logo 2000 Photo Contest
  • Calendar
  • Collection
  • 2022 Contest
  • Archive 1955 - 2022
  • Contest
  • Exhibitions
  • Education
  • Programs
  • Visual Literacy
  • Research
  • About us
  • News
  • Online magazine
  • Yearbook
  • Support us

Photo story: 12 of 12

View all photos
Share image
Twitter Icon Facebook Icon LinkedIn Icon

Daily Life, 1st prize

January 01, 1999

Hasina, a sex worker, bathes in a Rambagan brothel. Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Hasina's daughter Mukta plays on the brothel stairs. Hasina sends Mukta to school and wants another life for her. Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Asha has been in the profession for seven years, earning money to support herself and her daughter. Some women have 'babus', or regular customers, on whom they rely for financial support. Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Brothel customers await their turn. Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

A woman collapses during a ceremony of worship for the goddess Sheetla in the red-light district. Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

A girl plays in a neighbor's room in the brothel while her mother has a customer. Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Sandhya prepares for a customer in her room in the brothel. Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

January 01, 1999

Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

Next

Spot News,2nd prize

Zana Briski

2000 Photo Contest, Daily Life, 1st prize
Photographer

Zana Briski

01 January, 1999

Over 6,000 sex workers operate in the Rambagan/Sonagachi red-light district, many of them forced into prostitution by poverty. The women come from all castes and religious backgrounds, and entertain clients from all levels of Indian society.

More information about the photoLess information about the photo

About the photographer

Zana Briski

Read the full biography

This image is collected in

2000 Photo Contest

More information about the photo Less information about the photo

Related stories

Andrew Holbrooke

Ken Sakamoto

2000 Photo Contest winners

Cecilia Larrabure

John Peter Hogg

Kalpesh Lathigra

Karl Lang

Wang Yao

Isabel Muñoz

Harald Henden

Christopher Steele-Perkins

Thomas James Hurst

Tom Pilston

Trent Parke

Mike Abrahams

Jan Dago

David W. Smith

Yuri Kozyrev

Yuri Kozyrev

Yannis Behrakis

Ilkka Uimonen

Enric Martí

Tomasz Gudzowaty

Olivier Boëls

Tine Harden

Norbert Wu

Hans-Jürgen and Heidi Koch

Claudine Doury

Harald Henden

Paolo Pellegrin

Tim Zielenbach

Robert Knoth

Dean Sewell

Claus Bjørn Larsen

Jan Grarup

Gabriel Bouys

Tim Georgeson

Lara Solt

Tine Harden

Philippe Gontier

Silva

Denis Dailleux

John Gay

Michael Adaskaveg

Nicole Ottawa

Peter J. Menzel

Raphaël Gaillarde

Joseph McNally

Bruno Fablet

Harald Schmitt

Eric Larson

Scott Barbour

Tim Hetherington

Adam Pretty

David Stewart-Smith

Afrim Hajrullahu

Aijaz Rahi

Cho Sung Su

Neil Libbert

John Stanmeyer

Claus Bjørn Larsen

John Stanmeyer

Programs

Through our education programs, the World Press Photo Foundation encourages diverse accounts of the world that present stories with different perspectives.

Go to Education

Our exhibitions showcase stories that make people stop, feel, think and act to a worldwide audience.

Go to Exhibitions

Our annual contest recognizes and rewards the best in photojournalism and documentary photography.

Go to Contest

We use cookies to analyse the use of our website, identify individual preferences after obtaining your explicit consent, and enhance your user experience.

By agreeing, you are giving us consent to set cookies and accept our Cookie Policy.

I agree
Decline
footer logo

Connecting the world to the stories that matter

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube

Get the latest on our activities

Sign up for the newsletter

Support World Press Photo

Make a donation
  • Contact
  • Legal
  • Partners
  • Media center