After 9 Months Of Competition And More Than 130,000 Submissions, Here Are The Most Breathtaking Pics Taken This Year (50 Pics)
After 9 months of competition and more than 130,000 submissions from photographers all over the world, the Top 50 finalists for the #AGORAawards2019 have been revealed.
From seals resting on the Antarctic ice to Nomads crossing the Sahara desert, this selection will make you travel across the continents to discover the wonders of Planet Earth and its various cultures, people and incredible landscapes.
The AGORA Awards 2019, hosted by free-to-use photography app AGORA images will reward the best image of the year with the grand prize of $25,000 for its photographer. Unlike any other contest, the third edition of the AGORA Awards recognizes the single most voted photo of the year, without any photography genre categories.
The competition has been running throughout 2019, where photographers from all around the world - amateurs and professional alike - could submit their best shots. The 50 finalists, coming from 21 different countries, are now competing to cast the most votes and will be awarded on November 6th during the official AGORA awards ceremony taking place in Barcelona.
Which of them will win the life-changing prize? See them now and have your say!
More info: agoraimages.com | Facebook | youtube.com
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Ant Balancing The Earth
It took the photographer 4 hours to take this shot of an ant carrying water drops spread on a piece of thread.
By @anadgphotography (Philippines), Analiza De Guzman/AGORA images
The Best Friends
A lizard and a snail having a cute moment.
by @andihalil (Indonesia), Andi Halil / AGORA images
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Reaching For Heaven
The Mont Saint Michel, France, lost in the middle of the fog.
By @thedronelad (UK), Konrad Paruch/AGORA images
Been there. It's an amazing view even from the ground and especially from the top
It's like some fantasy setting. Where are the elves and dwarves and fairies?
it could be nice, if it wasn't transformed in tourist trap... and do some stairs training before :3
Load More Replies...Incense Work
In Vietnam, incense is known to connect living people with ancestors and gods.
By @ptkhanhhvnh (Vietnam), Khánh Phan/AGORA images
Does anyone have any context knowledge to add to this gorgeous composition of colours and shapes? Is this a photo of a display? Of the manufacturing process? Preparations for a ritual/festival/holiday?
Hi Monika, thanks for your comment! Check out this video where the photographer explains the context of the picture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GlC6u4Lj_I&list=PLQmKNoK5xJ6zCMNDlOVqou3IsJMroZmju&index=37
Load More Replies...Songs Of Freedom
More than a photo - an unspoken struggle for freedom and belonging, inspired by Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song'.
By @eighthman (Ghana), Michael Aboya/AGORA images
Mother's Goodness
Perfect timing for this shot of a Hoopoe bird feeding its chicks.
By @phyomoe (Myanmar), Phyo Moe/AGORA images
Rainy Day
Red-eyed tree frog in West Java.
By @hendymp (Indonesia), Hendy MP/AGORA images
For some reason, I always though Red-eyed Treefrogs were Central and South American...
Echoes Of The Unknown
The photographer wanted to display the cordial relationship between a man and a beast.
By @theeastwoodexperience (Ghana), Clement Eastwood/AGORA images
And they became one. I get what the photographer is saying, but I cringed when they referred to the horse as a beast.
This is what God is. When people say God isnt real? This photo captures who God is, and what he stands for. There is nothing more pure than love itself.
If people were kind to animals, they would be kind to each other. Simple as that.
Load More Replies...In tune with man, but his ears show he is alert for any danger around them
Oh, I thought you were speaking about yourself, not the horse 🤭
Load More Replies...2 of God's most wonderful creations. Both are loved and share that love.
Unfortunately for all of us, this reciprocal love between human animal and animal is not so common.
Load More Replies...Three are a lot of men (meaning humans, but staying in canon with the caption) being far more of a beast than this one they name beast.
Agree; unbelievably great number of people possess considerably less humaneness than those creature we call animals.
Load More Replies...Alone In The Desert
The shot was taken from a high dune in Merzouga, Morocco, where Nomads are seen moving through the Sahara desert.
By @carlesalonsophotography (Spain), Carles Alonso/AGORA images
Southeast corner of Morocco, which is the beginning/end of the Sahara. I watched the sand change color from one moment to the next as the sun came up. There was a scarab beetle not far away making little tracks in the sand. Sleeping on the auberge roof and seeing the most stars I’ve ever seen. I stayed at Oceans des Dunes, run by Mohamed and his brother Ahmed. It was wonderful!
Run And Fun
Young monks having fun at the Hsinbyume Pagoda.
By @lingling25 (Myanmar), Ling Ling/AGORA images
Colors Of Life
Women fishing in West Bengal before heading to the market.
By @pranab_basak (India), Pranab Basak/AGORA images
Proof art exists in peoples everyday lives, even when they are just fishing before heading to the market!!! Makes a person how often do we miss the art around us!?!
This is so colorful. A daily, hard Life, made attractive, the magic of a photographer
Under The Light Making Batik Crafts
Batik making in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth. The lady pictured has been mastering this art for the past 35 years. With this picture, the photographer hopes to keep this tradition alive.
by @_bimo_ (Indonesia), Bimo Pradityo/AGORA images
Remember learning how to do this at school - it's lovely fun and can leave you with beautiful fabric.
Batik is a beautiful craft,I tried it years ago and the result is always breath taking.
Rainbow Reine
Double rainbow spotted as the photographer was crossing a bridge in the Lofoten Islands.
By @uglefisk (Norway), Paal Lund/AGORA images
We get a lot of rainbows in FL. I saw one end in the water once. So lovely.
Look up uglefisk's site, there are fantastic photos that are balsam for the soul to see.
Reitdiephaven
Long exposure sunset shot in the District in the city of Groningen, Netherlands
By @anskar (Germany), Anskar Lenzen/AGORA images
Amazing that the houses are right on the water. I would love to visit the Netherlands sometime.
It is a beautiful place - very well worth it if you get the chance. ☺
Load More Replies...You know you can upload this picture, and transfer it to a puzzle site? You can then download the puzzle, print it, and have it professionally finished and mounted. Great for the wall behind the sofa. The puzzle would take a long time to complete - so put the cats on the balcony, relax and enjoy it.
Load More Replies...I am not sure I would ever get any work done at all if I had my boat right outside my living room. Nice!
Sand Wasp With Prey
This wasp is on a mission to bring its prey home!
By @pokokemoto (Indonesia), Imam Primahardy/AGORA images
What a shot! But let me officially state that I am damn glad that wasps are not our size!
What an amazing picture! Seeing a wasp up close and personal like this gives us an idea of how they live.
I have been trying to film them (the BBC way lol) this summer, so I am greatly impressed by this shot!
Veins Of Earth
The Amazon-like shot was taken in East Sussex, where the Cuckmere river divides the grasslands.
By @hugohealy (UK), Hugo Healy/AGORA images
I grew up near there. Lovely place for walking, and there's a fair few oxbow lakes, for general geographical interest!
Load More Replies...Drone picture? Drones have really changed the face of photography, in terms of what people are able to capture now. Amazing.
Yes, it's a drone picture :)
Load More Replies...Motherly Love
More than a 2-hour wait for this photographer to capture a tender moment between a chimpanzee and its infant at the Tenerife zoo.
By @santiagolopezfotografia, Santiago López/AGORA images
Eh, nope. That is sadly not the case. Most, not all.
Load More Replies...Wild Look
Lynx spotted in the Cábarceno Natural Park.
By @saavedraphotography (Spain), Sergio Saavedra/AGORA images
Me: Here kitty kitty, come here kitty, let me hug you and love you foreverrrrrrrrrr Kitty: Mmmmm stupid huummaan.... snack time!!
Animals, as opposed to humans, only kill when hungry, or feel threatened..... and they have good reason to be fearful: their habitat, their home, is raided and destroyed by almighty inhumane human beings.
Load More Replies...Unknown
Taking this shot without getting his lenses soaked was a hard exercise for this photographer in Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, East Java.
By @jprphotos (UK), Jonathan Rogers/AGORA images
nature is amazing and we look so insignificant compared to it's power
We look insignificant, but we are not powerless and we use our power, our mind for the destructive purposes. Those of us who appreciate nature are powerless to protect it because there isn't more of us; human indifference is more destructive than human greed and cruelty.
Load More Replies...Honestly one of the best waterfall ever! I may mot been to a lot of waterfalls, but Tumpak Sewu is definitely waterfalls that you need to go if you visit Indonesia.. Thankful enough that i only live 2 hour from this magnificent Waterfall
Throwing Nets
Fisherman in action at the Situ Patenggang lake.
By @g13nnn (Indonesia), Glenn Valentino/AGORA images
You want to talk about hard work, no guaranteed pay out, always hot or cold, long sleeves/pants to protect skin from the sun. AMAZING picture !!!!!
Beautiful. Kinda looks like a giant jellyfish is about to attack him.
Expressions
Saint met in a Pakistani Shrine.
By @asimijaz (Pakistan), Asim Ijaz/AGORA images
This photo is a source of endless curiosity and fascination for me. The eyes. The hair. The different textures. The map across his face. His expression Why him? Did he pose or was this candid? We have been so regularly exposed to the concept that Middle Eastern people can have such malicious intent. So, is this man "good"? Is he "evil"? This is such an amazing photo.
Yes , eyes are not brown but Amber Magnificent this a awesome photo of looking deep into soul .
He's got all the answers about the meaning of life, peaceful living, etc. We, of course, won't pay any attention.
Among The White Umbrellas
Traditional umbrellas factory in Mandalay, Myanmar. The production of a traditional umbrella cannot be done by a single person or within a day: there is a division of labor in the making of a single umbrella. Each worker is responsible for different parts to finish one umbrella.
By @aungthuya (Myanmar), Aung ThuYa/AGORA images
Even her hat fits in well with the shape of the umbrellas.
Load More Replies...If you like slave labour it's great! It is cheaper to use humans to mass produce these than it is to maintain machines. After doing this job for years, her hands will be destroyed with arthritis and she will have permanent back pain. But it makes a pretty picture, so that's ok, then. ...///... I made this comment yesterday and it was deleted. I guess facts are not what BP wants to deal with.
Thanks for your comment! We're a platform allowing people to tell a visual story and we do support a better world, by helping people show their reality through their lens, and shedding light on both positive and negative world situation.
Load More Replies...These could be made by machines, but it's cheaper to use people for these menial jobs than to maintain the machines. You are admiring slave labour.
No - we are admiring the photograph. There's a big difference.
Load More Replies...Nature Always Wins
Shipwreck graves in Brittany, France. Some boats have been there for more than 100 years.
By @charliieb (Monaco), Charlie Berthaume/AGORA images
Seven shipwrecks together suggests some kind of event or phenomena to cause that. Or is it a "sea dump".
Too neat to be wrecks, they were probably abandoned there whenthey became obsolete or too old.
Dark Disneyland
Vertical panorama of the Neuschwanstein Castle.
By @tommimatz (Germany), Tommi Matz/AGORA images
It's not actually Disneyland. This is the castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty's castle at the entrance of Disneyland
Load More Replies...Sea Of Ice
The professional wildlife photographer took this photo in Antarctica, where crabeater seals like to rest on ice for a nap.
By @florianledoux (France), Florian Ledoux/AGORA images
Look how scarce the ice chunks are. All of that should be frozen. We are destroying our own earth.
The Most Beautiful Roundabout In The World
Vertical panorama of Paris' Arc de Triomphe, where 12 avenues come together.
By @henrydo (USA), Henry Do/AGORA images
How are there no cars going around it? Did they change that since I've been to Paris?
"Arc de Triomphe, in full Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, massive triumphal arch in Paris, France, one of the world’s best-known commemorative monuments. It stands at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly called the Place de l’Étoile), the western terminus of the avenue des Champs-Élysées; just over 1.2 miles (2 km) away, at the eastern terminus, is the Place de la Concorde. Napoleon I commissioned the triumphal arch in 1806—after his great victory at the Battle of Austerlitz (1805)—to celebrate the military achievements of the French armies. The arch, designed by Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin, is 164 feet (50 metres) high and 148 feet (45 metres) wide. It sits in a circular plaza from which 12 grand avenues radiate, forming a star (étoile)." https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arc-de-Triomphe
I’m not sure why someone down-marked your post (I’ve put it back to neutral, at least for the moment)—you’ve credited your source. Thanks for the info!
Load More Replies...Ah come on people , can't you see the traffic at each entrance to the circle. Someone had clout to hold back all traffic so pictures can be taken.
Yep - it never looks this clear of cars. When going around this roundabout it is very hard to appreciate it as cars are coming from so many points. It's a fairly manic kind of experience. Far better to see it like this.
Load More Replies...I was going to say that.. true its not even close to this photo
Load More Replies...Ive been there many times and never noticed the compass rose in the circle. You can only see this symmetry from the air.
Hearts On The Sea
Aerial photos of fishing nets in Vietnam.
By @phannguyen5285 (Vietnam), Nguyen Phan Xuan/AGORA images
We are badly, insanely badly overfishing and it's ruining the oceans but goddamn all these fishing pics are amazing.
Um we are insanely over populating so yeah we are over doing about mmm 100%
Load More Replies...Oeil De Zèbre
Shot taken at the Madrid safari.
By @s.p.marin (Spain), Sara Pinto Marin/AGORA images
That is the first thing I saw and that’s the only thing that struck me about the photo, heartbreaking.
Load More Replies...If it has eyes , it has a soul. I can see that beautiful soul by looking into that eye.
Madrid.... it makes me cringe, that poor animal will be most likely tortured to death sooner or later.
Diamond Ring Total Solar Eclipse
Snapshot of the 2017 total solar eclipse, pictured from Nebraska.
By @edoindo (USA), Edward Panjaitan/AGORA images
It was foggy in my San Francisco neighborhood on the morning of the eclipse and all I saw was a brief, mild darkening
I was a couple hours south and I didn't even see that much.
Load More Replies...I flew to Tennessee and it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Everyone needs to see totality before they die.
We only had a partial eclipse here in Colorado. But I plan to be in Dallas in 2024 to see a full one. I have family there. This photo is awesome.
My son saw this he was in total awe of it. He was a PhD. In Physics .
Dancer
Taken at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens.
By @markellos (Greece), Markellos Plakitsis/AGORA images
If this contained the sum total of the information an alien had on the human species, then how would the humans be described?!? ;-)
If any alien knows something about a human, I hope it's about a dancer.
Load More Replies...Snow Horseman
Winter in Mongolia.
By @zayyarlin (Myanmar), Zay Yar Lin/AGORA images
The lone horseman contrasting in red makes this an eye-catching photo.
I don't like the human with raised hand in this otherwise fantastic foto.
As I said, poor animals, they have to face harsh winter and cruel humans.
Load More Replies...Mongolians are renowned for their horsemanship. Think Genghis Khan!
La Mujer Que Espera
Women waiting to be served in a salami shop in Rome, Piazza de la Rotonda.
By @paulaaranoa (Argentina), Paula Aranoa /AGORA images
The shop keeper gives me the feeling that if you ask for 100 grams of salami the scale will say 100. Not 99, and not 101. It will say 100. You cannot possibly become more professional.
I had to really look to find the woman. This kind of reminds me of a very detailed diorama, or a dollhouse setup, especially as there is no front wall.
Undefined
Snapshot taken during a road trip in California, Todos Santos. The photographer was lucky to snorkel with the animals afterwards!
by @jordisark (Spain), Jordi Sark/AGORA images)
When The Buffalo Comes Back
Buffalos bathing in Pleiku, Central Vietnam.
By @hoangquocvinh, Hoang Quocvinh/AGORA images
Stunning the contract between the buffalo and water. Nature is amazing
I don't know which color of the water frightens me more, the churned up muddy water or the normally lime green color.
It also looks like the color is leaching from the buffalo into the water. Pretty, in its own way.
Water Is Life
Although typhoons are pretty common in The Philippines, the citizens still worship the life-giving element of water.
by @froirivera (Philippines), Froi Rivera/AGORA images
It doesn’t matter if it is staged! When you think about it we all stage our photos to some degree! :)
Load More Replies...A lot of their water sources are polluted, so catching rain makes sense.
Rain water can also be polluted. It has microplastics, for example. And acidcrain exists, too. :(
Load More Replies...In Retrospect
Lonely man looking at the horizon in Kobe, Japan.
By @patriciasoon (Malaysia), Patricia Soon/AGORA images
I don't see him as lonely, just a guy enjoying some rare solitude. I'm envious.
How do you know that this man is lonely? Perhaps he comes here in the morning to enjoy the solitude before his busy day begins.
Eid Prayer
The Eid prayer is celebrated on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, after the fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
By @azimronnie (Bangladesh), Azim Ronnie/AGORA images
Strawberry Greenhouses
Young women working in a strawberry field, located in the Aegean region of Turkey.
By @leylaemektar (Turkey), Leyla Emektar/AGORA images
We think of strawberries as bright, vibrant, lush things. Such an interesting concept, that they're grown in such a monotonous, bland, colorless environment.
Rain
Powerful portrait of the photographer's father under the rain.
By @wunderbilder (Germany), Perry Wunderlich/AGORA images
Farming
Shot of the rice fields in Northern Vietnam, where workers plant the rice seedlings for the upcoming harvest.
By @diepvan (Vietnam), Diep Van/AGORA images
Vietnam’s southern delta is able to support three rice plantings a year (two for sticky rice, which has a longer growing season) and is the world’s most bountiful rice grower; Thailand is second with two and one, respectively.
I saw a similar scene while traveling through China. Terrace farming. Chinese farmers in California also used it.
Six Feet Under
Foggy morning in Ukraine, where the photographer spotted a man digging a grave with his bare hands in a little cemetery.
By @davidedziegler (Spain), David Carbonell/AGORA images
To me it looks like he's using a shovel and probably a pick too, not his bare hands.
Yes, perhaps the caption should have said, "digging a grave by hand"!
Load More Replies...The Lights Of Life
Early morning shot of the Cirahong Bridge, located on the border of Tasikmalaya Regency and Ciamis Regency. The bridge was built in 1893 by the Dutch colons.
By @dikyedarling (Indonesia), Dikye Ariani/AGORA images
It's totally different view from inside the train when the train passing that bridge (Yogyakarta to Bandung).... Amazing view.
At a glance, it looks like an alien coming out of its ship. Beautiful shot.
Blue Eye
The photographer pictured his son running through the City of Arts and Science, in Valencia.
By @ajuriaguerra (Spain), Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz/AGORA images
L’espurna Que Fa Que Tot Comenci
Correfocs during a traditional Catalan festival, where groups dressed as devils light fireworks in the crowd.
By @xopet1969 (Spain), Albert Castañe/AGORA images
No. "Correfoc" (something like run-fire) is part of the festivity in each village. It's about demons costumes, life percussion music and fire, a lot of fire. People can danse among the devils. There are also some big figures of dragons that of course throw fire, too. It's beautiful and fun. People of all ages, families and neighbours of a whole village are concerned. The San Juan party is also with fire, as most of mediterranean parties (fire, music and eating).
Load More Replies...I live in Barcelona but never been to a correfoc. It scares me, I always think I'm gonna catch fire (i know it's close to impossible, but still). Still love the idea of this pagan-like festivity, the fire, the dance, the devils and the dragons...
Striving
The shot was taken near the Nias Islands, an internationally famous surfing destination.
By @bastian_as (Indonesia), Bastian AS/AGORA images
Preparing For 1000 Takjil Iftar Ramadan Kareem
Three volunteers serve 1000 plates of chicken and rice prepared for the Iftar, an evening meal during which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset.
By @dharmaku (Indonesia), Dharma Kurniawan/AGORA images
Fire Fighter
Locals and firemen work as a team to fight a fire caused by a power incident in Bangladesh.
By @tanveer.rohan (Bangladesh), Tanveer Rohan/AGORA images
I helped to bring power to the people of Bangladesh. Look what they did with it! (joke).
Out At Sea - Msc Orchestra
Entry from the contest's youngest finalist, a 18-year-old photographer from the Jersey Channel Islands. The cruise boat was visiting the harbor close to his hometown.
By @above_and_beyond_visuals (UK), Cameron Aird/AGORA images
Hell on the seas. There should be an international law forbidding such ships. They are just a floating hazard waiting to happen.
Great shot for an 18 year old. I hope he continues with his photography.
I see a beer bottle with smoke coming out of it. Or maybe its just beer time and I'm hallucinating beer everywhere. What kind of sports court is that?
HUGE black phallus. Aaaaaaand that's where the white smoke comes out. You just cannot make this s**t up ROFL
The Road And The Farm Have Been Flooded
Floods in Gorgan city, Northern Iran.
by @mohammadmoheimany (Iran), Mohammad Moheimani/AGORA images
It's interesting to think that folks in Missouri and folks in Northern Iran have some of the exact same problems.
Boys
With this shot, the photographer wanted to portray equality between two human beings.
By @diegocampomar (Uruguay), Diego Campomar/AGORA images
I really enjoy these type of posts on BP. Amazing talent and eye for beauty the photographers have.
The compositions of the selected artists was amazing. I can only wonder at those who didn't make the cut this year.
Wow. I am blown away. I so enjoyed this post. These are all amazing and some are beyond amazing. Thanks to all photographers and the compiler.
Some great photos. Felt like drone photography getting too much emphasis. So little from Africa. Would like to see more focus on humanity.
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I really enjoy these type of posts on BP. Amazing talent and eye for beauty the photographers have.
The compositions of the selected artists was amazing. I can only wonder at those who didn't make the cut this year.
Wow. I am blown away. I so enjoyed this post. These are all amazing and some are beyond amazing. Thanks to all photographers and the compiler.
Some great photos. Felt like drone photography getting too much emphasis. So little from Africa. Would like to see more focus on humanity.
Descubre los anuncios de las mejores escorts de Santiago y consigue los contactos de las damas de compañía más bellas de Santiago Centro. En GuiaX podrás encontrar los contactos de las escorts independientes de Stgo. de Chile y elegir la acompañante que más desees entre el extenso listado de anuncios sexuales de las chicas más sexys de Chile. https://guiaxescorts.com/anuncios-de-escorts-en-santiago-centro
