“Cities and Contagion” Photo Contest Winners

Winning photo

Friday Prayer during the Coronavirus Pandemic by Mohammad Rafayat Haque Khan

Description: Muslim men attend Friday prayers at Hazrat Shahjalal Dorgah mosque while following health protocols and maintaining proper social distance under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Location: Sylhet, Bangladesh. Date: June 5, 2020.

As part of its Cities and Contagion: Lessons from COVID-19 initiative, Penn IUR held a photo contest on the impact of the pandemic on cities around the world. Participants were asked to capture the ways that urban places have adapted in both planned and unexpected ways. The top ten images were sorted based on adherence to the theme and composition quality. Guest judges included Francesca Ammon, Associate Professor, Departments of City and Regional Planning and Historic Preservation, Weitzman School of Design; David Hartt, Carrafiell Assistant Professor in Fine Arts, Weitzman School of Design; Kimberly Noronha, PhD Candidate, Department of City and Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design; and Anne Teitelman, Associate Professor Emerita, School of Nursing. The winning photo, by Mohammad Rafayat Haque Khan, is featured above. The three runners-up and remaining finalists are featured below.

Runner up

The COVID Hero by Mithail Afrige Chowdhury

Description: A cleaner from Dhaka North City Corporation spraying disinfectant at the Farmgate street market. Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh. Date: May 23, 2020.

Runner up

Thermal Checking at the Gates by Debdatta Chakraborty

Description: Thermal checking at the gates of government offices and institutions has become mandatory under the new normal situation. Location: Bangladesh. Date: June 29, 2020.

Runner up

Boats in Quarantine by Azim Khan Ronnie.

Description: Hundreds of boats are resting in peace because people are in self-quarantine with their families. Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh. Date: March 27, 2020.

Finalist

Protester Defying the Plague of Racism by Gabriel Ben-Jakov

Location: City Hall, Philadelphia, PA. Date: June 6, 2020.

Finalist

Silent Swings by Lauren Bridges

Location: Clark Park, West Philadelphia. Date: April 13, 2020.

Finalist

Stillness by Michael Chambers

Description: Barren and unaffected, the stripped basketball court portrays a seeming stillness that balances the discord and turbulence of the new normal. Location: Schuylkill River Park, Philadelphia, PA. Date: April 15, 2020.

Finalist

Bus Ride by Dereck Mangus.

Location: Baltimore, MD. July 2020.

Finalist

Burning PPE by Hashinur Reza

Description: The abundant PPE is being burnt to protect people from COVID transmission. Location: Bangladesh. Date: June 24, 2020.

Finalist

COVID-19 Testing for Filipino Seafarers by Jophel Botero Ybiosa

Description: Medical personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard test seafarers onboard the Sapphire Princess amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Location: Manila, Philippines. Date: May 8, 2020.