Photojournalism 3rd place winner

Against the breathtaking backdrop of the majestic Buddha Dordennma Statue, a symbol of inspiration at 169 feet, Bhutanese teenagers engage in a spirited game of 'streetball' baseball in the capital of Thimphu. Clad in the nation's traditional noble attire, the gho, they embody the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity that defines Bhutan.

The photograph encapsulates a decade-long journey that commenced in 2010 when baseball was first introduced to the Kingdom; in support of the greater vision led by HRH Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, to develop a sports culture in the Last Shangri-La. Even today, facing limited access to fields, the resilient teenagers photographed — some of whom played in the introductory camps over a decade back — persist in their passion with a pickup game on concrete, reminiscent of their early days when all games were played on this.

Beyond the playing field, however, Bhutan grapples with major economic challenges post-COVID, prompting a significant portion of its population to seek opportunities abroad. The featured players once had a club team with over thirty members that has now dwindled to nine. Nonetheless, this year marks a monumental achievement as the first two Bhutanese ballplayers receive scholarships and another goes professional.

https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/bhutan-hopes-to-be-next-great-baseball-country

Matt is one of Bhutan's long-residing non-natives with a relationship with Bhutan dating to adolescence. He has spent the past thirteen years living within its city, villages and wilderness, sharing life with its kind-hearted people and exploring its untamed landscapes. With television/internet only being introduced to Bhutan in 1999/2000, photography served as an early means of connection; capturing and sharing moments with newfound friends along the way.

As the founder of Bhutan’s boutique luxury travel designer/outfitter, MyBhutan, and a technology company supporting its service sector, Beyul Labs, Matt has dedicated his profession to Bhutan’s growth and development. Additionally, he founds and leads various nonprofit projects, including a national preservation initiative documenting, digitizing, and archiving Bhutan's tangible cultural art and religious history, multi-district afforestation projects, the introduction of baseball to Bhutan and its establishment into a national sport, and founding/chairing of The Explorers Club (TEC) Bhutan Chapter. Matt also volunteers time as the U.S. Warden of Bhutan.

An avid explorer, Matt has surveyed some of the most unexplored regions of the Himalayas. His expeditions have reached beyond Bhutan as well. In 2019, Matt was part of the expedition team honored with TEC's Citation of Merit from for paleontology discoveries in Mongolia.