The aftermath of the global financial crisis means brutal cuts in jobs, public services and social welfare across the globe. While the poorest pick up the bill for the crisis, the private sector is continuing with business as usual. The banks are once again reporting huge profits on the back of their bailouts whilst the poorest are paying for the havoc caused by their unchecked greed. War on Want is looking for images that document the impact of this new austerity.

The Challenge

This competition is asking photographers to challenge people’s view of this age of austerity through a set of 1-8 images.

Considerations

Photographers may wish to consider the impact of the public services and welfare cuts from the perspective of an individual, a group or a community. Ideally images will shed new light on what many will perceive as a familiar and on-going ‘news story’.

Entrants may wish to consider how the story of the new austerity can be told through:

– a documentary essay

– a series of portraits

– still life

– a set of architectural or landscape images

– any other approach

We are not looking for typical ‘charity’ or ‘campaign’ photography. Entrants can aim for their images to surprise, celebrate, intrigue, inform, disturb or question. Interpretation of the theme is open and we welcome challenging responses.