Eight other Indian-origin photographers were also recognized in the contest.
By Raghavendra M
Indian origin photographer Sujan Sarkar has won the grand prize at the 10th annual Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) photo contest.
CGAP announced the results of its 2015 Photo Contest recently, in which Sarkar’s photo called ‘Paddy Cultivation’ was chosen among more than 3,300 entries from 77 countries for the grand prize.
In a statement, CGAP said that the photo was chosen for its breathtaking composition and immersive quality. The photo showed workers in a paddy field in West Bengal, India, capturing one of the key themes of the contest – smallholder farmers and their families.
The panel of three judges said Sarkar’s photo symbolized the family’s livelihood, home, and how they support themselves.
Greta Bull, CEO of CGAP said, “The Photo Contest enables us to show in a very visual way the resilience and challenges facing the working poor. It puts a face on financial inclusion and the work we do.”
The 2015 CGAP Photo Contest invited submissions in four key areas that are instrumental to advancing financial inclusion: digital financial services and mobile banking, women’s use of financial services, microfinance for small business enterprises and Smallholder farmers and their families.
Liming Cao of China’s photo “Fishing with the Net” won second place for its beautiful framing, unique softness, and evocation of movement. The third place prize was awarded to Pranab Basak of India for the photo, “Hands for Freedom”, which the judges agreed captured the essence of love – something that is “hard to photograph.”
Meanwhile, the People’s Choice Award went to Vikash Singh of India, whose photo, “Farming Lady,” earned more than 200 votes online.
Leena Jayaswal, one of the judges, stated that what stood out to her most “was how the photographers understood their subjects and knew when to release the shutter. These photographs evoked emotions, from strength to humor, to love.”
The 2015 Grand Prize winner will receive a $2,000 gift certificate for photography equipment and a display of his winning photograph on the Times Square Jumbotron in New York City.