One extraordinary photo captures the human and environmental dimensions of artisanal mining in Congo

People search for gold at a mining site in Iga-Barrière, Ituri province. Photo: Dieudonne Dirole

Dieudonne tells us why he chose this photo

I think this photo is successful because it tells a story without needing a long explanation. At first glance, you immediately understand that it is an extremely active mining site; then your gaze discovers the different individual stories: the people who dig, those who transport, those who wash the ore, the women and men who work in the water and mud. And what makes this image powerful is the contrast between the very intense human activity in the foreground and the natural landscape in the background. 

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