Perspectives received over 120 entries for our 2019 photo contest from SAIS students, alumni, and community members around the world. The winning photos are below, and they will be on display in the International Development Department on the DC Campus.
Read the story behind Logan Ma’s first place photo here.
Afternoon on the U Bein Bridge
Amarapura, Myanmar
By Logan Ma
Pedestrians make their way across the U Bein Bridge near Amarapura, Myanmar. Constructed in 1851 from the teak columns of an abandoned royal palace, the bridge is both the oldest and one of the longest teak bridges in the world. During the summer rainy season, rising water levels typically submerge the bridge. In recent years, however, climate change has contributed to reduced and irregular rainfall, threatening the surrounding region with drought.
Applause
Yunnan, China
By Xinyuan Ji
Captured at a ceremony held to welcome volunteer teachers in a rural primary school.
A Fisherman
Chu Lai, Vietnam
By Keyi Tang
I took this picture during my field research at the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, which was established in 2003 as Vietnam’s first economic zone. Although it aimed to replicate Shenzhen’s model by turning a fishing village into a modern metropolis, unlike Shenzhen’s growth miracle, 15 years later, Chu Lai remains largely rural.
All Aboard the School Raft
Kadavu, Fiji
By Connor MacKenzie
Primary school students from the Yawe District School use a “bilibili” to cross the river separating their village from the school compound. A bilibili is a hand-powered bamboo raft that can ferry anything across shallow water. The idea of “Fiji Time” is captured through the bilibilis leisurely pace; do not worry about time, they say, you will get there when you get there.
Fire in the "Belly"
Dhaka, Bangladesh
By Sushmita Jena
A kitchen fire engulfed 535 houses owned by 86 inhabitants (mastaans) in a Karail Slum, located in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
Chhattedi
Bhuj, India
By Akshatvishal Chaturvedi
The Royal Cenotaphs (18th C.) are a great example of the traditional designs and architecture of the Kachchh region of India. The main complex was destroyed during the 2001 earthquake that rocked Bhuj city and killed more than 20,000 people. This image is a part of a storytelling project of the internationally funded 2001 Gujarat Earthquake recovery program.
A Long-Awaited Peace
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
By Keyi Tang
Before the Eritrean president visited Ethiopia in 2018, the two countries have been in a diplomatic standoff for over two decades. I happened to witness Ethiopians’ horse riding on the capital’s main avenue, waving the flags of the two countries to celebrate the long-awaited peace.
Insanity for Some, Ambition for Others!
Chamonix, France
By Huma Qadir
Wandering in the highest places, where you cannot haste, look well at each step and think from the beginning about the end. As the cable cars back to town were about to shut down for the day, this couple had 13 minutes to descend this rock, or else spend the night there.
Left Behind
Mexico City, Mexico
By Logan Ma
On a sunny afternoon in Mexico City's historical center, one often hears the sad, creaky tunes of the city's “organilleros.” A century ago, these musicians were ubiquitous and beloved by residents. But as time changed, so did tastes. Many now struggle to make a living. While the world around them changes, they remain stuck in place, relics of a bygone era.
Old Railways in a Metropolis
Shanghai, China
By Xinyuan Ji
Some old railways are maintained and still in use in Shanghai. They are indispensable components of urban development and collective memory.
The Red Planet
Wadi Rum, Jordan
By Clarisa Vargas
While studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, my university took us on a weekend field trip to Wadi Rum. It was a beautiful depiction of Bedouin culture. As a fun fact, we learned that Wadi Rum serves as the set for space movies, among which is The Martian, starring Matt Damon.
Lunch Break
Tagong, China
By Logan Ma
During a lull in highway construction, a Tibetan worker rests outside the monastery in Tagong, a small town in the western highlands of China's Sichuan Province. Historically part of the Tibetan region of Kham, the area is experiencing rapid change as development pours in from the government. While living standards have risen, many bemoan the erosion of the traditional Tibetan way of life.
Salwar Kameez
Mhaswad, Maharashtra, India
By Yifan Powers
As part of its youth empowerment through sports program, the Mann Deshi Foundation in Mhaswad, Maharashtra, India takes local youth, mostly from farming families, on a trek every Sunday. This young woman was trekking in her “salwar kameez,” as it's one of her only sets of clothes, and paused to take in the view. The landscape is desiccated as it hasn’t seen substantial rainfall since 2012.
Three Generations
Jodhpur, India
By Logan Ma
A family gathering in Jodhpur, India during Mawlid, the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's day of birth. For many, Mawlid is a time of reunion with loved ones, marked by feasts and reflections on the Prophet's life.
Weekend Routine for a Cambodian Household
Kandal, Cambodia
By Chao Wang
A Cambodian girl is helping her mother selling street food at a local market. In rural Cambodia, livelihoods are mainly dependent on produce and income from agriculture, fishing activities, and small business. Many school-aged children help their families with these activities after school and during vacations.
Conga
La Habana, Cuba
By Lucrezia Scaglioli
A group of street musicians is playing “Conga” around La Habana Vieja. Conga is a typical cuban music which expresses a sense of community, identity, and religiosity all at once. Conga music is related to the Afro-Cuban religion, Santeria; it references the ancestral music played by the African slaves in Cuba during the Colonial Era. This style of music has survived until now, outliving political and social change.
Mehrangarh Fort
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
By Sofija Aleksandravicius
The heat which accompanies the arrival of spring in Rajasthan is unbearable—locals leave their homes only at night. Visitors during this time are few and far between. Yet this older woman swept the floor of the Mehrangarh's courtyard with sustained attentiveness—almost as if she were preparing for the return of the fort's original residents.
Kurdish Dreams
Leros Greece
By Emma Bapt
Aarfu (56), Ali (19), Masko (18), and Rezan (56) all come from Kurdish Syria. This picture was taken during my time spent as a volunteer on the island of Leros. Less than 100km from Turkey, it is where hundreds of families and young people have come since 2016 at the peak of the migrant crisis. These four men spent many months on the island, awaiting permission to reach mainland Greece and continue their journey to Europe.
Ibtisam
Petra, Jordan
By Fride Lia Stensland
During the hot months of the summer holidays, 8-year-old Ibtisam wakes up every morning at dawn to set up her stand in the ancient, archaeological city of Petra in Jordan. Surrounded by towering rocks, narrow gorges, and rock-cut architecture, she climbs up on a deserted sandstone hill and meticulously lies out her handmade jewelry, waiting for tourists to pass by. When I ask if I can take a photo, she quickly wraps her scarf around her head. “You are welcome,” she says. “Ahlan wa sahlan.”