This photo of a gold mine in the Iga-Barrière region of eastern Congo shows the true scale of artisanal mining and the impressive number of people who depend on this activity. Photographer Dieudonne Dirole took this photo while on assignment. He wanted to show not just an individual scene, but a broader view of what is really happening on the ground.
The presence of child miners, women, and men in the mud, the polluted water used for washing, and the transformed hillside all demonstrate the human, economic, and environmental dimensions of mining. According to the photographer, the miners refused to allow filming because they know they are exploiting children and women, even though it is prohibited by law. However, one of their agents eventually agreed to accompany the crew.
This photo works because it tells a story without needing a long explanation. At first glance, you immediately understand that it is an extremely active mining site; then your gaze discovers the different individual stories: the people who dig, those who transport, those who wash the ore, the women and men who work in the water and mud. The power of this image lies in the contrast between the very intense human activity in the foreground and the natural landscape in the background. The photo simultaneously shows the people, the work, and the impact of this activity on the environment.