Kingsley (22) tells his parents of his decision to leave Cameroon for Europe. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Kingsley (22) and 35 other illegal immigrants take six days to cross the Sahara. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Kingsley (22) and 35 other illegal immigrants take six days to cross the Sahara. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Kingsley (22) and 35 other clandestine immigrants take six days to cross the Sahara. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

For two months, Kingsley (22) waits for a crossing to the Canary Islands, together with some 3,000 others in a forest camp near the Spanish enclave of Melilla in Morocco. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Kingsley (22) and some compatriots observe Melilla, a Spanish enclave in Morocco, from a garbage dump on the city's outskirts. Crossing the barbed wire barriers that surround the enclave is dangerous, and smugglers demand large sums to help. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

The boat, provided by smugglers to African immigrants to make the crossing to the Canary Islands, capsized 300m from the Moroccan coast. Few could swim and two men were drowned. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Kingsley (22) says a prayer in front of the boat that will hopefully bring him safely from Morocco the Canary Islands. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

A clandestine immigrant from Africa on his makeshift shoes. Most clandestine immigrants lose their shoes during the long journey, creating alternative solutions out of necessity. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Passengers have to bail out water continuously during their second attempt to cross the sea from Africa to the Canary Islands. The first boat provide by smugglers capsized 300m from the Moroccan coast. Few could swim and two men were drowned. The clandestine immigrants repaired the boat, but were anxious about using it again. They made their second attempt a day after the first. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Would-be immigrants, having repaired a capsized boat, are anxious about using it again. They make their second attempt a day after the first failed, bailing out water continuously. Later, they were picked up by coastguards and taken to a detention center on the Canary Islands. After three weeks, Moroccans were repatriated. Others, who had not revealed their nationality, could not be deported and had to remain in Spain. Kingsley (22), one of the clandestine immigrants, was flown to Malaga on the Spanish mainland, after being picked up by the coastguard. The short distance across the sea from northern Africa to mainland Spain or the Canary Islands is a popular route for illegal immigrants looking for a better life in Europe. Kingsley is one who attempted the passage. In his hometown in Cameroon, Kingsley earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

In his new life near Paris, Kingsley (22) works twelve hours a day as a warehouseman and has a three-hour commute to work. Kingsley, a Cameroonian, is one of the many illegal immigrants who has attempted the dangerous sea passage from Africa to Europe. In his hometown, he earned just US$ 30 a month as a lifeguard at a hotel. He had already tried to reach Europe once before, but turned back in Nigeria having run out of funds. On his second trip, he managed to raise more than US$ 1,000 to pay for the trip, for smuggler fees, and to finance his first weeks in Europe.

Nature - 2nd prize