Desert of Stones
Madagascar is believed to supply around 40% of the world’s sapphires — a staggering figure for a country where most mining is done by hand. This photo takes you into the heart of Ilakaka, capturing the quiet intensity of the hunt for these coveted gems
Awards
Color Photography Contest
2025Silver
Photojournalism
Non Professional
Desert of Stones
Madagascar is believed to supply around 40% of the world’s sapphires — a staggering figure for a country where most mining is done by hand. This photo takes you into the heart of Ilakaka, capturing the quiet intensity of the hunt for these coveted gems
About Artist
Denys Kutsevalov
Ukrainian photographer, designer, traveler, author of nomads.wtf. He has been practicing photography for 12 years with a focus on Travel, Conservation, Nature and wildlife, Indigenous People and culture. He visited 40 countries across different continents, exploring and documenting these subjects. For the past 8 years, he has been based in Singapore and working on projects around South East Asia.
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