The Environmental Photographer of the Year contest has announced its 2022 winners. Like every year, some images show the beauty of both natural and man-made worlds. However, most photos show the grim reality that we live in. But if nothing else, they will make you care about the environment more than you already are. And it’s a good thing, right?
On the depiction of Africans in photo contests
As a child during the 1980s, I grew up with a weekly diet of TIME magazine and the evening news. The famine in Ethiopia during the decade generated an endless stream of news filled with images of Black bodies, so much so that my entire conception of the continent was built off the tragedy of a single nation. To me, Africa was a desert wasteland of starving people – a thought conceived through photos.
Of course, Africa is hardly that. The second-largest continent with the second largest population boasts beaches, deserts, mountains, fertile farmland, pyramids, and wine country. And yet, images of abject poverty – particularly those of children – continue to perpetuate visual stereotypes of a place that inherited the racist moniker of “the dark continent” in the 19th century by Europeans seeking to justify imperialism and slave trade.
Contest winner’s use of children inspires controversial Twitter storm
The winner of the Environmental Photographer of the Year 2021 award has sparked a controversial discussion for his use of children in both his winning image and the rest of his portfolio. This has prompted a closer look at the way competitions approach imagery of minors and the ethics surrounding this.
This year’s Environmental Photographer of the Year winners paint a bleak future for our planet
The Environmental Photographer of the Year has announced its 2021 winners. As the contest name suggests, this is a selection of photos that depicts humanity’s struggle with environmental issues, but also its adaptability and ability to survive. And just as always, the selected photos will leave no one indifferent.
Winning photos of 2019 Environmental Photographer of the Year show devastating impact of climate change
The CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year has just announced the winners and shortlisted images of the 2019 contest. All photos are absolutely striking, showing the raw reality of humanity’s and wildlife’s struggle against the impacts of climate change all around the world.
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