Page 11 - Capture magazine Aug-Sep-Oct 21

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RUNNER-UP
XIAOLIAN ZHANG
Xiaolian Zhang has learnt a great deal about photography from books as well as following professional photographers from all over the world, including Ethiopia, South/North Sudan, Niger, Morocco, and Egypt, amongst other countries. Her main passion lies in humanist photography and tribal life, especially given that customs and cultures continue to disappear. Over the years she has won numerous awards of international competitions held by the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique and the Photographic Society of America (PSA), and recently she received the distinction award of Excellence from the PSA. She’s a lifelong member of the Australian Digital Photographic Association as well as being a member of Dayang Image (China).
Adorable babies. I took this particular image in 2018 at the Guérewol – an annual courtship ritual competition among the Wodaabe Fula people of Niger. The men would decorate their faces and dance for hours to impress the women, who may accept them as their lovers. The mother figures in this image were carrying their babies to attend the ritual. As I was observing them, the two babies turned suddenly at the same time to look at me, and I was able to capture this adorable moment.
WHAT THE JUDGES THOUGHT
This image stands out as a different kind of environmental portrait – its subjects are passengers who are trying to find out more about the scene just as we, the viewers, are. The lower angle chosen by the photographer allows us to engage with the children which is so important given the strong emotional expression on the left. The clothing, jewellery, patterns, haircuts, and even the pierced ear tell us more about this place, but the shallow depth-of-field allows the scene to retain some mystery.
– Matt Palmer
The dynamic contrast and the tear rolling down the baby’s cheek set a dramatic tone to this image, which, alongside the composition, entices the viewers’ curiosity as to what is happening at the gathering.
– Natalie Grono
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