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Free-to-use photography app Agora reveals the winning entries from its latest online photo contest, #Water2020 that gathered more than 8700 photos submitted by the global community of photographers. Filipina photographer @anadgphotography won the contest with her photo 'Thirsty ants' which gathered the most votes during the 5 voting rounds on the photography app.

The #Water2020 contest was launched on February 28th on Agora, the mobile app where photographers, whether amateur or professional, can participate to international photo contests and share their best pictures for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes (from $1,000 to $25,000), and where the global audience can choose the best creations of Humanity thanks to Agora's democratic voting system.

The Top 50 finalists from the competition got revealed through the app on March 25th, showcasing mesmerizing photos of rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans all around the world. Then, the power was in the Agora users' hands to cast their votes and decide which photo struck them the most and therefore should win the contest and the $1,000 prize.

Octavi Royo, Agora's CEO & Co-Founder declared: "Water molecules are a blend of millions of years of history and have passed through many oceans, continents, and beings of all kinds. It has evolved from liquid to solid states countless times over the course of time. Today, we discover the best pictures of #Water at a specific time in history. A moment to make the finalist photographers' point of view eternal and, through Agora, share them with the world to become part of the collective memory and treasures of Humanity. Power to #Water2020!"

Take your time to scroll through the finalists' submissions and don't forget to upvote your favorites!

More info: go.onelink.me

#1

Herrerillo Posándose

Herrerillo Posándose

Location: Lloret de Mar, Spain
@pabloboguña (Spain)

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#2

Afternoon Sunlight Magic

Afternoon Sunlight Magic

Location: Inle Lake, Myanmar
@zayyarlin (Myanmar)

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#3

Winner: 'Thirsty Ants'

Winner: 'Thirsty Ants'

Location: Binangonan, Philippines
This image was shot under our garden's mango tree, where local ants have settled their colonies. The weather here in the Philippines is pretty hot, so I give them water and make the most of our encounter to take some macro photos.
@anadgphotography (Philippines), #Water2020 Hero

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kitty.boom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They look so thirsty. The other one is like: hurry up dude, my turn now.

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#4

Underwater Prayers

Underwater Prayers

Location: Hue, Vietnam
"During the full moon festival, a long-standing celebration in Vietnam, people pray to the gods of water and for those who have passed away. They drop candlelights down the river to pray for their souls."
@thanhtoanphotographer (Vietnam)

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#5

A Horse Would Like To Be A Seahorse

A Horse Would Like To Be A Seahorse

Location: Lombok, Indonesia
"The horse was moving quite fast and the water was very agitated; so it was quite difficult to take the right picture."
@marcelvanbalken (Netherlands)

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#6

Brings Happiness To The Face

Brings Happiness To The Face

Location: Tanzania
"Water is the reason for life in all living things, but we humans are the only ones to destroy the environment and cause sources of water to disappear. It is our responsibility to restore nature to its original form. This image is giving us reasons to smile."
@oceantanzania (Tanzania)

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#7

Spotting These 3 Cruising Up The Coast Made My Day

Spotting These 3 Cruising Up The Coast Made My Day

Location: Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia
"3 humpback whales on their annual migration north. These whales can weigh up to 40 tonnes. Just to give you some perspective a standard car weighs about 2 tonnes! I’ve been blessed enough to be in the water with these incredible creatures, but near the shark-infested waters of Fraser Island, they are more safely observed from the air. No matter how your day is going, your mood is always increased when you get to witness these gentle giants."
@lukeylove (Australia)

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Gabriella Karvak
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A tiny bee landed on my finger today and i put her on a flower she left one spot on a flower and gave me 2 small spots on my left thumb nail. I was listening to birds sounds outdoors today st the lake and the birds, ducks, bees, ants a little lizard ran out etc...try to listen to J. Strauss "a kék duna keringő" close to a water and observe the nature. If you notice birds getting in pair i think you reached them and they dance on this symphony ❤

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#8

Vision Tree

Vision Tree

Location: Malaysia
@ready.rey (Indonesia)

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#9

Splash

Splash

Location: Rajshahi, Bangladesh
"The Indian flying fox is one of the largest bats in the world. The heat of the summer makes their body temperature go up quickly, so once in a while, they dive in the water to cool down. I waited for almost 2 hours to take this photo."
@sujonadhikary (Bangladesh)

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#10

Sunset On The Salt Field

Sunset On The Salt Field

Location: Nha Trang, Vietnam
"These female workers carry salt all day long, in the heat of the sun."
@tuanngocphoto (Vietnam)

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#11

Frozen Water Creates A Path For Climbers

Frozen Water Creates A Path For Climbers

Location: Utah, United States
"Climbing a waterfall at night with a temperature of -18ºC is quite a challenge."
@dmartphoto (Spain)

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Kim Bush
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So dangerous, knowing that ice is razor sharp and the damage that could be done with one slip

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#12

The First Rains Of The Year Make The Rivers Start Flowing Again

The First Rains Of The Year Make The Rivers Start Flowing Again

Location: Dili, Timor-Leste
"The first rains of the year make the rivers start flowing again, bringing to the ocean the mud and trash from the mountains. The water is then clearly separated into two: the brownish muddy river water and the deep blue ocean water. The fishes are attracted and get closer to the shore. And where there are fishes, there are fishermen. I borrowed a drone from a friend to continue my other photo project: photos of Timorese fishermen that use apnea technique to fish. I already had underwater photos as well as photos “on the sea level”, so aerial photos was the last step of the project. At sea level, the division of the muddy river and the ocean water is not as clear as from above, so I had no idea what to expect from up there! After launching the drone and face the camera downwards, I was stunned with what I was seeing: the thick texture and brownish color of the river contrasting with the soft texture and deep blue color of the ocean was not something that I have ever seen in my life!"
@joao.galamba (Portugal)

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#13

Fishing

Fishing

Location: Inle Lake, Myanmar
"After a heavy afternoon of rain, this man rowed out to the lake to catch some fish. The reflection on the water was so impressive!"
@caokynhan (Vietnam)

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#14

Water Collection

Water Collection

Location: Mandalay, Myanmar
@myatzawhein (Myanmar)

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This picture certainly makes you appreciate having indoor plumbing and tap water. "1 in 3 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. (...) Some 2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services, 4.2 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services, and 3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities." https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/18-06-2019-1-in-3-people-globally-do-not-have-access-to-safe-drinking-water-unicef-who

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#15

Fisherman Under The Dawn

Fisherman Under The Dawn

Location: Quang Lang Beach, Diem Diem District, Vietnam
"Vietnam has a long coastline of 3,260 km, excluding its islands. Vietnamese people mainly stick to the sea with a rich variety of seafood from the North to the South. In order to capture this scene, I and my friends woke up at 4 am and walked about 2km barefoot from the shore to the beach to wait for the sunrise and the fishermen to start their work."
@viếtcường (Vietnam)

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#16

A Sunset Flight Over The Waterfall Of The Gods

A Sunset Flight Over The Waterfall Of The Gods

Location: Iceland
@michaelfoote (UK)

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#17

Rainwater

Rainwater

Location: Tokyo, Japan
"During my holiday in Tokyo, I visited the Sensoji temple on a rainy day. I couldn't hope for a better shot with these rain puddles!"
@nguyenbaongoc (Vietnam)

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#18

Bajo Children

Bajo Children

Location: Kendari, Indonesia
"Akbar was hunting for octopuses to support the economic needs of his family. What a great lesson to see how determined this child was to provide for his family!"
@bobbykuen (Indonesia)

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#19

Life Of Buffalo Herder

Life Of Buffalo Herder

Location: Garhbeta, West Medinipur, West Bengal, India
"Every summer day, the owner takes his buffaloes for a quick bath in the river to keep them cool and away from diseases."
@saurabh_sirohiya (India)

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#20

Chapi Dream

Chapi Dream

Location: Gia Lai, Vietnam
"This is my first time coming to this place, a very majestic scenery - the highest waterfall in Vietnam. This photo shows love as endless and powerful, just like the grandeur of nature. Water has always been the source of human life. And love, we can't live without it either."
@phamchiconghp (Vietnam)

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#21

Ice Cave

Ice Cave

Location: Iceland
"The ice was melting, so I had to be very careful not to slip when taking the photo."
@ksmok (Malaysia)

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#22

Kerið

Kerið

Location: Kerið, Iceland
"Since Iceland is not called the "Land of Ice and Fire" for nothing, I wanted to show with this picture that these two elements have more in common than it might seem at first view, and that they can also be mutually dependent, as in the case of Kerið crater lake. Today, most scientists believe that the Kerið was once a cone-shaped volcano that exhausted its magma reserves after a massive eruption, which eventually led to the collapse of its foundation. This resulted in its current formation, which allowed the crater to fill with groundwater over the centuries. After me and my girlfriend first admired the beauty of the crater lake from below, we wanted to capture its enormous dimensions from its highest point. Embedded in the endless, icy landscape of Iceland, the lake radiates a sense of calm from this perspective, which at first glance gives no hint of its fiery past."
@tom_rbg (Germany)

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#23

Water Lilies

Water Lilies

Location: Bonn, Germany
@gra.wal (Germany)

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#24

Bubbling Boiling Water In Bolivia

Bubbling Boiling Water In Bolivia

Location: South Bolivia
"The bubbling boiling water with rock formations and the rising sun in the background make this photo special to me. I had less than 20 min to take this shot because the other group members wanted to head to another spot. I was literally running around this place to find the best perspective. Despite frozen hand and feet, I was happy with what I created in that little time frame."
@janreyem (Germany)

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#25

Lost

Lost

Location: Rattray Head, Scotland, UK
"A lighthouse in the vastness of the ocean: isolation, but also sturdiness..."
@anskar (Germany)

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#26

Water Drops

Water Drops

Location: Semarang, Indonesia
@auliarahman (Indonesia)

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#27

City On Water

City On Water

Location: Venice, Italy
@ataevruslan (Russia)

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#28

A Lone Surfer Braving The Winter Cold On The Cornish North Coast

A Lone Surfer Braving The Winter Cold On The Cornish North Coast

Location: St. Agnes, Cornwall, UK
"We came to the beach to surf on a cold, wet and stormy day and noticed only one person braving the water. We gave him some time to himself, which made for the perfect photo. I wanted to show the cold, power of the ocean."
@cannonmatt (UK)

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#29

Morning Rise At Teahupo’o

Morning Rise At Teahupo’o

Location: French Polynesia
"This shot was taken during my honeymoon. The golden fog above the mountain was unreal! 5 minutes before taking this shot, it was raining and I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to fly my drone. It was a great surprise when I saw the light coming out."
@emxpi (France)

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#30

Siren Song

Siren Song

Location: Barcelona, Spain
"This picture is part of a series called 'Siren Song', about the singer Paula Puges. We are bound to a liquid medium since before our birth, and more than 50% of our body is water."
@fernandoflorit (Spain)

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#31

Braided Rivers In New Zealand

Braided Rivers In New Zealand

Location: New Zealand
"I wanted to raise awareness about the changes occurring in the region. This kind of landscape is threatened by climate change; those rivers come from melting glaciers."
@ghislainfave (New Zealand)

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#32

Island Water

Island Water

Location: Iceland
"One of the most photographed sites in Iceland, but from a new perspective. This beautiful site has been photographed thousands of times – but rarely have I seen it blanket white from above like this. Just moments before, a small cloud wrapped itself around the mountain like a scarf. I only had 5 minutes to get the shot between weather fronts."
@joncleave (UK)

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Tài Trần
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is surreal, like a scene from another planet. I would love to visit Iceland someday.

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#33

Pagoda On Beach

Pagoda On Beach

Location: China
@panvelvet (Russia)

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#34

A Person In Yellow At Skogafoss

A Person In Yellow At Skogafoss

Location: Skogafoss, Iceland
"My friend in his yellow coat plus one of the most impressive falls I have been, Skogafoss. I wanted to show a sense of the vastness of the Waterfall. To show how relative to earth we are so small. As the water is dark and blue I wanted the person in the photo to jump out of the photo. So I decided to bring my yellow winter jacket and it did the job."
@tomdewaart (Netherlands)

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#35

Water As A Canvas To Create Minimalistic Art

Water As A Canvas To Create Minimalistic Art

Location: Italy
@alvarovaliente_ (Spain)

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#36

Low Tide Day

Low Tide Day

Location: Lap An Lagoon Hue, Vietnam
"When the tide goes out, you can clearly see the white sand under the water making this photo look like a painting!"
@phamhuytrung (Vietnam)

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#37

Flowers On Water

Flowers On Water

Location: Sa Dec, Vietnam
@thuanvo (Vietnam)

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chrysanthemums galore. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/the-significance-of-flowers-during-tet-in-vietnam/

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#38

Reborn

Reborn

Location: Cameroon
@kreativekwame (Cameroon)

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#39

Stepwell In Jodhpur

Stepwell In Jodhpur

Location: Jodhpur, India
"Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water is reached by descending a set of steps to the water level. They may be multi-storied with a bullock turning a water wheel to raise the well water to the first or second floor. Stepwells are examples of the many types of storage and irrigation tanks that were developed in India, mainly to cope with seasonal fluctuations in water availability. Toorji Ka Jhalra (Toorji’s Step Well) in Jodhpur was built in the 1740s by Queen Maharaja Abhay Singh’s Consort, continuing an age-old tradition that Royal women would build public waterworks. As with all step wells, the steps follow the fluctuating water table down to provide easy all-year-round access. I walked down the narrow steps to get to the bottom of the well. When I was there, I noticed these kids on the opposite site wearing the same shirt and a teenage girl, who was busy with her cellphone. These step-wells are also a popular hangout spot for the youth. And I wanted to capture that in an artistic way."
@guz (Germany)

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sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great shot, and you did capture it in an artistic way, well done, fascinating for sure, learn some history !!!

#40

Working On The Salt Field

Working On The Salt Field

Location: Long Dien, Ba Ria, Vietnam
"The farmers had started to work early in the salt fields, way before the sun rises. They work hard all day long, just like ants do. Salt fields are like giant mirrors, they reflect everything beautifully. After I took this photo, my drone bugged and fell into the salt field."
@caokynhan (Vietnam)

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Ellory Potter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like the side of a skyscraper, the water patches look like windows

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#41

Island Life | Philippines

Island Life | Philippines

Location: Palawan, Philippines
@leemumford8 (UK)

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#42

Underwater Caves

Underwater Caves

Location: Ferreries, Spain
@victordevalles (Spain)

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Myxomatosis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dream of this. Then I am trapped, panicked. Suddenly realize I am dreaming and can breathe under water. Oh the adventures I have in these caves after that!

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#43

Catching Fish

Catching Fish

Location: Quảng Ngãi, Vietnam
"I took this photo in a saltwater lagoon, just before sunset. A couple living nearby the swamp was fishing with the help of a bamboo stick. I wanted to show that people should live in harmony with nature, and that manual fishing will not adversely affect the environment."
@duysinh (Vietnam)

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sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excellent shot, I agree we should live in harmony, with nature and manual fishing, does not affect the environment !!!

#44

Catching Shrimps In The Sea

Catching Shrimps In The Sea

Location: Quang Ngai, Vietnam
"My drone caught these two fishermen who were looking for shrimps."
@anhtrungqng (Vietnam)

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#45

Prueba Del Campeonato Del Mundo De Grandes Olas Punta Galea Challenge 2019

Prueba Del Campeonato Del Mundo De Grandes Olas Punta Galea Challenge 2019

Location: Getxo, Spain
"Brazilian surfer Lucas Chianca got hit by a gigantic wave, about 10 meters high. Luckily, the surfer was able to come out unscathed and won the competition! I want to transmit the force of the seawater, and how small the human being is in front of the immensity of nature. On the other hand, the courage of these athletes to face these gigantic waves was very impressive."
@ajuriaguerra (Spain

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#46

Underwater Caves

Underwater Caves

Location: Ferreries, Spain
@victordevalles (Spain)

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#47

Jugando Con Las Olas

Jugando Con Las Olas

Location: San José, Almeria, Spain
"I always tend to bring my camera along when I go to the beach with my friends. This photo is pure joy and fun!"
@woolennn (Spain)

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#48

Waiting For Waves

Waiting For Waves

Location: UK
@withchris (UK)

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#49

Open Pool

Open Pool

Location: Moscow, Russia
@nikybwd (Russia)

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#50

Marina Bay

Marina Bay

Location: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
"Marina Bay Sands is one of the hotspots to shoot the Singapore Central Business District (CBD). I wanted to show people how beautiful my city can be under long exposure at blue hour."
@jaywu10 (Singapore)

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