Twice a year, PWB welcomes the community to submit their best shots to be featured in our print magazine. For PWB Magazine #12, eight images were selected by our social media community, and tell a powerful story about humanity, kindness and love in the world. In celebration of PWB’s 10th anniversary, the staff at PWB also selected five photos from our open submissions that exemplify the spirit and mission of our community.

We are happy to present an in-depth look at our Spring 2019 winners, and the stories behind the images.

Dedication by Fabian Pfitzinger

Photo by Fabian Pfitzinger @TravelPixelz

Munnar, India

Kathakali artist applying make up before the daily show in Munnar. Around 8 years of studying are necessary to become a professional Kathakali dancer. Every evening, it takes the artists between 1.5 - 2 hours to put on the elaborate make up and the colourful costumes, even though sometimes only 5 or 6 guests attend the show.

Fishing Pens by Lola Reid Allin

Hoi An, Vietnam

While cycling in Central Viet Nam, I saw this photograph—that is to say, the instant I saw these men using fishing weirs to trap fish and eels in the Thu Bon River near Hoi An—I knew the image was worth preserving. The shot, into a late afternoon sun that reflected on the water, was difficult.In 1999, UNESCO declared the ancient village a World Heritage Site as an extraordinary example of a 15th to 19th century Southeast Asian trading port. Founded by the Cham culture in the 7th century, Hoi An became the most important trade port on the East Vietnam Sea. The remarkable preservation of these ancient structures that display a blend of indigenous and foreign influences results from the silting of the estuary that eventually prevented sea-faring vessels from docking.

Intimacy Among Chaos by Abi Conway

Mae Sot, Thailand

The dark green and the flicker of orange as the steps run towards the shadows of the river. The murky current that separates the land where their blood was shed to the future where their identity begins to fade. This is the life of most migrants and refugees found in Mae Sot, a town on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. This place creates a space of diversity that consists of identities of displacement that have all fled from the violence and fear. The narratives found at the Burmese market found in the center of town show the daily routines of continued normalcy amongst the chaos. Physical touch, and other forms that contradict the culture, are points of connection that have stood out to me. Through my wandering in the market, I was surprised to find a man gently holding his wife’s shoulder. As I continued shopping from the flowers to the spices, I continued to see them and was moved by the intimacy that has become foreign in my surroundings.

Pool of Turtles by Marianella Pacheco

Photo by Marianella Pacheco @marianellapacheco

Los roques, Venezuela.

This image was taken in December 2018 at a small community of fisherman in the Crasky Key, part of the Los Roques archipelago, north of Venezuela. As a part of a field trip to raise awareness and make visible community-driven initiatives on conservation. The final goal is to bring visibility to positive small community initiatives towards climate change and the environment in the context of the economic and social crisis. The image shows a number of 'Carey Turtles' (The Hawksbill sea turtle, critically endangered) in a pool made of a re-purposed plastic water tank. These turtles were rescued by community members. They pick the turtles right after they hatch in order to protect them from predators until they reach maturity to be released into the sea.

"If we don't look after them, how can we expect others do it?" said the member of the Crasky community who we interviewed.

Kamnik-Savinja Alps by Wassily Almasidis

Photo by Wassily Almasidis @wassily_almasides

Ig, Slovenia

I shot this photograph on December 25th in the small village of Ig near Ljubljana while I was wandering in the nature hoping to find something worth of capturing. I observed the mountains the time I was there and I had to wait for the perfect day to allow me a good depiction. The village has this magnificent view of a part of the Alps and that particular day the sun was very flattering on these mountains therefore I decided to set up my tripod and capture it. After a few minutes these eye pleasuring colours of the mountains disappeared so I was pretty a bit lucky with that. I tried to avert heavy editing thus resulting in a very natural looking image with little light adjustments.

The Next Generation by Elaine McKellips

Photo by Elaine McKellips @elainemckellips

A province northwest of Siem Reap, Cambodia

The founder of Collective Humanity, Kate Davis, sitting with the children of the female artisans that Collective Humanity works with in Cambodia. We spent the day making papaya salad with the artisans and teaching their children the English word for different vegetables.

In a country where women have historically been marginalized, these children are growing up with resilient, independent, and hard-working mothers. And because of that, they will be taught those same values, and hopefully chase dreams of their own.

The Grandson of a Leader by Gustavo Crespo Calderón

Photo by Gustavo Crespo Calderón @surrupu

Santa Rosa, Esmeraldas, border between Ecuador and Colombia

This is the grandson of Uberliza Bustos, a leader of the community of Santa Rosa, a small town at the frontier between Colombia and Ecuador surrounded by mangroves. This community is surrounded by the most well preserved mangroves in the world, partly because of their struggle to preserve them but also because of the guerrilla and drug traffickers that abound in the area.

Sumatran Insulated Mobile Living by Victoria Wallin

Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia

One of three Sumatran teens who lived in this mobile structure. The bottles insulate the space from the hot weather; a bicycle forms its mobile basis, and a large water jug mounted on top provides water storage.

Songs of Freedom by Michael Aboya

Accra, Ghana

A group of future leaders play “Redemption Song.”

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds! So won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?” –Bob Marley

Comforting Hands by Jessica Marteinson

Pushkar, India

Pilgrims gather on the ghats surrounding sacred Pushkar Lake, in the days leading up to Kartik Poornima, an important Hindu festival. On this particular morning the ghats were busy, full of people, vibrant colours, music and prayer. Suddenly the sound of wailing floated up from a group that was gathered just below me. I peered over the balcony and my eyes were drawn to a small circle of women, one of whom seemed to be in mourning. As I watched, those around her immediately set about to com-fort and console her, enveloping her with their outstretched hands. It left me wondering who she may have been grieving for.

The Gaze by Arek Rataj

Shijiazhuang, China

I photographed these people in 2016 in China's Shijiazhuang, a large and growing metropolis which is considered as one of the most polluted cities in the world. I lived in Shijiazhuang for almost 3 years and worked there as a conversational English teacher in Jingying Primary School.In 2015, Shijiazhuang suffered 322 days from polluted air. The thick toxic smog was surrounding everybody walking outside of their homes. People were visiting hospitals more than usual. Many children have developed pneumonia. According to the World Health Organization, people in northern China may be dying five years sooner because of high levels of hazardous particulate matter.

Women of Harar by Henry Jay Kamara

Harar, Ethiopia

This image was captured whilst weaving between the winding streets of Harar. Taken in February 2018, I was in Ethiopia capturing imagery for African Bamboo, travelling between Addis Ababa, Awassa and Harar.

Malagasy Woman in Andasibe by Todd Henry

Andasibe, Madagascar

An old woman sitting in front of a church in Andasibe, Madagascar asked me to take her photo.This very friendly woman was happy to see a foreigner in her home village of Andasibe, and she stopped me to request a photograph. The women of Madagascar are strong, hardworking, and graceful all at the same time