Photo of a kitchen court hearing wins the Our Times

The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside down. We’re living in probably the weirdest times in recent history, and International Photography Awards (IPA) has decided to throw a contest for photographers documenting it. Our Times – Pandemic Perspectives is a special edition of the One Shot contest, and it’s all about the life we’ve lived for almost two years now. The winning photos capture the essence of the pandemic and all the fear, sorrow, but also joy we humans can find even in the toughest times.

Before we move on, I have to note that some of the photos are not for everyone and may be inappropriate for younger viewers. Some of you may find them too moving (I know I did), so viewer discretion is advised.

The Grand Prize winner is photographer Liz Hingley from the United Kingdom. Her image Kitchen Court Hearing shows a barrister working from home during lockdown number two in London, 2020. Other than the overall prize, Liz’s image is also a winner of the Lockdown Life category. Explaining the story behind her image, Liz said:

“Some UK judges requested that barristers dress in the full legal regalia for court hearings on zoom. I photographed my partner in his favourite place to work- the kitchen table. We decided to ‘bubble up’ when moving between households became restricted due Covid 19 control measures. The portrait is part of a series documenting social distancing, new ways of working, loving and our intimately entangled relationship with mobile devices.”

I personally love the lighting, colors, and mood in this image. It looks as if a Renaissance painting met modern technology. Of course, there are also other amazing images across the contest’s six categories. In fact, some of them made me cry as I found them deeply moving.

Take a look at the remaining category winners below, and once again, be prepared for all the feels. Make sure to check out IPA’s website for more information and more beautiful photos.