Would it be wrong to say that photos are a powerful means of communication? It seems absurd, right? Wait till you see these 50 breath-taking photos that were selected from the 130,000 submissions to the AGORA Awards Photography Contest 2019. We hope you will be as impressed and inspired as we were.
1. Enjoying The Rain
Rain in forest means a new life for many of the living beings there, especially in areas where it doesn't rain much.
Here, the photographer was able to capture a beautiful red-eyed tree frog in West Java and we have no complaints why this photo was selected.
2. Carrying the World On Her Shoulders
This image is able to show us a life reality. There are people among us who carry a lot more weight of responsibilities on their shoulders than they're supposed to carry.
Here, an ant seems like carrying the weight of the entire world and it looks beautiful and thought-provoking.
3. A Special Spice
For centuries, humans have looked for ways to connect with gods and their ancestors. Have they succeeded? There are polarized opinions on it.
Here, you can see a woman working in an incense field. It is believed that incense connects the living people with their ancestors and gods.
4. A Glimpse of True Friendship
Lizards hunt for bugs, flies, and little insects, but due to their shy nature they hardly go near other creatures.
Here, the photographer was able to capture a cute moment between a lizard and a harmless snail.
5. It’s Meal Time
In the desert, one can say that there is not much to hunt because there are not many animals who can survive the sizzling heat.
However, this sand wasp got lucky and is going home with captured prey.
6. Pure Joy
Kids always find a way to keep themselves entertained and they seem to find happiness and joy in even those things that seem less important to adults.
These young monks found a way to enjoy their time at the Hsinbyume Pagoda.
7. Freedom Fighting Done with Music
We live in a free world and yet there are places in which people are fighting for freedom.
Here, you can see a photo that is worth a thousand words - it is the unspoken struggle of freedom.
8. Life without Colors is Dull
We have to understand that life is too short to live in black and white. There are colors that make life beautiful around us.
These women with their colorful attires are fishing in West Bengal before going to the market to sell the fish.
9. Reaching for Heaven
If we make collective efforts, we can make this world a heaven. But it seems like we are not doing much about it.
Here, it seems like The Mont Saint Michel is trying to reach heaven as it got lost in the middle of the fog.
10. A Huge Desert and Tiny Humans
The area of the Sahara desert is 9,200,000 square kilometers. And yet humans there still opt for the mode of transportation that their ancestors used centuries ago.
The photographer was able to capture a photo of Nomads traveling through the Sahara desert without worrying about the heat or distance.
11. A Daily Struggle
This fisherman is throwing nets in the water of Situ Patenggang Lake to capture fish and it looks so amazing to us, right?
However, what it really shows to us is the daily struggle of this fisherman as the fish population is decreasing due to water pollution and overhunting.
12. A Special Mother-Child Bond
One of the most beautiful things you'll ever find is the bond between a mother and a child.
The photographer waited for more than 2 hours to capture a tender moment between a chimpanzee and its infant at the Tenerife zoo.
13. Double Rainbow Spotted Accidently
A double rainbow occurs when the light is reflected twice in the drop and so they can be rare.
When crossing a bridge in the Lofoten Islands, the photographer saw the double rainbow and wasted no time in capturing it.
14. A Special Bond
For centuries, humans have domesticated animals and used them for their benefit. But what about creating a special bond with them?
This photo shows the cordial relationship between a man and a beast - it is powerful and moving.
15. Snow Horseman
This is not a movie scene. The photo enables you to have a look at the lives of the Mongolian horse herders.
It seems obvious that the entire life of a horse herder in Magnolia revolves around horses.
16. Louder than Words
The expressions on this man's face show that he has been through a lot in his life and he is oozing wisdom that he gained from his life experiences.
The photographer found this saint at a Shrine in Pakistan and he couldn't stop himself from taking the photo.
17. The Gloomy Side of Disneyland
This is not Disneyland as it is the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany.
However, the vertical panorama of the Castle shows that it looks a lot like Disneyland when it is covered in clouds.
18. A Walk in the Murky Waters
In the jungle, limited water supply means all animals have to come to one common ground to drink water.
This photo was taken in Pleiku, Central Vietnam where Buffalos are bathing freely.
19. The Hunt Begins
In the wild, you have to hunt to survive or save yourself from getting hunted.
The photographer captured a determined lynx in the Cábarceno Natural Park.
20. Freedom Beyond The Fence
To most people, it may seem like a photo of a zebra's eye, but it has more to it.
The photographer took the photo at the Madrid Safari and wanted to show what’s it like to look at freedom beyond the cage.
21. Veins of the Earth
As deforestation and pollution are causing global warming, it is destroying the earth and making it inhabitable.
The photographer tried to show the veins of the earth with a shot taken in East Sussex. We can see the Cuckmere River dividing the grasslands in a mesmerizing manner.
22. Ships Graveyard
Here is proof that nature always wins no matter how hard we try – look at Chernobyl for reference as well.
This shipwreck grave in Brittany, France has some ships that are more than 100 years old.
23. Ruling The Sea
This Msc Orchestra was visiting the harbor close to its hometown when this photo was captured.
This entry was from the contest's youngest finalist (just 18-year-old) from the Jersey Channel Islands.
24. Giving Final Touches
This photo was taken in the traditional umbrellas factory in Mandalay, Myanmar.
It may seem like the work of a single person, but it requires a division of labor to make these beautiful umbrellas.
25. Traditional Catalan Festival
This is a photo taken of the traditional Catalan festival that is celebrated with great passion.
Here we can see Correfocs dressed as devils lighting fireworks in the crowd.
26. Disappearing Trees
Although it looks like a beautiful roundabout, the other side of this photo is sad.
At the Paris’ Arc de Triomphe 12 avenues come together, but the number of trees is not much.
27. Mirror on Earth
Sometimes, it takes hours and even days to capture a perfect shot and then there is internal satisfaction as well.
This long exposure sunset photo was captured in the District in the city of Groningen, Netherlands.
28. Swimming Alone
This photo of a whale swimming alone was taken by the photographer during a road trip in California, Todos Santos.
The photographer was lucky enough to not only take the photo but also snorkel with the animals as well.
29. Nature is Beautiful
With trees all around and waterfall that can soak the lenses of the camera in seconds, the photographer did a wonderful job capturing this photo.
This amazing shot was taken in the Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, East Jave.
30. There's No Life without Water
The very existence of life on earth is impossible without water and yet we humans do not really value it.
Although typhoons are quite common in The Philippines, the people there still worship water as water is life.
31. Mother's Greatness
Here is an example of how motherly love fosters a sense of security and prosperity - it is a feeling of a love that cannot be explained in mere words.
The photographer was able to capture a beautiful photo of a Hoopoe bird feeding its hungry chick.
32. Fishing Nets Creating Hearts
As global warming and overhunting have reduced the population of fish, fishermen have to come up with new techniques as well.
These fishermen in Vietnam are spreading fishing nets to cover more area and catch fish more effectively.
33. It's Real
You may have thought at first that it must be some graphic work done by a creative artist, but it is pretty much real.
These are strawberry greenhouses located in the Aegean region of Turkey.
34. Dance to Enjoy Life
Take out your dancing shoes and hit the dance floor as it leads to a happier, healthier life.
This photo was taken at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens and no wonder why it got selected in the final 50 photos.
35. Everyone is Equal
We end our list with the last photo that has a deeper meaning than just two men holding each other.
The photographer wanted to give a message that no one is superior to another and everyone is equal.
36. A Dying Art
Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to a whole cloth and this art is dying thanks to technology and our reliance on products made by machines.
Here, we can see an elderly woman making Batik in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. She has been mastering the art for the past 35 years.
37. Blue Eye
This photo is loved by many people who are artistic, but it doesn't mean kids can't love it as well.
The photographer captured his son running through the city of Arts and Science in Valencia.
38. Diamond Ring for the Universe
You fall in love with someone and then you give them a ring to express your love for them. There’s something more beautiful than a diamond
Here is a solar eclipse that looks like a diamond ring. It was taken in 2017 from Nebraska.
39. A Passionate Love Affair
Here is a love affair of a person with the waves of the sea. Here is someone who wishes to spend most of his time surfing the wave.
The photographer was able to capture a surfer near the Nias Islands, an internationally famous surfing destination.
40. Eid Prayer Wonder
Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid two times in a year. This photo shows the Muslims offering Eid prayer.
The most beautiful thing about it is that this group has people from different walks of life - there are rich and poor all standing together and offering prayer as everyone hold equal value in the eye of God.
41. Farming Done Differently
Looking at this photo may have made you wonder that this is a different type of farming.
However, this is how workers plant rice seedlings in Northern Vietnam.
42. Contemplating Life
Sometimes in life, we need to get away from our hectic routine and look for calmness somewhere alone.
The photographer was able to take a photo of a man looking at the horizon in Kobe, Japan.
43. Just Chilling
Here is a bunch of seals that are enjoying some time under the sun.
Generally, they wait at these blocks of ice to avoid predators but these blocks are melting due to global warming.
44. It was Worth the Wait
In life, you can notice that the longer you wait for something, the more you start to appreciate it.
The woman was waiting to be served in a salami shop in Rome and the wait didn’t make her look agitated at all.
45. Everyday Routine
This photo is taken at the Cirahong Bridge located on the border of the Tasikmalaya Regency and Ciamis Regency. It was built in 1893 by the Dutch colons.
This worker is one of many workers who wake up early to go to work.
46. Preventing Further Damage
These firefighters in Bangladesh were trying to fight a fire along with the help of locals.
The photographer went near to the affected site and took a shot of firefighters trying to extinguish fire caused by power.
47. An Old Man in a Raincoat
Life goes on and those who were young yesterday have become older now.
This old man is the father of the photographer and we can feel the power and impact of this photo.
48. Sharing Food and Love
Muslims celebrate Ramadan as it is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and devotion and worship.
These women are serving 1000 plates of chicken and rice at Iftar (when Muslims break their fast at sunset).
49. The Circle of Life
Whoever comes to this world must leave it one day and this is the undeniable truth about the circle of life.
Here is a man digging a grave of a deceased person. Needless to say, we all need to try to make this world a better place before we leave it.
50. The Power of Water
As water is the source of life, it can also become deadly when it is uncontrollable.
Here, the photographer was able to capture how helpless humans feel when there is natural destruction.