CGAP Announces Winner of Photo Contest in 10th Year

PR Newswire, Washington, D.C., October 27, 2015: CGAP today announced its 2015 Photo Contest winner as Sujan Sarkar of India. The winning photo, called “Paddy Cultivation”, was chosen from more than 3,300 entries from 77 countries 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.

A full gallery of the 27 winning photos can be viewed in an online photo essay.

There are 2 billion people around the world who lack access to formal financial services. Over the past decade, the annual CGAP Photo Contest has sought to document the struggles and successes of those who are often excluded from the financial system. Said Greta Bull, CEO of CGAP: “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: (1) Digital financial services and mobile banking; (2) Women’s use of financial services; (3) Microfinance for small business enterprises; and (4) Smallholder farmers and their families.

The panel of judges comprised of Nicole Crowder, Photo Editor for The Washington Post’s photography blog, In Sight; Corinne Dufka, Associate Director at Human Rights Watch and an award-winning photographer; and Leena Jayaswal, Director of Photography Program and Associate Professor at the American University in Washington, D.C.

Through a highly competitive process, the judges selected two other finalists, thematic and regional winners, and special mentions. Liming Cao of China’s photo, “Fishing with a 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.”

The People’s Choice Award went to Vikash Singh of India, whose photo, “Farming Lady,” earned more than 200 votes online.

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.

Grand Prize Winner and Finalists

• Grand Prize: Paddy Cultivation - Sujan Sarkar, India
• Second Place: Fishing with a Net - Liming Cao, China
• Third Place: Hands for Freedom - Pranab Basak, India

Thematic Winners

• Digital Financial Services and Mobile Banking: Happy Vendor - Subrata Adkhikary, India
• Women's Use of Financial Services: Creating the Creator - Prathamesh Vinod Ghadekar, India
• Microfinance for Small Business Enterprises: Sari Spider - Tatiana Sharapova, Russian Federation
• Smallholder Farmers and their Families: Work in Mountains - Tatiana Sharapova, Russian Federation

Regional Winners

• Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region: Tomato - Bülent Suberk, Turkey
• East Asia and Pacific Region: Overcoming Sandhill - Lê Minh Quốc, Vietnam
• Latin America and Caribbean Region: Eleuterio the Hairdresser - David Martin Huamani Bedoya, Peru
• Middle East and North Africa Region: Eye for Detail - Evans Claire Onte, United Arab Emirates
• South Asia Region: Young Mother Is Making a Wooden Doll - Goutam Daw, India
• Sub-Saharan Africa Region: Farida's Maize Harvest - Hailey Tucker, United States

Honorable Mentions

• Gravel Workmen - Faisal Azim, Bangladesh
• The Struggle Mother - Giri Wijayanto, Indonesia
• Morning - Do Hieu Liem, Vietnam
• Grazing in the Morning - Liming Cao, China
• For the Next Journey - Loc Mai, Vietnam
• Volcanes - Luis Sanchez Davilla, Spain
• Betel Nut - M. Yousuf Tushar, Bangladesh
• Camel Market 2 - Mohamed Kamal, Egypt
• The Worker - Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, Bangladesh
• Human Pushing Xiep (Netting ) - Phuc Ngo Quang, Vietnam
• A Small Shop Window - Rana Pandey, India
• Iron Ribs - Subhasis Sen, India
• An Old Lady Photographer - Supriya Biswas, India
• Duck Egg Collection - Tran Van Tuy, Vietnam

Media Contact:
Esther Lee Rosen, CGAP
[email protected] | (202) 458-0147

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is a global partnership of 34 leading organizations that seek to advance financial inclusion. More at www.cgap.org.