Portrait of Humanity 2023 – award-winning images

Beginner British Journal of Photography competition A portrait of humanity For 5 years he has been doing a monumental task – to create a kind of photography of humanity. Due to the universal tones, the competition does not reward professionalism, artistry and creativity. Instead, the jury tries to choose images that best fit the assumptions and reflect the trends and social issues of the time. It is also a wonderful look at the individuals who build our society. As the creators say, “Portrait of Humanity seeks to bring forth portraits that capture the moments that define us.”

“Many of the images that defined the past year reflect deep social divisions. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused countless war refugees to flee the country. When the brave women of Iran marched for equality, their message spread around the world. In Britain, the state of the nation is illustrated with pictures of striking workers. However, this is only a small part of the events that form the backdrop for the fifth edition of Portrait of Humanity, where we reward photographers who show the true face of this changing world.

Profit cycles

As usual, the jury of the competition awarded 3 series of photos and distributed 30 honorable mentions in the series of individual photos. The main winners of Portrait of Humanity Vol.5 were: Tatenda Chidora, Fernando Liberti and Lucia Jostwhose series touch on a wide range of topics – from ethnic origins to the concept of a modern woman to the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Tatenda Chidora – “If Covid Was A Color”

A collection of works that the artist created during the pandemic and transformed the experiences into conceptual creations. Props in the form of protective measures play the main role here. As the author explains, he created these photos to show a different interpretation of the pandemic, which is a source of hope and shows human resilience.

Fernanda Liberti – “The Tupinambás”

For centuries, the Tupinambá peoples were considered extinct. When the first Europeans came into contact with the indigenous peoples of Brazil, they decimated its population and destroyed its culture. In recent years, the people of the Serra do Padeiro community have finally regained their dignity and their land. Today, the people of Serra do Padeiro are a central example of sovereignty.

The characters depicted here can be seen as the essence of the Brazilian nation and its adaptability. Many of them are scientists, lawyers, teachers, doctors, activists or community leaders. They are the opposite of the argument that indigenous peoples cannot succeed outside their community and prove that they can be whatever they want to be.

Lucia Jost – “Capital Daughters”

“Who is the stereotypical Berliner? The myth of the modern German woman is very complex. She is widely regarded as fearless, but sometimes also irreverent. It is often said that the typical Berliner is ironic, sentimental and grumpy. But then she turns out to be completely different, and in the end you never know , how it ripens.” – we read the project description.

“I have often asked myself how I became the woman I am. Was I raised by my mother or in my hometown? Or are the two inseparable?” the author asks. It is not without reason that Berlin is affectionately called the “Mother City”. The Capital Daughters project is a tribute to the Berlin woman of today, an ode to the influence of women on the fabric of the city and its culture.

“This is my personal view of the women of my generation and the multifaceted stories of emancipation in my hometown. This long-term project is a search for the connection between a woman and the city. A search for my own origins, which led me back to motherhood, friendship and sisterhood, to Berlin’s neighbors and bedrooms “Back to the women who give us freedom to be ourselves. My photos are an attempt to show femininity. Above all, they are a sign of love for a brand new generation of creative and self-confident young women.” – adds the author.

An award-winning single photo

Below we present 30 award-winning photos from a single section and descriptions of the authors.

photo by Camila Svenson: “Every time you take a picture of me, I’m reminded that I can’t smile,” my grandmother told me. I asked him why and he replied that smiles are not real because everyone is sad inside.

photo by Gavin Doran, “I met this sadhu, or holy man, on the banks of the Ganges. I was struck by the sincerity in his eyes. Every morning we exchanged smiles and shook hands. No matter what language we speak or what religion we follow, we all seek connection.

photo by Vikram Kushwah, In large Indian families, it often happens that the older sibling takes care of the younger one. Usually the girls take on this motherly role, so watching the tender relationship between these two brothers was all the more special.

photo Deirdre Brennan, I saw Elizabeth and Edwarda O’Brien walking hand in hand and was struck by their charm. I asked what made them so attractive, and they replied, “Loving each other makes us attractive.”

photo by Kelly-Ann Bob, part of a series featuring images of Trinidadian artists, models and fashion designers. Kegan Gulstan is a model and athlete who posed at the initiative of a local designer. He told me, “Life is short and time waits for no one in this world, but it’s never too late to achieve your goals and live your dreams!”

image Tom Marshak: “Understanding the past by documenting it in pictures tells the story of us as humans. It allows us to appreciate our past and make room for the future.”

photo by Laurent Nilles, Mathieu is the leader of the Guéré tribe. Their traditional dance involves “juggling” with young girls (called “snake girls”) as they display their acrobatic skills.

photo by Tamsyn Warde, “Rachel and Andy’s relationship is rooted in their past. She spent her childhood outside in a suitcase and eventually felt at home with him. They danced all afternoon to very loud 50’s rock’n’roll.”

fie Stella Asia Consonni: “More than 20 million children live in fatherless homes. Millions more have fathers who are emotionally absent. This is an ode to fatherhood as a lifelong responsibility.”

photo Joseph P Smith, Paul and Alfred Beck inherited their family’s printing business when they were 17 and 14 years old. They stand among machines handed down from generation to generation. These are men who have worked side by side most of their lives.

photo by Iringó Demeter, “I never thought my very religious grandmother would agree to pose for a photo like this, but she posed naturally and confidently. She asked me to show it to everyone because it’s important to her that people see her like it. This is what it is.”

photo Philippa James, surrounded by friends immersed in the culture of filmmaking and the community and friendship that surrounds Lucy.

photo by Mahdiyeh Afshar Bakeshloo, I wanted to show that even though women in our modern society seem to have freedom and equality, they still carry the burden of the past. Living in the shadow of kitchen utensils is the reality of too many women in my country.

photo Sane Seven: “I realized that the real struggle is learning to accept yourself as you are… One thing we all have in common, with or without vitiligo, is that everyone is worthy of love and support.”

photo: Curtis Hughes, “Hannah and Diana met online after two failed marriages. They never thought they would find love again after so many years. With them, I felt a huge dose of love, trust and security that is often lacking in our increasingly capitalistic societies.”

photo Adam Docker, Scotto has lived off-world for 20 years in an alternative lifestyle community, creating dystopian artworks from recycled trash. He calls his experimental sculptures “Salvage Punk”.

photo Fernanda Soto Mastrantonio, Haitian migration to Chile accelerated in 2010. For a country not used to receiving migrants, this wave of migration was very striking and caused division in Chilean society. Some demanded the government to ban Haitians from entering the country, others used the situation to target mafias who deal in human trafficking or collect unreasonable rents from cramped premises. In this conflict, the Haitians were left to fend for themselves. They had to learn the language and integrate as well as possible, and they often lived in a discriminated position. I took this photo at the evangelical chapel in the Puente Alto community in Santiago. A Haitian mother and her son attend a talk given by Chilean pastors. A large number of local evangelicals learned the language in order to integrate the newcomers into the local communities. Today, even young Chilean children can read the Bible in Creole proficiently.

photo by Amy Woodward: “I positioned the models for a traditional portrait and waited for them to relax, revealing a moment of perfect tenderness.”

image as Kristina Varaks Inspired by the courage and beauty of Winnie Harlow, the famous vitiligo model, Jas decided to perform without make-up for the first time at the age of 18.

photo by Carly Zavala, “My sister and I have taken every precaution to visit our mom during the pandemic. My mom is a geographer and works closely with farmers. For this photo, she took us to a field she often visits.”

photo by Rona Bar and Ofek Avshalom, “Topaz is an Israeli actress, singer and model. She asked for perfect makeup and eyelash extensions, revealing to us the little details that are part of her identity.”

photo by Anusha Thulung Rai, 70 percent of children in Nepal do not complete secondary school due to socioeconomic conditions. Twins Ganga and Yamuna’s chances are slim, but they have decided to finish their education.

photo Bongani Tshabalala, “Montsho, meaning ‘black’, is a word used in South Africa to deride a dark-skinned person. This image explores the emotional impact of childhood bullying.”

photo: Francesco Zinno, “I took David’s portrait on a sunny day. I was amazed at how simple but beautiful he looked in pink durages. He later told me it was ‘the most innocent photograph he had ever seen'”

photo by Kirti Virmani – Karnal, Kulwant Singh Ji and Mrs. Paramjeet Kaur Ji have been happily married for 30 years. They have a beautiful ritual of matching the colors of the outfits on each trip.

photo: Marcio Pimenta, Valéria Barcellos is a multidisciplinary transgender artist who focuses on the inclusion of trans people in society. This is one of a series of portraits of the local community, referencing the black lances of Brazil’s Farroupilha revolution in the mid-1800s and highlighting the potential of the black population.

photo by Rona Bar and Ofek Avshalom, “Roy and Josef are tattoos. In the photo they are posing with their daughter. We wanted to show that love has many faces and each one of them deserves recognition.”

Photo: Supratim Bhattacharjee, This little girl saw her tea house destroyed in the floods of Super Cyclone Amphan. In the Sundarbans, the sea level rises by 3.14 mm annually.

photo by Iringó Demeter, “Otto is an 11-year-old gentle giant that my father took in when he was a puppy. I have mixed feelings about this photo. Their strong bond is the reason why my family never visited me after moving to London. My father just doesn’t want to leave Otto.”

photo by Lieven Engelen, “Bernard Mate Butu learned to swim before he could walk or talk. He is a child of the sea whose future is closely linked to the future of our oceans. He sees himself as the guardian of these giant ecosystems.”

Post-competition exhibition

All award-winning photos, as well as the 200 finalists, will be included in the summary publication of this year’s POH edition. The works are also exhibited at the Belfast Exposed photography center in Northern Ireland and at the Indian Photo Festival 18.11.-19.12.2023.

For more information, visit 1854.photography.