LFI Special: LOBA 2023

The Main Category winner is US-based Bangladeshi photographer Ismail Ferdous, whose series Sea Beach takes viewers to the eponymous shoreline at Cox’s Bazar, a resort town near the southern-most tip of Bangladesh. “The beach at Cox’s Bazar represents a favourite escape into nature for an overpopulated country,” the photographer explains. “It’s a place where anyone, from any level of society, can afford to take a holiday.”

As a result, the beach has become a vibrant reflection of Bangladesh’s culture, with people from all walks of life enjoying moments of respite and relaxation. “There is a notable lack of urgency – as if time itself is advocating for everyone to unshoulder their burdens.”

Ferdous, who is now primarily based in New York, decided to revisit this unique micro-cosmos and capture the rich tapestry of beachgoers in brilliant colours.
In response to his award, he says: “Winning the LOBA has not only brought immense joy to my day, but it has also made this entire year truly exceptional. This triumph stands as a testament to the unwavering belief and passionate dedication that I have devoted to my craft.”

A member of the Paris-based Agence VU’ since 2021, Ismail Ferdous (b. 1989) focuses on documenting the social and humanitarian issues of our time. His winning project was submitted by Dimitri Beck and James Wellford, who were among this year’s 60 international LOBA nominators.

In the Newcomer category – aimed at emerging talents up to the age of thirty – the honour goes to Chinese photographer Ziyi Le (b. 1993). His winning portrait series, titled New Comer, explores the emotional void among young people of his generation.
Ziyi Le was born in the Fujian province, and now lives and works as a freelance photographer in Yunnan. He started his LOBA project in March 2020, after moving to Hangzhou to further his career. Dissatisfied with the routinised nature of his day job, he decided to launch a personal series – posting on Weibo, a popular microblogging platform, to find people interested in posing for his sensitive portraits. For Ziyi Le, the staged photo shoots were also a way to reflect on his own state of mind. “When I was growing up, there was very little communication, which led to a feeling of being left in the middle of nowhere”, he explains. “Out of a basic instinct as a photographer, I decided to explore a similar sense of void in young people who, like me, are scattered around different cities – to see their faces as well as explore my own self-doubts.” The result is a touching portrayal of a young generation in search of self-actualisation and its place in the world.

Ziyi Le’s project was submitted for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award by the Fudan University School of Journalism in Shanghai.

The Leica Oskar Barnack Award ranks among the most prestigious and highly endowed prizes in the field of photography. The Main Category winner stands to receive 40,000 euros and Leica camera equipment to the value of 10,000 euros; the Newcomer Award consists of 10,000 euros, along with a Leica Q3.

Find out more about this year’s winners at the LOBA website.