BLACK & WHITE INSPIRATIONAL GALLERY

COMPETITION JUDGED BY LARRY LOUIE

Larry Louie is an award-winning Canadian photographer whose work masterfully blends his dual careers as an optometrist and documentary photographer – two very different but complementary fields of visual perception. Focusing on marginalized communities, particularly in developing countries, his work examines the impact of globalization, poverty, and human rights, presenting both the challenges and strength of the people he documents.

His series have taken him to countries like Nepal, Myanmar, and India, where he captures the lives of people in remote villages, slums, and factories. Louie’s photography has earned him international recognition, including multiple Lucie Awards for humanitarian photography, the Traveler of the Year award, and the National Geographic Photo Essay Award. His powerful black-and-white images invite viewers to truly see: to confront social inequalities while celebrating human dignity and spirit.

IMAGES © LARRY LOUIE

YOUTH INSPIRATIONAL GALLERY

COMPETITION JUDGED BY SMITA SHARMA

Smita Sharma is an acclaimed Indian photojournalist and TED Fellow whose work focuses on human rights, gender issues, environment and social justice, particularly in South Asia. Known for her powerful storytelling, Sharma brings attention to sensitive and often underreported issues, such as human trafficking, sexual violence, and the plight of marginalized communities.

She has been on assignment for many leading international media outlets, including Human Rights Watch, National Geographic Magazine and TIME, The New York Times and featured by BBC and Channel 4. Her long term project on cross border trafficking of underage girls which is also a photobook – We Cry In Silence – has earned her widespread recognition, including awards from Amnesty International, Lucie Book Award and the Fetisov Journalism Award. Her empathetic approach, combined with her commitment to uncovering truths in challenging environments, has positioned her as a leading voice in visual storytelling that advocates for human dignity and justice, and that strongly believes in the potential of our youth to bring about positive change.

IMAGES © SMITA SHARMA

OPEN CALL INSPIRATIONAL GALLERY

COMPETITION JUDGED BY ALISON MORLEY

Alison Morley is a photography coach, Photobook editor and educator. She is chair Emerita of the Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism Program at the International Center of Photography. She has taught workshops all over the world and has worked at various magazines and newspapers as Photo Editor including the New York Times, Esquire, and LIFE Magazine. She has written on photography for Elle Magazine and is an editor for major monographs such as The Ninth Floor by Jessica Dimmock, Andrea Star Reese’s Urban Cave and Ron Haviv’s Blood and Honey; A Balkan War Journal. She curated the Daegu Photo Biennale, in Korea, 2022 and recently photo edited and wrote the Afterward for All The Colors I Am Inside by Deb Achak.

IMAGES © ALISON MORLEY