TIME and the American Society of Media Photographers are pleased to announce the winners of our Global Photographic Portraiture Competition: “The Human Element.”
Over 2,200 images were submitted across five categories, with the winning images shot by photographers from 9 different countries including Bangladesh, Poland, and Iran. The images, accompanied here by captions provided by the photographers, celebrate the diversity of the human experience while touching on themes that unite the world at this moment in time — including climate change, gender identity, loss, and love.
With gratitude to the contest judges and everyone who took the time to submit their work and show us their corner of the world, we present the winners of “The Human Element.”
Owen Harvey — Winner: Best in Show (Portraits in the World)” data-credit=”Title: David Fuentes; Caption: A matador trainee sits at the table in his grandfather’s home, surrounded by his grandfather’s artwork. David has been born into a multi-generational bullfighting family.” data-copyright=”OWEN HARVEY” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Fulvio Bugani — 2nd Place: Portraits in the World” data-credit=”Title: S/He; Caption: Gender is a complex and personal thing, and for many people, identifying as fluid allows them to express themselves in ways that they were previously unable to. My portraits of gender-fluid people in Havana, Cuba, is a testament to the power of self-expression in the face of adversity. It is a project about freedom. Despite the discrimination that they face, the members of this community continue to proudly express themselves in a way that pushes boundaries and challenges traditional gender norms. Cuba is a country of contrasts, and the gender-fluid community is one of the many thriving and dynamic aspects of its cultural landscape. This image shows Lio and Camy in an apartment in Vedado, on April 2, 2023, in Havana, Cuba.” data-copyright=”Fulvio Bugani” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Maria Louceiro — Winner: Portraits of Family” data-credit=”Title: Mayila & Marlene; Caption: Finding home in the embrace of chosen family.” data-copyright=”Maria Louceiro” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Mehri Jamshidi — 2nd Place: Portraits of Family” data-credit=”Title: The Retrospective of an Ordinary Family; Caption: By focusing on capturing portraits of my own family, I have discovered profound layers of human suffering. Photography has placed me in a position of self-discovery, where the medium itself acts as a mirror reflecting my emotions. It blurs the lines, making it challenging to see the images through my camera lens as tears well up in my eyes. It’s a vulnerable experience that connects me deeply with the subjects I photograph, allowing me to capture their stories with authenticity and empathy. ” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Aixiao Li — Winner: Portraits of Influence” data-credit=”Title: Wig in the Bathroom (from the series “I Am with Me”); Caption: When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, I was forced to stay at home for a long time. While everyone began to maintain social distance, I wanted to get in touch with people in reality. I started to explore the mostly unknown private spaces of strangers. We chatted and did everyday things together, and they lent me their clothes and accessories so I could ‘be them.’ A tacit understanding between my subjects and me was, ‘When I give you a sense of security you need to keep me safe.’ This kind of private connection involved exchanging so much personal information that we started to ‘become’ each other.” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>André Ramos-Woodard — 2nd Place: Portraits of Influence” data-credit=”Title: You should already know; Caption: I made this picture of me and my husband to remind myself that even when I have no faith in myself, I can always rely on him to be by my side. When I can’t carry my heart, he always carries it for me. He’s my muse. The title of this piece reminds me that I’ve always got an amazing support system. I love you, José.” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Sonali Ohrie — Winner: Open Category” data-credit=”Title: Mother’s Journey, 001; Caption: This image features Sonali Ohrie’s mother donning her wedding dress post-divorce, marking a pivotal moment. The narrative unfolds from a strict Hindu-Punjabi upbringing, where exploration was confined to a ‘safe’ marriage. Now, liberated from an arranged union, Sonali’s mother navigates a world previously deemed too perilous for a lone woman. The ongoing series explores her journey towards freedom, self-discovery as a single mother, and redefining ‘home’ after it fractures.” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Persia Campbell — 2nd Place: Open Category” data-credit=”Title: 2006 – Reminiscences from the border; Caption: When the war against the cartel began in Ciudad Juárez in 2006, many of us took refuge in our private spaces. While public spaces were being taken over by terrorism and violence, we made our homes a safe haven as well as an involuntary confinement. This image represents duality and contrast. The interior is fully decorated in pastels in representation of our border aesthetic, which is based on the commercial exchange with the United States. The interior decor simultaneously becomes a metaphor of the border life and the American Dream, a superficially perfect life. The violence, public spaces, and the war on drugs are displayed on the television placed in the room, depicting the active role of the media on the strategies of terrorism that affect everyone that lives in this city.” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Ryan Schude — Winner: Series” data-credit=”Title: Also On View: Unique and Unexpected Museums of Greater Los Angeles; Caption: Portraits of people associated with a selection of 63 under-appreciated museums in the greater Los Angeles area. The museums highlighted share an aspect of history and culture for the region and subject matter they represent which might otherwise go unseen. ” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Ryan Schude — Winner: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Ryan Schude — Winner: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Ryan Schude — Winner: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Ryan Schude — Winner: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Ryan Schude — Winner: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Mohammad Rakibul Hasan — 2nd Place: Series” data-credit=”Title: The Blue Fig; Caption: Global warming’s impacts are starkly uneven. Bangladesh exemplifies this disparity, suffering intensified natural disasters like floods and storm surges. Vulnerability is most evident in coastal regions, with millions dependent on the sea now imperiled by it. The Sundarbans Forest, a biodiversity hotspot, faces a double threat of rising sea levels and extreme weather. Residents confront submergence and displacement, harming sectors like fishing and farming and increasing health risks due to rising salinity. “Climate migrants” seek refuge in cities like Dhaka but face housing shortages. Urgent global climate action is needed to protect vulnerable communities and precious ecosystems like the Sundarbans. Solutions demand local resilience and international cooperation.” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Mohammad Rakibul Hasan — 2nd Place: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Mohammad Rakibul Hasan — 2nd Place: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Mohammad Rakibul Hasan — 2nd Place: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Mohammad Rakibul Hasan — 2nd Place: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>Mohammad Rakibul Hasan — 2nd Place: Series” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 90vw, (max-width: 1024px) 75vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 800px”>
