1ST PRIZE: Michael Morgan

“In this layered image of a Balinese priest amid his prayers, he is the bright focus at the center, anchoring the scene. We see him through the framing composition of foreground elements–the umbrellas and the silhouette of the woman on the right–feeling as if we are being given a rare glimpse into a blessed existence. The soft milky light in the background of the cave, and the flame in the woman’s hands (the same orange as the umbrellas), help reinforce the sense of the divine, rendered even more appealing by the casual secular presence of the attentive dog. “ — Elizabeth Krist, National Geographic

2ND PRIZE: Jordi Cohen

“In the moments before a dangerous confrontation, a young bullfighter looks vulnerable, the gentle light playing over naked muscle. The saint on the wall tile seems to promise protection. From the formal shirt, immaculate for the moment, dangle white ties, balanced on the other side of the frame by the black dangling suspenders. The angle of his elbow echoes the curve of the pipes. This intimate image invites our sympathies and challenges us to share his thoughts.” — Elizabeth Krist, National Geographic

3RD PRIZE: Virginia Hines

“Virginia Hines has captured, with excellent artistry and salience, the essence of this remarkable scene. The smoke from the burning lamps casts a hazy filter across our view, furnishing the image with an almost oil-painting-like quality and accentuating the hypnotic ambiance of the ritual. The nether perspective, and immaculate timing, means all participants are framed perfectly within the composition; they display a fervent reverence for their task, thus imparting the cultural significance of what we are witnessing.” – The Independent Photographer Editors