Finalist, Ukrainian Railroad Ladies by Sasha Maslov

"In a country that has been torn apart by political turmoil, war and loss of territory - not to mention corruption and a permanently troubled economy - few people pay attention to the women they see from a passing train, standing still with a folded yellow flag. In this series I explore my childhood fascination with railroads and the fairy-tale houses that stand beside the tracks. As a photographer I was drawn to the architecture and interiors of these buildings. As a storyteller I was attracted by the anthropological and social roles played by the crossings and the workers. During the course of this project it occurred to me that the crossings are reassuringly permanent - they stand firm in the face of constant change. Unfazed by the passing of trains and time, they are here to stay."