Shooting in the field: capturing life as it’s lived

A student photography competition showcases some of the stunning visuals that result from modern Social Anthropology research The photographs captured a few of my most memorable moments in the field that are deeply connected to my ethnographic work - Jonathan Taes A woman holds her two children standing in front of their house, reduced to rubble after an earthquake. They wear no coats, one child has no shoes and there is snow on the ground. Residents in the block of flats behind - where the woman's husband works as housekeeper - have just moved back into renovated apartments, while the family in the picture have yet to receive any state help. Taken by Marlene Schäfers in the city of Van in eastern Turkey, this photograph is just one example of how social anthropologists often return from their fieldwork with compelling and deeply moving glimpses of life in very different parts of the world. Following a competition in the Division of Social anthropology, this image - and dozens of others like it - is now being shared online for the first time. The aim is to celebrate the diverse range of research carried out by students. Current PhD candidates are conducting research in Russia, Bengal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Turkey and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as in the UK.