiajie Lin

    Finalist Jiajie Lin

    Finalist Jiajie Lin

    “Longyan Boys” - Longyan, China
    Longyan Boys is a self-portrait series I created with my identical twin brother, a story of us reconnecting after years of being apart, through an intimate lens of my own. Growing up I was constantly linked and compared with my identical twin brother, tired of being ‘one of the two’, I was desperate for a way out to carve my own identity. At 16, I journeyed solo to New Zealand while my twin remained in China. After years of separation, after I finally found the independence that I was seeking, after realizing it had cost me our relationship, in an attempt to reconnect and bond again, the series Longyan Boys was created. © Jiajie Lin
  • color photo of two women sellers at Agbogbloshie waste dump in Accra, Ghana by Kasia Trojak

    Finalist Kasia Trojak

    Finalist Kasia Trojak

    “Untitled” - Accra, Ghana
    Two women sellers greet each other while passing through Agbogbloshie, an automobile, plastic and electronic waste dump and marketplace in Accra, Ghana. © Kasia Trojak
  • color portrait photo of mother and child in Tibet by Lyra Lintern

    Finalist Lyra Lintern

    Finalist Lyra Lintern

    “Two faces of China” - Tibet
    China during covid. There was more than one reality. While millions in Chinese cities were locked down, a parallel life continued for the Tibetan nomads. La-Ga and her grandson, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province, Summer 2021. © Lyra Lintern
  • color portrait of a woman from Bodi tribe in Ethiopia by Biljana Jurukovski

    Finalist Biljana Jurukovski

    Finalist Biljana Jurukovski

    “The Me’en girl” - Ethiopia
    This young girl belongs to Me’en or Bodi tribe, nomadic people that live in southern Ethiopia. After spending time and learning about their culture and rituals this young girl agrees to have her photo taken. What is very specific for the Me’en girls are the tribal beautification marks on their bodies. These beautification marks (scarifications) come in many forms as the bearer wants them to be. They adorn their body with beautiful tribal bracelets. © Biljana Jurukovski

Finalists

Jury's Feedback

  • black and white portrait photo of Fiona Shields by Linda Nylind
    © Linda Nylind

    Judge: Fiona Shields

    Fiona Shields has over twenty years of picture editing experience across a range of newspaper titles.

    She was picture editor of the Guardian for ten years before taking up the role of Head of Photography for the Guardian News and Media Group. Throughout her career, she has been involved in the coverage of some of the most historic news stories of our time including the events surrounding 9/11, conflicts around the world, large-scale natural disasters, and the humanitarian crises resulting from the growing refugee numbers across the globe.

    In addition, she has delivered talks at photo festivals, mentored students of photojournalism, and has enjoyed judging the Sony World Photography Awards, The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, and the Renaissance Photography Awards, to name a few. In 2019, she joined the panel for the Carmignac Photojournalism Award. She is also a regular nominator for the prestigious Prix Pictet Prize.

Arun Kumar Nalimela
© Arun Kumar Nalimela

Open to All Photography

Be part of a vibrant community: The competition award is a unique opportunity to gain exposure and provides a platform to celebrate the very best of contemporary photography.

Open for entries

color street photo of woman and reflexion in shop window by Monaris
© Monaris
2024 People AWARD

Win $2000 Cash Awards & International Exposure

Competition Judge: STEVE MCCURRY

In December we are looking for portraiture, travel, street photography, documentary work, or any other form of photographic practice that tells the story of people! ⁠

  • Win $2000 in Cash Prizes
  • International Exhibition
  • +820k Instagram Feature
  • Free Online Portfolio
Submit Photos
Deadline: 31 December 2024

Previous Winners


Previous Edition 2023/2024


PAST EDITIONS

2022/2023 Edition

2021/2022 Edition

2020/2021 Edition

2019/2020 Edition

2018/2019 Edition

2017/2018 Edition

2016/2017 Edition

Instagram

Follow @theindependentphoto