People nominee

This is a series of daily scenes and portraits of people in several favelas in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Much has been written about the crime-infested "no-go" zones that are Brazil’s favelas. A lot of the bloodshed occurs in these communities, which made me wondered: how do people cope amid such seeming lawlessness? A month-long visit to Brazil in August, 2016, gave me the chance to find out. Those who I met feared crime and were striving hard, however possible, to achieve long-lasting happiness for themselves and their families. There was, though, a constant sense of underlying tension that was probably due to the illicit street activities these people notice almost daily from the corners of their eyes, and make sure to dodge.

I am a Beijing-based freelance photographer and writer. I began shooting news and commercial assignments in Australia, later in Japan and then in China since late 2014.


Awards / Recognitions
La Grande Photo Awards 2015 Third Place in Portrait Category
One of 5 Great Documentary Photographers by Dodho Magazine
LensCulture Portrait Awards 2016 Finalist
One of Best 50 Photographers of Travel Photographer Asia 2016
Winner of Shoot the Wild October at Shoot the Frame
Winner of Shoot the Face October at Shoot the Frame