April 07, 2023: An indigenous woman stands in the forest, which will soon be cut down due to coal mine expansion in Surguja district, Chhattisgarh. The Chhattisgarh Forest Department initiated a tree-clearing operation to facilitate the commencement of the Parsa coal mining project within the Surguja division. This endeavor elicited robust resistance from the local inhabitants, compelling the authorities to suspend their activities following the felling of 300 trees in 2022. In the year 2023, an additional 200,000 trees have been designated for removal as part of the mine's expansion efforts. The ongoing struggle of the tribal community to protect the forest from the encroachment of mining activities remains unabated.

Award of Excellence

Supratim Bhattacharjee
Independent
India

Supratim Bhattacharjee is an award-winning photographer who focuses on in-depth visual storytelling projects specializing in environmental and humanitarian issues pertaining to climate change. Supratim started his first project on Sundarbans. His projects are usually long-term depicting environmental, social, and humanitarian issues. His first long-term project ‘Sinking Sundarbans’ (2009 – Ongoing) has been appreciated widely and is an eye-opener for global climate activists. This environmental and humanitarian project got selected as the “UNICEF photo of the year”, in 2021. This project depicts how the world’s biggest mangrove region is under the threat of rapid climatic change. His work has already been shown at major environmental conferences and he has won a Royal Photographic Society award in the. His works have also been published in Time, The Guardian, UN, Le Figaro, etc. He has also captured the damage that fossil fuel extraction has caused & its deadly impact on the environment. Depicted on his yet another long-term project called- ‘Curse of Coal’ (2014- Ongoing). This environmental and humanitarian project has been selected as the “UNICEF photo of the year”, 2020. His works were displayed at the Climate Adaptation Summit and Global Center on Adaptation, The Netherlands. He intends to portray the grim reality of human life in South Asian nations moving forward with the utmost honesty while upholding the dignity of the human race.

[ PORTRAITS ] A single photograph of a person or group of people that increases the understanding and appreciation of the subject(s). Selfies or self-portraits are acceptable. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 5 images. The images must be taken in 2023.

Judges for Portraits
Gülbin Özdamar Akarçay
Gülbin Özdamar Akarçay
Jessica Lim
Jessica Lim
Joshua Irwandi
Lam Chun Tung
Lam Chun Tung
Saiyna Bashir
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