'Washing water lilies', Chau Doc An Giang, Vietnam. Winner, World's Best Photos of #Work2020.
The photo above, entitled 'Washing water lilies' is the winner of the “World’s Best Photos of Work’ contest after collecting the most votes from the global users of the photography app Agora.
The winning photo, which takes the #Work2020 'Hero' title and $1,000 cash for the photographer, was chosen along with another 50 finalists from over 9,767 images submitted by amateur and professional photographers from around the world.
The women were washing water lilies, a flower that grows in many lakes in the western rivers of Vietnam. They use boats to go everywhere to pick the flowers, then wash and sell them at the local market. This has been a traditional job performed by generations of women living in western Vietnam. The edible flower is a delicacy for locals and tourists.
All 50 winning photos can be seen here
'Gold of farmer', Turkey. Worker shoveling grain. FInalist.
Quechuan Weaver' dying wool in Peru. Finalist.
'Cleaning for life', Saigon, Vietnam. FInalist.
The worker in the photo above was cleaning the streets of Saigon before the New Year’s festivities. “She was surprised to see me taking so many pictures of her,” explains the photographer, “because she considered that there were nicer things to shoot.”
The #Work2020 contest was launched on January 17 by the mobile app, where users can vote for the World's Best Photos, in which photographers can participate in different international photo contests for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.
'Working in the heights', WIndow cleaners in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. FInalist.
'Colorful Cotton', colorful threads made from lotus stems Inle Lake, Myamar. Finalist.
'Bobbin lace' craftswoman working meticulously in Portugal. Finalist.
'The sound of Bamboo brooms', A city worker sweeping the street in Ho Chi Minh city in early morning ... [+]
The Top 50 finalists of the #Work2020 competition showcase photos of workers from around the world.
“In this competition, photographers have shared their own definition of the universal concept of work through some impactful images,” said Agora's CEO & co-founder Octavi Royo. “It's fascinating to discover how people work around the world and spot the differences between cultures, contexts and countries.”
Agora, @Agoraimages is a free-to-use photography app that, according to its website, creates a community of more than 3.5 million users from 193 countries.
'Mandalay Morning Market' in Myamar. Finalist.
'Older woman cutting a sewing thread' in Nerva, Spain. Finalist.
'Girl', a young woman painting umbrellas in Mandalay, Myanmar. Finalist.
'Horses at work', daily life and work in Vienna, Austria. Finalist.
'Traditional daily work', a weaver in Myanmar wearing traditional jewelry. Finalist.
'Farmer', collecting plants in Tangerang, Indonesia. Finalist.
'Tattoo session' in Porto Vecchio, Corsica, France.
'Incense Stickmaking' in Quang Phu Cau, Vietnam. Finalist.
At first glance, some people may find the photo above simply as a beautiful scene: red incense sticks and a local wearing her traditional attire, working among them. “With this photo, I want to highlight the hard work that locals have been doing,” explains the photographer, “working under the blazing sun, wearing masks to protect them from the wood dust.”
'Farmers grow flowers and prepare to sell them in the market' in Sa Dec, Dong Thap, Vietnam. ... [+]
Sa Dec is one of the largest flower villages in the southwest region of Vietnam. To avoid flowers being damaged by floodwaters, the locals have found new ways to cultivate them on the water.
