The Independent Photographer, an international network of photography enthusiasts & photographers, has announced the winners of its People Photography contest.

Crossing borders, spanning cultures, and traversing the most remote corners of the world, the People Photography Award celebrates the diverse beauty of humanity. ⁠Peter DiCampo, an American photographer, writer, and editor whose goal is to contribute his work to a dialogue on international development and perceptions of Africa, was a judge of the competition.

He is a co-founder of Everyday Africa and its resultant nonprofit, The Everyday Projects. The Instagram-based projects have blossomed into a global phenomenon, and he is a regular speaker in classrooms and workshops on media stereotypes and the promotion of localized storytelling. He is a 2019 Stanford JSK Journalism Fellow.

Discover the images of 10 visual artists whose work shows an exceptional level of talent: Congratulations to the winners and finalists!

More info: independent-photo.com | Instagram | Facebook | twitter.com

Marcin Jozefiak – 1st Prize

Image credits: Marcin Jozefiak

Prize: $1000.

Muil for “Not for everyone” – Seoul, Korea 2020.

This showcase is a start to an ongoing series that explores the diversity and subcultures in Korea. The photographs are the beginning of a larger-scale project, with the purpose to present an album of Korean diversity and the beauty of it.⁠

Feedback from Peter DiCampo:

“The caption says that this is the beginning of a series, and I can’t wait to see the rest. This photograph is subservice in its softness; an exploration of Korean subcultures and thus its diversity, and this person, who may exude a toughness in other settings, is shown with vulnerability and humanity. The muted tones, the slight pop of the person being photographed from the background, the crossed arms and head in repose, all add to the success and intimacy of this photograph.”

Mat Hay – 2nd Prize

Image credits: Mat Hay

Prize: $600.

“Alice and Sarah in the family’s campervan” – Glen Lyon, Perthshire, Scotland.

Part of a six-year documentary project examining the remote communities and altered landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. ‘A Heather Burn’ shows life for those on the cusp of isolation, and the bonds between the people, their animals, and this rugged environment.

Feedback from Peter DiCampo:

“This is one of those rare photographs in which everything comes together. We notice first the light, the expressions. We look closer and see the feather boa around her head, and how it swirls down the frame continues into the blanket, and all the way to the floor. There is simultaneously a sense of these two girls being rooted in place and, at the same time, a sense of magic as the two girls seem to be both living in a dream and themselves dreaming. As the viewer, we learn about their lives through the photograph and are also left wanting to know everything else about their lives that the photograph cannot tell us.”

Heun Jung Kim – 3rd Prize

Image credits: Heun Jung Kim

Prize: $400.

“Tae Jung and Ha Ru” – Korea⁠.

The traditional Korean “Baek-il” party is a centuries-old tradition considered a norm in many Korean households. This signifies a major milestone within the Korean culture of a child’s 100th day after birth because of the high infant mortality during the 18th Century until the Korean War in the 1950s. This portrait shows double portraiture of my younger sister celebrating this milestone with her daughter dressed in the Hanbok during the COVID-19 pandemic. The photo is an attempt to reflect on the vulnerability of life and the strength of motherhood during these unprecedented times⁠.”

Feedback from The Independent Photographer Editors:

“As befits the finest portraiture, Heun Junk Kim’s exquisite depiction is characterized by a remarkable sensitivity and perspicacity, along with a masterful comprehension of light and form. Perfectly capturing the intricate, textural beauty of the subjects brightly-hued ‘Hanbok’ attire, and the mother’s quiet maternal pride and strength, this tender image serves as an utterly compelling representation of Korea’s enduring cultural heritage, and as a powerful symbol of hope amongst the tumult and abnormality of our world today.”

Ali Dahiru – Finalist

Image credits: Ali Dahiru

“Nwunye” (Traditional wedding) – Nigeria.
⁠
One of the beauties of documenting Nigerian traditional weddings is the display of color. The Igbo people of Nigeria never disappoint when it comes to this aspect. Musicians are playing, ushers are serving and the guests seemed to be having a swell time. The couple was an absolute delight even though they intimidated us with their outfits and exuberance.

Eduard Korniyenko – Finalist

Image credits: Eduard Korniyenko

“Pioneers” – Pyatigorsk, Russia, 2020⁠.

A boy and a girl wearing red neckerchiefs, the symbol of the Young Pioneer Soviet-era organization, play with a horn during a ceremony opening a Russian history interactive museum in Pyatigorsk, Russia.

Kodiak Greenwood – Finalist

Image credits: Kodiak Greenwood

“Portrait through a window in the rain” – California, USA⁠.

Maria Gutu – Finalist

Image credits: Maria Gutu

“Winter customs” – Varatic, Moldova⁠.

Boys from the village of Varatic, in the Republic of Moldova, are caroling with horses during the day before New Year – 31 December 2019⁠.

Shibasish Saha – Finalist

Image credits: Shibasish Saha

“Waterlily harvesting” – Nilgani, West Bengal, India.

⁠During the monsoon season, local fishermen work in the wetlands to collect water lilies to sell them at the market for their daily wages. ⁠

Sirli Raitma – Finalist

Image credits: Sirli Raitma

Portrait of my mother – From “EHA” series⁠.

“EHA is a series of portraits of my mother, portrayed in a series of unusual situations, poses, and attire. Eha was born in Estonia in 1950. Widowed, suffering from epilepsy, and lacking great command of English, Eha stayed tightly involved in our lives. In 2015 Eha began to suffer from depression. Life became bleaker. Something had to be done. I came up with a plan to give her something new to focus on, beyond her new procession of doctor’s appointments and medications. The ‘EHA’ project was born.” ⁠⁠

Vladimir Zivojinovic – Finalist

Image credits: Vladimir Zivojinovic

“Serbia’s Red Gold: Pepper” – Donja Lokosnica, Serbia⁠.

An elderly woman prepares threads of red paprika on September 19, 2020, in Donja Lokosnica, Serbia. On average, in this village in the valley of South Morava, out of 280 households, 250 families are engaged in growing this pepper on an area of about 250 hectares, and about 500 tons of ground peppers are produced annually, though depopulation has decreased the number of homes taking part in the tradition.

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