Competition Winners
© Khanh Bui
This winners collection celebrates the work of all award winning photographers capturing life in its most vivid forms. These unique and international artists constitute the best of the photographic scene and we are very proud to share their work.
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Winning Photographer
Francesco Gioia
Winning Photographer
Francesco Gioia
“Cloud of Smoke” - Holborn, London, UK 2020
© Francesco Gioia
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Second Prize
Alain Schroeder
Second Prize
Alain Schroeder
"Kok Boru - the Dead Goat Polo”- Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan
In the village of Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan, more than 170 horses (on this picture) and men wearing the classic Soviet tank hat or the Kyrgyz tebetei hat, push and shove each other with dexterity ad endurance in fearless combat as they fight for possession of a headless goat carcass.
Trying to outrun your opponents with a headless goat wedged between your leg and your horse might not be your idea of a fun game but in Kyrgyzstan, Kok Boru is the national sport. The origins of this legendary game lie somewhere between nomads hunting or defending their livestock against predatory wolves, to men and horses honing their fighting skills. “Dead Goat Polo”, as some refer to, looks more like cavalier rugby. Generally divided into two teams of four (and hundreds or more in a freestyle variant called Alaman-Ulak), fearless men on horseback race from one end of the field to the other chasing the rider with possession trying to prevent him from scoring a point by heaving the 20-kilo body into the tai kazan (goal) at either end. Only stallions are used in this game because they are naturally anti-social and eager to fight off rivals. The players train their horses to muscle out other horses while they themselves wrestle each other to snatch the goat and gallop toward the goal, slamming into the rubber tires that encircle the meter-high mound.
Most villages throughout the country have a playing field, some have official stadiums. Professional teams play tournaments which culminate in the national championships that take place during the festivities surrounding Nowruz on March 21st when the Kyrgyz nation celebrates the beginning of spring. The game is also showcased during Independence Day celebrations on August 31st. This year (2020), the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic has halted large public gatherings but unofficial games continue to be organized in many villages. Players share the price of the goat or wealthier citizens sponsor games with prizes to celebrate life events, inspire good fortune or simply for fun, and the winning team always takes home the goat for a post-game feast. © Alain Schroeder
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Third Prize
Tommaso Vecchi
Third Prize
Tommaso Vecchi
“Stop the time” - Phugtal Monastery, Northern India
Phugtal Monastery or Phugtal Gompa is a Buddhist monastery located in the remote Lungnak Valley in south-eastern Zanskar, in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, in Northern India. It is one of the only Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh that can still be reached only by foot. © Tommaso Vecchi
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Finalist
Ebti Nabag
Finalist
Ebti Nabag
“Girl in Red Dress 4” - Uganda
Nawal, 8 at the time; is a south Sudanese girl living in Uganda with her family. She is the eldest of 3 children and takes on the responsibility of looking after her sister especially when outside. © Ebti Nabag
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Finalist
Johan Gerrits
Finalist
Johan Gerrits
“Women with firewood” - Thar Desert, Gujarat, India
Women with firewood crossing the Great Rann of Kutch part of the Thar Desert in Gujarat, India
© Johan Gerrits
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Finalist
Felice Douglas
Finalist
Felice Douglas
“Dry Tears”- USA
© Felice Douglas
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Finalist
Javier Vergara
Finalist
Javier Vergara
“Chile Resists” - Santiago, Chile 2020
Demonstrators protect themselves with a shield from water cannon used by the Special Police Forces during protests in Chile. November 11th, 2020, Santiago, Chile
© Javier Vergara
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Finalist
Neeraj Sharma
Finalist
Neeraj Sharma
“Mothergoddess River of Aspiration 02” © Neeraj Sharma
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Finalist
Robert Blomfield
Finalist
Robert Blomfield
“Student Union” - Edinburgh University, Scotland, 1961
Coffee morning at the Student Union, Teviot Row House, Edinburgh, 1961
© Robert Blomfield
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Finalist
Selene Magnolia
Finalist
Selene Magnolia
“Zor 1” - Stolipinovo, Bulgaria 2020
After an engagement party on the day before, a young bride to be is being prepared for her wedding. Weddings and life event celebrations take place on the streets of the ghetto, and are shared within the community. © Selene Magnolia
Theme: Open Call / Competition Judge: Leica Fotografie International Magazine photo editor Carol Körting.
With no explicit lead, the Open Call competition is designed to invite photographers of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences to share with us their best images.
Join us over on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter where we’ll be sharing all our favorite images from the competition. Congratulations to all the talented photographers who made it to the final!
Jury's Feedback
1ST PRIZE: Francesco Gioia
“This smoking lady was pictured in London in 2020, an old country particularly hit by the pandemic and facing new challenges. The lightness of the cigarette’s smoke cloud is balanced by the depth of the look and the thoughts of the woman. The palette of murky and bright colors adds up to the intensity of the dramatic scene.” — Carol Körting
2ND PRIZE: Alain Schroeder
“This epic shot comes from the village of Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan, and pictures dozens of horses and men in fearless combat as they fight for possession of a headless goat carcass. It is the spirit of the ancestors and a modern play at the same time. Men and horses become almost one as they wrestle each other. The dust lifted by the fight circles the bodies of all of them. A photo to slowly be explored in its details while thinking that for just one day a week Kyrgyz can imagine themselves being warriors.” — Carol Körting
3RD PRIZE: Tommaso Vecchi
“Truly astonishing, Tommaso Vecchi’s flawlessly-timed, almost painting-like image, conveys the essence of the scene with tremendous grace and clarity. The striking juxtaposition between the boys in their vivid crimson garb, the somewhat incongruous beachball, and the rugged earthen tones of the awe-inspiring backdrop capture the eye with dramatic immediacy, serving as a reminder of the medium’s unbounded potential and as a testament to the diverse and fascinating beauty of our world.” – The Independent Photographer Editors
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Judged by:
Carol Körting
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Carol Körting worked as a freelance photographer before studying photo editing at the Ostkreuz Schule für Fotografie in Berlin, Germany. She has been the photo editor of the renowned Leica Fotografie International Magazine (LFI) and its online platform since 2011, producing and editing countless photographic projects.
A professional portfolio reviewer, Körting has been part of jury teams at several photography festivals and photography competitions. She has collaborated as a photo editor at Der Freitag and Zeit-Magazin, given talks and presentations about self-promotion tools at the VII Masterclass in Berlin and in Bilbao at the Basquedokfestival.
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.
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$ 24.000
Cash Prizes
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International
Exhibitions
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Global
Exposure
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Open to all
Photographers
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Professional
Feedback
THEME: VISUAL STORYTELLING Deadline: 31 January 2021
"Photography is by nature a documentary art." - August Sander
The art of visual storytelling encompasses a wide range of possibilities with at its heart, the will to tell a story.
From classic social documentary to imaginative storytelling: this month we are seeking visual artists aiming to captivate and share their stories with conviction.
Portrait, street, documentary, landscape: All approaches are valid. Enter now and show us YOUR stories!
1st Prize: $1000 · 2nd Prize: $600 · 3rd Prize: $400
Previous Edition
2019/2020