/ 2025 / Portraiture / Culture

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Ton Schless, United States

Balance and Blessing reflects my experience of harmony within Balinese Hindu culture, where ritual and daily life are inseparable. From sacred water ceremonies and joyful rice harvests to children playing in monsoon rain and girls in temple attire with smartphones, each moment speaks of balance, between people, nature, and spirit. Guided by Vishnu, I witnessed a culture where reverence flows through every gesture. This series honors that lived philosophy, where beauty resides in presence, gratitude, and connection.