China's facelift

• Prize
• Photographer
  Dima Gavrysh, United States
• Date of Photograph
  online
• Studio
  Associated Press
• Website
  http://www.dimagavrysh.com

Walking down Beijing's wide modern streets lined with glittering
buildings in the city center, one might forget that it is actually an
ancient city.

Since Beijing won the bid in 2001 to host the Olympics,
the authorities undertook a vast makeover of the city. Ancient
"hutong" neighborhoods were torn down and replaced with towering
office, hotel and retail centers virtually around the clock.

However, the demons that China currently has to fight are far from
mythological. Its image has been tarnished by numerous human right
violations, repressions of free speech, and multiple scandals
involving product recalls.

• Biography
  Dima Gavrysh is Ukrainian-born New York City-based photographer. Dima started his career in the mid-90's in Kiev, Ukraine. In the past 10 years, he has worked with major news agencies such as Associated Press, EPA and Bloomberg News. Also, work with MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders), UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and U.S. Army. Dima's work has been published in magazines and newspapers worldwide including The New York Times, Time, People, Paris Match, Independent, Marie Claire, Stern and Newsweek. Dima is available for assignments throughout the world.