Last year's award-winning environmental photo

By CARL STROUD Published: 27 Oct 2011

CLUTCHING each other close, these two brothers cling to the very edge of survival on the fringes of a filthy rubbish dump.

This stark image, taken in Kathmandu, Nepal, has come top in the Environmental Photographer Of The Year competition.

Wearing just a filthy jumper the youngest lad seeks a moment's respite from his dismal surroundings in the arms of his elder sibling.

The pair – unwashed and caked in grime – are forced to scour the stinking site day-in day-out to unearth anything they can resell for money.

It's a dreadful existence barely comprehensible to most in the Western World. And one that touched Hong Kong-based photographer Chan Kwok Hung deeply. He said: ""The photo was taken in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and is of two children who lived nearby to the junkyard with their grandmother. Every day they searched the junkyard for something useful that they can resell for money so they can buy food. If they don't find anything their grandmother blamed them seriously."

The snapper come top in the competition which received 10,000 entries from 105 nations. And he's hopeful it can make a difference. “I'm so proud that I am the winner of the Environmental Photographer of the Year Competition,” he said. "This award is very important and meaningful to me because I can share my photo to the world."

The judges heaped praise on Chan for the way he depicted the effect on humans environmental damage causes. "This is a very graphic image that captures the human impact of homelessness," said judge and Chairman of the UK Environmental Agency, Lord Smith.
Elsewhere among the winning, runner-up and highly commended entries include further frames that show the stark reality the impact industry has on the environment.
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