Capturing cultural diversity

This is a very minimal shot, and it really works. There's no obvious cultural diversity, but the longer you look, the more you wonder about the subject. She looks to be a nun, but it's unclear, and this mystery makes the shot more interesting. The single slit window is almost a reflection of the woman, and the left edge of the photo is beautifully straight. The contrast of the white wall and black pipe acts like a natural frame to the shot, guiding the eye exactly where it should go. The use of a deep depth of field works well with the unfussy, minimal content. An excellent shot.

Subject matter aside, this is a beautiful photo. Looking more closely, it also reveals itself to be a very clever choice for the theme at hand. The two characters are travelling in opposite directions, and are dressed very differently in terms of smartness. Like many of the best photos submitted, this one makes you think about who the people are and where they are going. The lighting and framing are absolutely outstanding, and the toning is strong. I actually like the fact that the dark shadows slightly obscure the two people - it makes it more mysterious.

In terms of cultural diversity, this shot really stood out. Rather than interpreting the theme as racial or religious differences, the photographer has chosen a group that, at first, seems normal. However, a longer look reveals that the central character, to whom the eye is drawn, is much more smartly dressed and much less happy-looking than the others. Does he know them? Why are these people together? This photo raises a lot of interesting questions. It's also beautifully toned, and the wide-angle framing is very well done.

This is a very simple photo, but I loved the colours. The greenish tint makes it look like it was taken using Fuji film, but I could be wrong. In any case, it's a lovely moment, and fulfils the brief very clearly – it is a clear example of diverse cultures interacting in a positive way. I'd love to know what these guys are looking at, but I suppose it was a long time ago, even if the photographer or any of the men remember.

This is a great little moment. The text on the sign and the train makes it clear that this is Italy, and while I am sure that there are plenty of born Italians of east-Asian descent, I guess there is also a suggestion of cultural diversity on show, especially as the three people appear to be travelling somewhere. The photographer has done well to capture one of those little fleeting moments of fun that pass by unnoticed - a great street shot.

What really stands out about this shot is the framing – a great demonstration of why the rule of thirds works so well in street photography. The deep depth of field works well too, just falling away enough to drown out the distant background. The main subject stands out thanks to a good colour contrast between her coat and those of the group behind. It's hard to make this type of photo work in colour, so the photographer deserves significant praise.

This is a lovely shot, and captures a great little moment. It's well framed, and the sombre toning gives it almost a sad feel. I love the contrast of his modern sporty backpack with his traditional attire, and the stiff way he's holding the lead suggests he's not a habitual kilt-wearer. This is also an excellent use of a narrow depth of field, isolating the subject well - great shot, a good example of a keen eye for street photography.

This is a great black and white shot, full of feeling and with a lot of interesting elements. I'm guessing most people, myself included, have no more than a slim knowledge of West Papua, so there's a significant element of mystery and faraway culture to this photo. The fact that the girl appears unaware of (or uninterested in) the screaming portrait on the wall makes for a classic sense of mood contrast - tired and tested, but very well executed.

To be honest, this could stand alone as a wildlife or landscape shot even without the two people. With them, it rises to another level. The framing works well, as it leaves it unclear where they are heading or what their emotions are. They could be going to tend the animals, or they could be setting out on an epic quest - the mystery really adds to things. In terms of cultural diversity, this shot really stood out for obvious reasons, and I think the highly saturated colours work – something of a Fuji Velvia vibe.

This caught my eye as a very interesting shot. Lots of the submissions showed a foreign country or minority culture as an example of diversity. This image interprets the theme in a different way – showing a profession that most of us know very little about the realities of. The framing is brilliant, and the use of a deep depth of field helps to maximise the number of interesting details. The toning is on the darker side, but does fit the content well.

The use of light here is excellent, catching the girl's serene expression, which contrasts well with the curious expression on the monk's face. Basically, each of them looks the way you'd expect the other to look. This rewards a closer look at the shot, which is invited by way of the good toning. There is decent shadow detail, and the highlights really shine, which is difficult to achieve without blowing them out. Overall, an excellent subject, well-framed and well-edited – congratulations!

For its content alone, this is a remarkable photo. The cultural contrast on display is very in-your-face, in a way that is almost laugh-out-loud funny. The lighting is good and the photographer did well to frame the image so that the lone man only catches the eye after the massive painting. This is another good example of colour street photography, which is inherently more difficult to get right than black and white. I also enjoyed the fact that the man seems oblivious to his background!

The expression of the man with the phone makes this shot. Caught somewhere between confusion and amusement, it is a good example of globalisation in miniature. This type of scene can be witnessed anywhere in the world now, but many of us are guilty of assuming that much of the world is less technologically developed than it actually is. The little glimpse of the wider environment behind the wall works well, and contrasts nicely with the minimal content of the main shot, especially as it falls out of focus pleasingly.