1st Place; The Sacrifice Zone by Eddo Hartmann

This series explores a remote area of Kazakhstan known as ‘The Polygon’, which was once home to the Soviet Union’s major nuclear testing facilities. Between 1949 and 1989 more than 450 nuclear tests took place here, with little regard for their effect on the local people and environment. The full impact of radiation exposure was hidden for many years by the Soviet authorities and only became clear after the test site was closed in the early 1990s. The location is still heavily contaminated and can only be accessed in protective clothing. The images in this series were made using an infrared camera, which hints at a menace that is equally invisible to the human eye: the radiation resulting from the nuclear explosions.

Local scientists employ infrared technology to assess the current conditions of contaminated sites. Green vegetation, reflects a significant amount of infrared light, allowing for a nuanced analysis of environmental health. The varying shades of reflection yield valuable insights into the overall toxicity of this irradiated landscape. Notably, foliage emerges as the primary concern in these locations due to its absorption of radiative particles from deeper layers of soil, making it a focal point for potential environmental hazards.