The winning entry stood out for many reasons. A series of impressive individual images, they also work together to tell a story. The photographer elevates what is a rather unconventional travel subject, documenting manual labour in a Bangladeshi brickworks. Capturing workers in motion, bricks are carried overhead while materials are seen frozen in motion as they pass from person to person. There is movement, cooperation and an almost choreographed grace, despite the harsh working conditions and lack of specialist clothing or equipment. Bold compositions, often structured around the rule of thirds, have warm earth tones that blend with the colour and vibrancy of sky and clothing. Looking closer, it’s the small child and the concentrated facial expressions that invite you to question what’s going on here. One could see this as the beginning of a documentary photo feature that delves into the indusry and the people at its centre.

The second place panel of images is a series of frames that presents the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi with immense technical prowess. Complementing the architectural splendour of the Grand Mosque, the photographer uses landscape and portrait orientations to convey the scale and detail of the building. There are sweeping views and reflections as well as patterns and motifs, with impressive use of dynamic range and exposure in low light. Bringing human scale into one of the images too, this is a well-balanced trio that shows the many dimensions and facets of a building at different times of the day, and from a variety of angles. Negative space in both landscape shots suggests a double page spread opener for a travel magazine feature, with room for headings or other text.

Women of the Ivory Coast was a very close third, beaming out from the other entries through its exuberance, humanity and warmth. The relationship between photographer and subjects is clear in the seemingly effortless, beautiful compositions and joyful, direct engagement with the camera – suggesting perhaps that some time was spent here and that the photographer had earned their trust. Each image is carefully composed but feels naturally spontaneous and informal too, with human connection at its core. Colour and vibrancy link all three, reinforcing the focus on the women at the centre of the panel. The diversity of what they’re doing in their individualized settings invites us to want to know more about them, again hinting at a wider story or photo feature. 

Bold compositions that work particularly well in monochrome.

Striking use of high key lighting and aesthetically elegant compositions. 

A beautifully captured series of the iconic, sand-filled site, using colour and light to strong effect.