Back in January, we invited photographers to send us images on the theme of Empowering Community through Local Economy, in preparation for our annual conference, which will take place online this September, Systems Change through Local Economies.
Beautiful photos depicting the rich and colourful tapestry of local economies came flooding in from all corners of the globe. From silversmiths in Myanmar to beekeepers in Portugal, from rugmakers in Iran to urban farming in London, the pictures emphasised the abundance and creativity embodied by local economies the world over.
All the eligible photos will be exhibited as part of the September conference, while the winning image will be used to promote the event across our website and social media channels.
From silversmiths in Myanmar to beekeepers in Portugal, from rugmakers in Iran to urban farming in London, the pictures emphasised the abundance and creativity embodied by local economies the world over.
With the high quality of entries, we knew it would be a hard decision to pick the winners, but luckily we had the help of expert guest judge, Kevin Peer, to make the final selection.
Kevin is a former documentary-maker for National Geographic with a media career of over 35 years. His great passions are twofold: first is the making of films that promote wonder, understanding, and an engaged love for humankind and Earth. Second is the teaching of the technical, cognitive, intuitive and creative techniques and processes that are necessary for the making of moving, effective and award-winning documentary films. For Kevin, empowering future generations of inspired and skilled filmmakers is an honor and a calling.
1st Prize: Local Potter Making Traditional Clay Pot, by Avijit Ghosh

Judge’s comments: “I loved everything about this image. The composition, which is loaded with context and story without being cluttered; the vibrancy of the colors in the central area and the subtlety of colors everywhere else; the overall feeling of intimacy and nurturance and peacefulness and possibility.“
Runner-Up: Lilies and Lotus, by Shibasish Saha

Judge’s comments: “This image gifts us with a striking and unique perspective, revealing the utilitarian activity of harvesting as a phenomenon of symmetry and beauty.”
Runner-Up: Broad Bean Harvest, by Leyla Emektar

Judge’s comments: “This image is a window into a world of tradition, self sustenance, and living in close association with Earth. The composition, the colors, the moment itself have all been rendered with great skill and care.“
Honourable Mentions
The following two photos made it onto the short short list.
Weaving Abel, by Anthony Into

Photographer’s description: An Ilocano woman is shown weaving an “abel”. Abel is an Ilocano word for the traditional textile of Vigan and the Ilocos Region in the Philippines. The abel cloth is known for being a strong, colorful material. Weavers use a wooden handloom in order to create varied and unique designs.
Water Way, by Pranab Basak

Photographer’s description: This picture was captured in the bordering areas of West Bengal. In contrast to many other parts of India, the women here have come forward to uplift their socio-economic status, formed self-help groups, make fishing nets and they are now earning their livelihood by selling the fish they catch at the village markets.
They are sending their children to school. This is one of the most remarkable examples of women empowerment that I’ve seen.
Visit the Submissions thread on our forum to see all the entries that came in through our forum. Please note that a small number of entries were submitted via email. While you are there, why not sign up as a member to get involved in discussions and future activities.
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Read more about the programme for our 3-day conference, Systems Change through Local Economies, September 23rd-25th.
Featured image by Ufuk Turpcan
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