People

1. Bonfires of San Juan

San Juan, Spain

The longest day of the year — conversely the shortest night — is celebrated in style. Whether eating, drinking quiemada or jumping bonfires, the midsummer night lights up once a year. Many rites and legends have gained prominence during this magical night of flames.

Javier Ancillas 

People

2. The Face Off

West Bengal, India

A face painted with colours during the Hindu festival of Holi.

Sucheta Das

People

3. The Water Festival

Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Bangladesh

According to their calendars, Rakhain people welcome the new year in their own way: by throwing water on each other, they clear out all the misdeeds of the past year.

Mohammed Hasan Murad

People

4. Charcoal Worker

Perak, Malaysia

This man works in the charcoal industry, situated in Kuala Sepetang (Port Weld), Perak. The Matang Mangrove forest reserve is arguably the world's best-managed mangrove forest, and supplies the bakau timber used for charcoal manufacturing.

CK Ng

People

5. The Repair Man

Puran Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country with a very large population. Dhaka, the capital, is the busiest city of all. The oldest part of the city, called 'Puran Dhaka,' is a place of true dimensions. While I was travelling there, this terrific man came close to my camera with an unworldly, toothy smile. He is the repair man -- one of the mechanics in the old city who repairs electric fans.

Sheikh Jayed Bin Noor

People

6. Vendor 

Hoi An, Vietnam

I was walking around the streets of Hoi An, when I saw a little old woman with a big basket of bananas. She didn't speak any English, but a woman working in a little shop close by told my friends and I that she had been selling bananas every day since she was a little girl.

Kaja Alana Altosaar

People

7. See My New Pet

Petchaburi Province, Thailand

Three little monks having fun talking to each other, where one is proud to present his little pet.

Hansa Tangmanpoowadol

People

8. Pakarena In Motion

Indonesia

Referred to as Pakarena, this dance comes from a village that was historically the center of the island kingdom, namely Pakarena Gantarang Lalang Bata. The dance, performed by four female dancers, was first displayed in the 17th century.

Alamsyah Rauf

People

9. Love: A Rajasthan Man and His Camel

Rajasthan, India

During a trip to Rajasthan, I visited a Jaisalmer family. The head of this family is a very friendly and warm man. He has several camels, and from the picture I have taken, it is obvious that he has a very good relationship with his "family members."

Yeo Yeow-Kwang

People

10. Old Way

Serbia

An old woman walking down the road. This is one in a series of photos called Gypsies - "Super People". I decided to take photos of Gypsies because they are a unique people. They do not have their own land and live in all countries of the world, they do not have their own music and  play all of the music of the world, they do not have their own language and speak all the languages of the world, they do not have their own religion and have all the religions of the world — and no one feels deprived, no one feels threatened.

Ivan Aleksic

People

11. Long March Home

Himachal Pradesh, India

A Gaddi shepherd waits as his flock makes its way across the snow-covered Thamsar Pass. The pastoralists of the Himalayas make several hazardous crossings with their herds of sheep on their way to greener pasture, sometimes across passes as high as 5,000 metres. The winter migration, during which this image was taken, is fraught with danger. Such dangers, along with government policies, have relegated their culture to the fringes of society, where it is in danger of being lost.

Sankar Sridhar

People

12. Buffalo Festival

Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

This photo was taken in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, where each year the king holds the Buffalo Fesival. The buffalo, considered sacred animals, are paraded around the village to the accompaniment of music.

Alamsyah Rauf

People

13. Holi Hand

Puran Dhaka, Bangladesh

Smiling faces and hands roam the alleyways as a small group celebrated Holi in a Muslim society. Holi is a magical Hindu celebration, but particularly unique in the predominantly Islamic country of Bangladesh. One street gets cordoned off for revelers who chase each other with squirt guns and water bottles filled with blue and purple dye. Above, residents lean over their balconies dumping buckets of water and dye on unsuspecting celebrators. Music thunders as young and old dance in the blue rain on the wildest day of the year.

Breanna Abraham

People

14. Faith

Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite.

Hansa Tangmanpoowadol

People

 15. Tire Game

West Bengal, India

In a small village of West Bengal, children enjoy playing a game with a bicycle tire.

Amit Mukherjee

People

16. Artisan

Lahij, Ismayilli, Azerbaijan

I took this photo of a sleeping man in the old region of Lahij. The artisan is tired. Lahij village, of Azerbaijani Ismayilli region, was first established in the 4th century, and was proclaimed a historical and cultural reserve by the Soviet Ministers of Azerbaijani in 1980. Situated at an altitude of 800 metres above sea level, homes here are constructed of treated river stones, and the village is famous for its aritsans and craftsmen.

Vuqar Sevdimali

People

17. Monk Conference

Buddhamonthon, Nakhuon Patom, Thailand

Buddhamonthon is a large park devoted to Buddhism, located in the east of the province. This photo depicts Visakha Bucha Day in Thailand, one of the most important days for Buddhists.

Hansa Tangmanpoowadol

Places

18. Yee Peng Lantern Ceremony

Chiangmai Province, Thailand

This was a truly humbling, beatiful night, and I was thrilled to be able to attend it. The Loi Krathong Festival is held in Thailand every year in November, based on the full moon of the 12th lunar month. Thousands of sky balloons were released at the same time.

Hansa Tangmanpoowadol

Places

19. Why Campin' in -25 is Worth It

Crazy Lake, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

Patience, a parka and a spare battery are what's necessary for long exposure shots of the Northern Lights. As a visiting instructor for the Environmental Technology Program at the Nunavut Arctic College based out of Iqualuit, waiting up past midnight for the light show was a challenge after a long day. The multiple long exposures, infrequent lights and -25C temperatures made the shoot even more challenging. After 20+ photos, the camera's electronics finally chilled enough to stop working properly. But I got some shots that were worth any discomfort and frustration.

Aaron D. Spares

Places

20. Pushkar Camel Fair

Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

A camel seller leaves the fairground with his belongings and unsold camels at the end of the biggest camel fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan in India. Camel sellers from remote villages in Rajasthan gather at the fairground yearly to sell camels at the seven-day fair. Pushkar is one of the most important pilgrimage cities for Hindu devotees; the fair is celebrated annually during the month of November.

Sudipto Das

Places

21. Fishermen

Garbeta, West Bengal, India

This photo was taken at the Shilabati River in Garbeta, a village in West Bengal, India. Fishing is how people make a living here. The people of the eastern part of India eat fish almost daily, so the demand for supply is high. While fishing is a low-cost economical activity for families, there is severe competition due to the large population. With other employment options limited to those with education, these people have little choice in how they make a living. 

Deba Prasad Roy

Places

22. Apocalypse.Now.

Near Campo Grande, Pantanal, Brazil

A striking sunset over the largest wetlands in the world. I was able to catch this shot while driving 1,400 kilometres from Bonito, Brazil to Iguazu Falls. This is central Pantanal farmland and a view that vividly induces my imagination towards a scene of apocalyptic proportions minutes before a potential world’s end.

Greg John Snell 

Places

23. The Chocolate Factory River's End

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

The Iguazu River in high water picks up a lot of sediment and turns the falls into a chocolatey mass. It is an incredible site and I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to get this photo.

Greg John Snell 

Places

24. Taiwan Heights

Mount He Huan, Taiwan

Taiwan peaks in every direction. Taiwan has over 150 peaks that reach over 3,000 metres. After spending the night atop Mount He Huan, the skies cleared to reveal some of the country's most beautiful landscapes.

Jeff Evans

Places

25. Sunset on the Road to Kigali

On the highway from Ruhengeri (aka Musanze), Rwanda

Driving back to Kigali from Ruhengeri following a media development conference, we stumbled upon this exquisite sunset. Rwanda’s most captivating landscapes are evident everywhere — the seemingly infinite hills, the lazy rivers, the gravity-defying farms.

Mary Katherine Keown

Places

26. Dust Storm After the Rain

Mount Cook, New Zealand

Last February I left my house and job with nothing but my bike and whatever I could carry on it, and set off to New Zealand. While I was there I met the most incredible people and also gained enough solitude to last me at least a few years. The riding was hard but it was worth it for the places I saw, the experience and the knowledge that I had ridden my bike from the south of New Zealand to the North with a quick stop at Mount Cook in the centre. These pictures will hopefully tell a story of what an amazing country New Zealand really is. This photo was taken on the way out of Mount Cook. The day after the rainstorm was really hot and dried up the dirt quickly. This is dust in the valley in front of one of the smaller mountains.

Bill Hawley

Places

27. Art of Nature

Dau Go Cave, Ha Long Bay, Vietnam - A UNESCO World Heritage Site

I came back to Ha Long Bay after several years, expecting to shoot some good photos. But the harsh sunlight destroyed my hope. The highlight of my trip was this moment in Dau Go Cave, one of the biggest caves in Ha Long Bay. Being the only natural light source that can get through this cave, this beam of light brough me a sense of nirvana.

Ton Luong Dong

Places

28. Geologic Textures

Purakaunui Beach, New Zealand

Sitting on a great geological divide, New Zealand is quite the hotspot for geologic activity. It is the site of ancient volcanoes, destructive earthquakes and thermal hotsprings. While I cannot claim to be a geologist of any sort, these rocks present a look into the past; the intense pressure that was used to create such a dynamic landscape is quite obvious. The world is a wonderful place, full of both fantastic and terrifying forces.

Emily Mann

Places

29. Polo

Karu, Ladakh, India

Ladakh is a cold mountain desert, almost cut off from the rest of the world for seven months — then only reachable by planes. Taken at an altitude of approximately 3,500 metres this picture shows villagers during training in the wilderness for the next polo game.

Michael Stoeger

Places

30. Potter

South River, Ontario

After nearly three years abroad, it was strange to be back in Canada, and to find myself doing something so stereotypically Canadian: I was working for an expedition company that owned over 400 sled dogs, and was living just two kilometres down the road from the yard. The dogs have wonderful lives, they’re cared for so well and given so much attention. They love to run and pull more than anything else. It was unusual to capture them resting when people were around, so I snapped this picture when Potter, a racer, was curled in his barrel late one winter afternoon. 

Kathleen Fulton

Places

31. Journey by Train

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. This hectic way of travel is common for hundreds of people here.

Ismail Ferdous

Places

32. A Couple in the Rough

Nairobi, Kenya

This is an image captured among many from the Kibera Slums in Kenya. I had the opportunity to have my eyes and my world opened when I visited this slum in Africa. Kibera is heavily polluted by human refuse, garbage, soot, dust and other wastes. The slum is contaminated with human and animal feces, due to the open sewage system. The lack of sanitation combined with poor nutrition among resident’s accounts for many illnesses and diseases. Unfortunately a photograph cannot capture nearly enough of what is going on in this hell on earth, but I hope to have given you a glimpse. 

Jessica Pesce

Places

33. Tea Harvesters

Kerala, India

Just outside the mountain city of Munnar in Kerala, India, a team of women work feverishly to pick tea leaves for the equivalent of $0.50 per hour.

Scott Portingale

Projects & Issues

34. Fields of Joy

Panskura, Midnapore, West Bengal, India

Rural children burst into laughter in front of an Indian marigold field at Panskura in West Bengal, India. Here, local villagers have started cultivating export-quality flowers, an initiative that has provided economic opportunities and improved the financial conditions for many rural poor. 

Sudipto Das

Projects & Issues

35. Uncle Mustafa, a Lonely Man

Kars, Turkey

This man was in jail for more than 20 years. He has been unable to find work after his release. He is patient, lives alone and cannot find a job.

Serkant Hekimci

Projects & Issues

36. Hope

Mae Sot (Thai-Burma border town), Thailand

I met these children while volunteering at a children's home in Mae Sot, a town located on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border. Almost all of the kids in this home have no parents and no family due to the fighting that's been going on in Burma for the past 60 years. They've been stripped of family, home, culture and identity. Yet they jump, they smile, they move on. They're not simply survivors, struggling day after day, but rather they're living life and living it to the fullest. They're a people of hope.

Daniel Hall

Projects & Issues

37. Education is Freedom

Maego, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Last year I was living in Ethiopia working for imagine1day as their Communications Officer. We worked to bring sustainable, innovative primary education to students across the country. Students at this school, Maego, had been attending school under a tree. They were tired of waiting for government assistance so the families gave what little they had to build a school for their children. Six years later we began working with them to expand their school and train their teachers and leaders. Even without desks, books or resources, the students in Maego were just happy to be learning, as they know that education is freedom. 

Leigh Boyle

Projects & Issues

38. Heart of the Creation

Agradwip, Bardhaman, West Bengal

This man, in his late seventies, can hardly can see but still shows commendable precision while painting wooden dolls. Agradwip is a small village in the Katwa town, Bardhaman district in West Bengal. Here we can find some of the finest wooden dolls that are made by a group of villagers known as Suthradhar, who bring this legacy of doll making from one generation to another. Ashok Suthradhar is one of them, who still loves making the dolls even with some physical problems due to old age. 

Soumalya Kumar De

Projects & Issues

39. Future of Cambodia

Phnom Phen, Cambodia

Children slide down a steep cement embankment near a bridge outside Phnom Phen. Phnom Phen is a place I find both depressing and amazing. Within the city you can see extreme poverty, child prostitution, piles of garbage and you are constantly seeing scars created by the recent genocide. However, it is also a place with incredible hope, in part because of NGOs like Friends International. To escape the darker side of the city, I often went on bike rides to the islands across the river with Grasshopper adventures. At every turn you meet friendly people. Children run out of their houses to say hello. It is a completely uplifting experience. 

Steve Mckay

Projects & Issues

40. Child Labour at an Aluminum Factory

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Child labour is very common in Bangladesh. Many families rely on the income generated by their children; this is because of poverty and low literacy rates. According to a report by UNICEF, 12.8 percent of the total children aged 4-15 are engaged in child labour. Many factory owners, like the aluminum factories I have visited recently, often prefer to employ children because they are cheaper and considered to be more compliant and obedient than adults. I was told that a child earns about 700 Taka (US$1 is around 70 Taka) per month, about 10 percent of what an adult worker earns for a similar job.

Yeo Yeow-Kwang

Projects & Issues

41. A Laugh at the Studio

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Visually impaired ballet dancers stop their practice for a laugh at Fernanda Bianchini's Association of Ballet and Arts for the Blind in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Though these professional ballerinas are visually impaired, the skills they've learned at the ballet school allow them to be masters of the visual world. But it's not only on stage that they inspire awe. Despite the majority having been raised in poverty, their grace follows them everywhere, rewarding them with a respect they might not normally be granted in class-conscious Brazil.

Laura Fetherstonhaugh

Projects & Issues

42. Survival in Unity

Changthang, 5,500 metres above sea level, Ladakh, India

Among the few true nomads left in India, the Changpas inhabit the Changthang plateau, at an average altitude of 6,000 metres above sea level, in the northernmost Indian province of Ladakh. They are the only inhabitants here, roaming the lifeless expanses with their herds of sheep, pashmina goats and Zanskari horses. Their life is dictated by weather, and is one of eternal motion, moving from one pasture to the other and suckling from stingy sources of water. They get all they need for survival from their animals — milk, milk products, meat, fur and hide — and in return treat animals like we would our children. 

Sankar Sridhar

Projects & Issues

43. Rohingya Refugees

Bangladesh

More than ten years after their expulsion from Myanmar, thousands of unregistered Rohingya refugees living in the Kutupalong makeshift camp have been forcibly displaced from their homes in an act of intimidation and abuse by the local authorities. 

Javier Arcenillas

Projects & Issues

44. Ms. Mussa

Zanzibar, Tanzania

On the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania, thirteen-year-old Sumaiya Omar Mussa poses for the camera sitting at the teacher’s desk. Generally students sit on the floor, shoeless.

Scott Portingale

Projects & Issues

45. Stone Chip Industry #5 Workers

Malpahari, in the state of Jharkand, India

At this stone chip factory in Malpahari, in the state of Jharkand, India, the male workers hammer the big pieces brought in from stone quarries, and the women carry the stone pieces to the crusher machine. Through this photograph, I want to show that work that can be mechanized — and is also more cost effective — is not done in India. Without investing capital, businesses hire a low-cost labour force, especially women, in to this demanding and hazardous work. 

Deba Prasad Roy

Projects & Issues

46. Hope in the Rain

Pucallpa, Peru

It’s all in the eyes! Hope amid the raindrops, as this old man finds someone cares. This abandoned old gentleman who has suffered alone and without proper shelter or care, has been given the gift of hope. As the Pure Art Foundation team leaves his tattered home, he comes to the doorway to bid us farewell, with a certain sense of pride and dignity restored.

Robert Duncan Mckinnon

Projects & Issues

47. Handmade

Edirne, Turkey

These men are the last handmade-broom workers in Turkey. Machines are replacing people, and soon human hands will no longer be involved with this work.

Serkant Hekimci

Projects & Issues

49. The Birthplace of Coffee

Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Roasting, boiling and serving three cups of coffee is a tradition that dates back centuries in Ethiopia — coffee’s birthplace. It is a privilege to be invited into someone’s home to share this with them. On a field visit in the mountains I met a woman living with obstetric fistula. While her community treats her like a leper, it was her great pleasure to invite us into her home to share three cups of strong, Ethiopian java. A delicacy and an honour. Obstetric fistula is a massive and debilitating problem for women in developing nations. While I was in Ethiopia I assisted an organization, Healing Hands of Joy, which works towards the social/economic reintegration of former fistula patients. 

Leigh Boyle

Projects & Issues

50. Daily Fetch

Paranaque, Philippines

This image illustrates the poverty of a village, wherein water is so scarce they need to fetch it from afar.

Arturo B. De Vera