/ 2026 / Portraiture / Culture

Thaipusam

Prize

Honorable Mention
Photographer

Ryan Harper, United States
Date of Photograph

Feb 1, 2026
Website

http://ryanharperphoto.com
Instagram

https://instagram.com/magicharps

Tamil Hindus in Penang, Malaysia gather for a 48 hours straight festival of Thaipusam. Famous for ritual piercings by religious devotees, the festival includes a non-stop parade of a chariot through the city. Some light coconuts on fire to smash on the ground, some dance with hooks attached to their body, and others carry milk up to the top of a temple overlooking the city

Ryan Harper is an award-winning photographer and creative director whose work bridges conceptual art and documentary journalism. Having traveled across all 50 U.S. states and 37 countries—from nomadic Uzbekistan to pierced devotees of Malaysia—he captures the vibrant chaotic beauty of human tradition. His photographs have been featured in The New Yorker and the Boston Globe, and he has collaborated on projects with MASS MoCA. Whether documenting live performances, electric music festivals, or intimate portraits, Ryan embraces visual entropy to frame striking, high-contrast cultural stories.