Ruins of the observation tower of Opitnoe pole
Eddo Hartmann, Netherlands, Finalist, Professional Competition, Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards 2024
These photos, all shortlisted for the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards, get to the heart of human vulnerability and the fragility of nature.
Eddo Hartmann was selected as a finalist in the Landscape category for his series. sacrifice zoneA remote area in Kazakhstan that was the main Soviet nuclear testing site from 1949 to 1989.
![Eddo Hartmann is a finalist in the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 Professional Competition. The exhibition will be held at Somerset House, London from 19 April 2024 until 6 May 2024. worldphoto.org/ Photographer name: Eddo Hartmann Image name: Untitled Year: 2024 Image description: A dosimeter measures radiation on the south ridge of Lake Shagan. Series Name: The Sacrifice Zone Series Description: This series explores a remote region of Kazakhstan known as](https://i0.wp.com/images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/05105839/SEI_193807344.jpg?resize=749%2C562&ssl=1)
The image above shows a dosimeter measuring radiation levels at Lake Shagan in Kazakhstan. The area remains highly contaminated from around 450 nuclear tests conducted there. The featured photo (above) shows the remains of an observation tower at Russia's Opitnoye Pole, another area used for Soviet nuclear tests.
Hartmann photographed these landscapes using infrared light, whose red tint was reminiscent of radioactive contamination that is invisible to the naked eye. “Local scientists are using infrared technology to monitor the current status of contaminated sites,” he says. “Chlorophyll found in green plants reflects significant amounts of infrared radiation. The different shades of reflection provide valuable insight into the overall environmental health of a given area.”
![Photographer name: Jonas Kaku? Image name: Untitled Year of production: 2024 Image description: A girl climbs into an old oil tank near a decommissioned oil well in the village of Saars. Series Name: Black Gold Series Description: Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with a per capita income of USD 4,500. However, it is rich in crude oil, with more than 5.3 billion barrels of crude oil lying beneath the surface. During Enver Hoxha's communist dictatorship, the country was isolated and exposed only to Soviet and Chinese influence. These relationships led to the development of the technological capabilities needed to begin drilling Albania's oil wells, but since the fall of the regime, free market capitalism has taken hold. Various companies currently own 95 percent of the oil extraction in the Patos-Marzina region, including the Canadian company Bankers Petroleum, which was recently acquired by China's Geo Jade Petroleum. This tectonic shift in the market is causing significant social and environmental problems, including lake pollution, oil leaks, abandoned structures, contamination of groundwater wells, and emissions that impact surrounding villages. Copyright: ? Jonas Kak?, Germany, Finalists, Professional Competition, Environment, Sony World Photography Awards 2024](https://i0.wp.com/images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/05105849/SEI_193807753.jpg?resize=749%2C499&ssl=1)
Jonas Kako, finalist, professional competition, environment, Sony WPA 2024
In the Albanian village of Zales, a girl climbs onto an old oil tank (pictured above). This image, taken by Jonas Kakó, was shortlisted in the Environment category. The photo below was taken by wildlife and nature finalist Jasper Dost of an elephant charging through Livingstone, Zambia.
![Photographer Name: Jasper Doest Image Name: Untitled Year Photographed: 2024 Image Description: An elephant charges through the narrow streets of Livingston, its towering figure echoing in the night. Due to habitat changes, they emerge from the national park at dusk to forage within Livingstone. The curfew is aimed at encouraging local residents to stay indoors and reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife. Series Name: In the Footsteps of Giants Series Description: In rural Zambia, a delicate balance is disrupted as humans and elephants compete for limited resources. Settlement expansion and unsustainable agriculture encroach on elephant habitat, endangering the well-being of both human livelihoods and elephant populations. The question arises: Can humans and elephants coexist? These problems have intensified over the past decade, and the expected increase in droughts due to climate warming makes the establishment of transboundary wildlife corridors essential. However, the establishment of these corridors faces challenges posed by settlements, agriculture, and infrastructure, resulting in daily human-wildlife conflicts. As these deep-seated issues persist, it is becoming increasingly clear that local communities have an important role to play in promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants. Developing economically and socially viable models for coexistence within local communities is critical to the long-term survival of both elephants and humans. Copyright: ? Jasper Dost, Netherlands, Finalist, Professional Competition, Wildlife and Nature, Sony World Photography Awards 2024](https://i0.wp.com/images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/05105845/SEI_193817462.jpg?resize=749%2C499&ssl=1)
Jasper Dost, Finalist, Professional Contest, Wildlife and Wildlife Nature, Sony WPA 2024
The winner of the competition will be announced on April 18th, before the exhibition opens at Somerset House, London, from April 19th to May 6th.
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Source: www.newscientist.com