TITLE: The lone fisherman

The picture was taken last year somewhere on the coast of North Vietnam near Halong Bay. In the morning we were a little bit worried about the foggy weather conditions, but later it turned out to be perfect for this shot. Even the original picture is almost completely black and white by nature - except the little wooden boat which had a blue paint on it.

In times of social distancing and contact bans, particularly huge conurbations face special challenges. Is it even possible to have contact with no one when millions live together on just a few square meters?

The travel category is probably one of the most special this year, which is why I deliberately chose this picture. Public places full of people, snapshots from airplanes, tourists strolling over markets... We have to recall such pictures from our memories and hard drives - at least for now.

In my imagination, the Ione fisherman is perhaps one of the happiest people on the planet right now - his job requires no social distancing, no restrictions. There is only him and the sea. There is no one else to be seen far and wide. And nobody can say when this picture was taken, because it could be any day. Last year, yesterday, today or tomorrow.

For most of us, the crisis is taking its toll and presenting us with seemingly insurmountable challenges. For others it is part of everyday life.

AUTHOR: Dennis Pentek (Germany)