Earth.Org is thrilled to unveil the exceptional winners of the 2024 Climate Crisis Photography Competition among more than 600 entries. Today, we celebrates the remarkable talent and vision captured by the winning photographers, whose shots highlighted beauty, fragility, and urgency of our planet’s environmental challenges. Join us as we embark on a visual journey, embracing the power of photography to inspire change and deepen our connection with the natural world.
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1. WINNER: ‘Best Overall’ (Md Shahadat Hossain, Bangladesh)
About the photographer
“I’m a professional cinematographer from Bangladesh, and photography is my cherished hobby. Filmmaking and photography have always fascinated mebecause they allow me to discover happiness and express myself, especially during times of depression. These creative outlets have brought immense joy and fulfillment into my life.”
About the photo
The photo captures women working diligently at a recycling factory. It was taken on a summer afternoon in Bangladesh.
“I decided to take this photo because I felt a deep sense of admiration for these women. They were contributing financially to their families and, unbeknownst to them, playing the role of true heroes by helping to save the environment through recycling. Their hard work and dedication inspired me to highlight their often overlooked contributions. To me, this photo represents the strength, resilience, and heroism of women. It symbolizes their crucial yet unacknowledged role in both their families and in protecting our planet. These women are the unsung heroes whose efforts in recycling are making a significant impact on the environment.”
2. WINNER: ‘Climate Action’ Category (Katherine Cheng, Hong Kong)
About the photographer
“I am a documentary photographer and videojournalist based between Canada and Hong Kong. Having always been drawn to understanding our world, the multitude of perspectives within it, and the driving forces behind our actions, I pursued International Relations and Critical Development during my studies. Throughout my life, I’ve experienced the power of photographs as portals to the lives of others, transcending geography, history and language. Ever since then, I’ve been seeking to merge the two, exploring how the visual medium can be used to communicate inner worlds, bridge gaps and spur social change. In the past decade, I’ve been especially focused on themes of climate change, geopolitical trajectories and cultural identity, as humanity navigates an uncertain future. Most recently, my work has been published in the Washington Post, Globe and Mail and The Narwhal.”
About the photo
The photo documents a shoreline oil spill clean-up research project at the Experimental Lakes Area in Canada.
“Comprised of 58 small, pristine lakes, freshwater scientists have spent the last half-century bringing their laboratory experiments to the ecosystem level, in the world’s largest outdoor experimental freshwater research facility of its kind. From studying algae blooms to coal-fired power plant mercury and microplastics to pharmaceutical waste, these lakes have offered researchers concerned about the future of freshwater an opportunity to test theories and seek potential solutions. For Canada, which has 7% of the world’s renewable freshwater, these experiments represent both the growing urgency to address such challenges and an opportunity for the world to collaborate on such a borderless issue. I sought out the Experimental Lakes Area as I was captivated by the decades-long research being conducted on its premises that has translated to real-world policy changes, and how it was able to bring together the threads of so many freshwater stories into one.
The photo represent a need for us to look at the issues of climate change on a wider scale, as well as collect concrete examples of those who are in search of potential solutions and tackling root causes. The scale of the climate crisis can be overwhelming, and I believe that such an approach is necessary for us to fully grasp the full scope of challenges that face us today and ask what steps we’ll have to take next.”
RUNNER UPS ‘Climate Action’ Category
3. WINNER: ‘Wildlife in Peril’ Category (Katherine Cheng, Hong Kong)
About the photo
The photo was taken during the 2023 annual bird layout by FLAP Canada in Toronto, Canada.
“For almost 30 years, the non-profit organization has been focused on keeping birds safe from colliding with glass windows. From helping injured birds, tracking collision data, and raising awareness, the small organization has sought to help migratory birds navigate modern cities such as Toronto, where towers of glassy skyscrapers mirroring the sky have formed makeshift mazes. During the peak of bird fall migration in North America, an estimated 4 billion birds will navigate these built environments as they travel southward to their wintering grounds – symbolic of how the intertwined urban-natural environment continues to transform. I first came across the work of FLAP Canada many years ago, and was intrigued by the work that they did and how they showcased it. I felt that it was an incredibly impactful way to illustrate the unseen effects that humans have on our world, and how we might change it moving forward.”
RUNNER UPS ‘Wildlife in Peril’ Category
Featured image: Earth.Org Photographer Amish Chhagan.
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The 2025 Earth.Org Photography Competition is coming soon. Check out our website and social media channels and subscribe to our newsletters so you don’t miss out on our updates!
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