BIG picture

The ‘hopeful eyes’ have it in this poignant award-winning image

QUOC Nguyen Linh Vinh, a 20-year- old professional photographer from Vietnam, has been awarded first place in the 2017 Environmental Photographer of the Year (EPOTY) competition. Vinh’s image ‘ The hopeful eyes of the girl making a living by rubbish’ was taken in the waste dump of Kon

Tum in Vietnam. Vinh recalls, ‘ The child was happy, looking at the dark clouds and chatting to her mother. This was so touching. She should have been enjoying her childhood.’

Launched in 2007 by The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), EPOTY showcases the best environmental photography from around the world, by amateur and professional photographers alike.