In three short years, the Prix Pictet has become the global prize for excellence in environmental photography, assembling some of the most powerful images of sustainability (or lack thereof) from around the world.
The theme for this year’s competition is Growth, which organizers call “one of the great conundrums facing humanity in the early decades of the 21st century.” True enough.
The winner will be announced on March 17, when an exhibition of shortlisted photographers opens in Paris. The winning photographer will take home 100,000 Swiss francs (around $106,000 US). Another winner will receive a commission to document the sustainability work of Tusk Trust in Kenya.
From the looks of these photos, there won’t be any easy decisions for the judges.
Photos, left to right:
Stephanie Couturier, “Usine Toyota no. 1”
Michael Wolf, “aod 39”
Christian Als, “Kibera – Shadow City”
Chris Jordan, “Midway Atoll, 2009”
Vera Lutter, “Zeppelin, Friedrichshafalen, I: August 10-13, 1999”
Thomas Struth, “Paradise 15”
Nyaba Leon Ouedraogo, “The Hell of Copper”
Taryn Simon, “‘Nuclear Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility”
Guy Tillim, “Daison Luke and Faness Bisamoro, Petros Village, Malawi”
Edward Burtynsky, “Highway #5”
Mitch Epstein, “Amos Coal Power Plant, Raymond City, West Virginia 2004”
(via designboom)