Encaged by Pratham Bhatia

Captured on a cloudy morning in May 2019 at the Sarsaiya Ghat dockyard in Kanpur, this image serves as a poignant commentary on the environmental challenges facing the photographer's hometown. By waiting patiently for a subject to traverse the frame, the photographer successfully juxtaposed the human element against the backdrop of a polluted sky. The resulting composition is both haunting and evocative, transforming a local scene into a powerful visual narrative. This work is award-worthy for its ability to find profound, storytelling beauty within the stark reality of urban environmental decay.