in a world that’s rapidly changing, photography gives us the chance to stand still. and in a year as unpredictable as 2020, moments in which we could slow down and reflect seemed to take on a new significance. among the many architecture and design projects, the designboom readers’ portal has been inundated with a huge range of photography projects. in 2020, many of the submissions have highlighted situations in flux, like a snapshot of a quickly-developing city, or a frozen moment underwater.

thanks to the creativity of our readers – and the several thousands of submissions that we receive annually – we’re given the chance to look at different parts of the world, or to see something through someone else’s eyes. from dreamy underwater photography to a series that depicts the density of chongqing in china, we highlight our TOP 10 reader submissions of 2020 – photography to change perspectives.

1 – mother and daughter are photographed naked, facing ruined sites of china

image courtesy of ji jing

in an eye-catching photography series, mother and daughter, ji jing and jia zhi, captured themselves standing naked in front of abandoned, ruined sites of china. the project intends to discuss the irresistible force of time with an unexpected, raw, yet beautiful approach.

2 – ‘a paradise lost’ by james kerwin reveals the derelict architecture of beirut

image © james kerwin

following world war II, beirut became known as ‘the paris of the middle east’ due to its french-colonial architecture and vibrant culture, which drew tourists, intellectuals and investors to the lebanese capital. however, this boom period ended in 1975 with the outbreak of civil war and since then the country has been further marked by various conflicts. after researching the country’s complex history, photographer james kerwin embarked on a trip to lebanon to document the derelict, yet beautiful buildings that have been left behind.

3 – luna ikuta creates a ghostly water garden of transparent california poppies

all images courtesy of luna ikuta

for her new upcoming series ‘afterlife’, artist luna ikuta stripped away the color and chlorophyll of flowers to immortalize them in an aquatic garden. using california poppies, the bright orange of the petals was replaced by a beautiful transparency, allowing viewers to marvel at the incredible cells and structures that make up the wildflower.

4 – dreamy underwater photography highlights jewelry submerged in clear blue finnish waters

images by elina manninen

finnish jewelry brand anna’s darling collaborated with two sisters, ice diver johanna nordblad and photographer elina manninen to present a series of dreamy underwater photos. sharing a deep love for water, along with similar visions and values, the firm and the sisters came together to introduce this creative project that highlights the beauty of both the jewelry pieces and the clear blue waters of finland.

5 – manuel alvarez diestro photographs the densest metropolis in mainland china

image by manuel alvarez diestro

in his latest photography project, manuel alvarez diestro took us to chongqing, the densest city in mainland china. the mega-city, flanked by mountains, and the yangtze & jailings rivers, accommodates its inhabitants in a crowded setting of vertical structures. intrigued by the unique environment, the artist captured the daily routine and transportation of the citizens within the concrete & glass jungle.

6 – ‘amoji’ depicts the clash between traditional and modern culture in africa

images © toufic beyhum

toufic beyhum shared his photography series from 2018 that was inspired by the ever-increasing connectivity across the african continent. titled ‘amoji’, the work brings familiar emojis to african-style masks to capture the clash between modern and traditional cultures.

7 – photographer takes hidden pictures of rio de janeiro subway passengers for two years

all images courtesy of adriana granado

brazil-based visual artist and photographer adriana granado introduced the ‘subterrâneas’ photography book, combining portraits of subway passengers in rio de janeiro between the years of 2016 to 2018. influenced by evan walker’s NYC subway portraits, the project has been completed drawing content by granado’s photo inventory of types, expressions and attitudes of the commuters.

8 – bagrad badalian uses long exposure photography to find alien-like creatures

all images by bagrad badalian

ethereal and otherworldly, intraterrestrials is a series of images by experimental artist bagrad badalian that explored the creative use of long exposure photography. described as a ‘quest’ to find alien-like creatures, badalian employed the technique to capture the subjects as they move within the frame, resulting in beautifully blurred photos that look almost like paintings.

9 – ‘beautified china’ by kris provoost documents the country’s architectural revolution

as part of a new book titled beautified china – the architectural revolution, hong kong based photographer, kris provoost, complied a selection of the most exciting and iconic buildings that have been erected in china in recent years. with china offering freer rein over what can and can’t be built, architects from all over the world have flexed their creative muscle to shape a new skyline. from arched skyscrapers, infinity loops, stacked chopsticks to moving tubular curtains, this recently published book showcases a collection of the most adventurous architecture from the country.

10 – satellite dishes in north african cities, photographed by manuel alvarez diestro

after many years living in morocco, algeria and egypt, manuel alvarez diestro dedicated a new photography series to the vernacular architecture of northern africa, and in particular, the satellite dishes that populate the buildings. whether clinging onto façades or proliferating on rooftops, the dishes add another layer to the urban fabric, appearing almost like a parasitic organism that’s become attached to the existing structures.