“It portrays the socio-economic condition of third world countries – lack of housing, inappropriate hygiene, and unhealthy environments increase the risk of exposure to diseases and street violence for poor children such as the boy in the picture.”

Photo: Sudipto Das/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

“The woman is returning home from the paddy field after a long day at work. She never thought a village woman could be the subject of a photograph, so when I told her I’d like to take a picture of her, she just laughed”

Photo: Abhijit Nandi/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

“On a sunny day I took a camera and set out to photograph something of the life of ants. At first I was no good as the ants moved very quickly and I was easily distracted. But gradually I was drawn to a group climbing up a nearby dandelion. They would each pull out one seed and then parachute to the ground. Unfortunately I could not photograph these moments well, but I did manage to get this one shot of the last few ants before they flew down.”

Photo: Bolucevschi Vitali Nicolai/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

“During an aerial expedition over the coast of Baja California Sur, we glided high above the water looking for whales, when a large dark spot caught our attention. As we got closer, we started to discover its nature: an unprecedented congregation of rays. The group was as thick as it was wide, all heading towards the same direction. I have asked around why this took place but no one has been able to explain it to me.”

Photo: Florian Schulz/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

“The photo was taken in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and is of two children who live nearby to the junkyard with their grandmother. Every day they search the junkyard for something useful that they can resell for money so they can buy food. If they don’t find anything their grandmother blames them seriously. Unfortunately, they had found nothing for a few days, the little boy feels very hungry … I gave them some money and a biscuit after taking this photo, but who will help them afterwards?”

Photo: Chan Kwok Hung/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

Michele Palazzi’s striking image shows a young boy and his sister during a sand storm in the Gobi desert, Mongolia.

Photo: Michele Palazzi/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

“About 400 shanty homes were gutted and four people died in this incident, including a child of six years old. However, no casualties were ever officially reported and the reason for the fire remains unknown.”

Photo: Mohammad Fahim Ahamed Riyad/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

Uttam Kamati’s photograph depicts a husband and wife watering watermelon saplings on the Teesta river bed, in West Bengal, India.

Photo: Uttam Kamati/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year

“It was an exceptionally warm day in July in southern Alberta when I came across this massive pinkish smoke plume rising high towards the sky. The big flames were thriving on the dry land and had me completely mesmerised in fear and awe.”

Photo: Sara Lindström/Ciwem Environmental Photographer of the Year