logo

The Sigh of History

Part of a series exploring the lives and work of Guyana's sugar cane cutters on the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, where my grandfather worked for over 10 years. Cane cutters are paid very little for their hard, dangerous work, approximately 7 USD per ton of cane.

Awards

Photographer of the Year Contest

2025

Discovery of the Year

Photojournalism

Non Professional

People’s Vote Award

Photojournalism

Non Professional

Nominee

Portrait

Non Professional

The Sigh of History

Part of a series exploring the lives and work of Guyana's sugar cane cutters on the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, where my grandfather worked for over 10 years. Cane cutters are paid very little for their hard, dangerous work, approximately 7 USD per ton of cane.

About Artist

Christian Moorman

Christian Moorman is a Guyanese-American photographer based in Paris. Prior to taking up photography, he spent 8 years studying philosophy and human rights law in the UK and Austria. He began taking photographs during the pandemic, and his interests in politics, history, and ethics drew him to documentary photography. He allows these interests to guide his practice, and is especially interested in projects exploring themes related to the legacies of colonialism, as well as the complicated experiences of diasporic communities. In 2024/25, he studied documentary photography in Paris, as part of a course taught by Spéos Photography School and Magnum, and is currently a freelance photographer. Christian is working on a long-term project documenting the transformations taking place in Guyana following the discovery of oil off its shores in 2015. Over the past year, he has focused on chapters that explore the country’s sugar industry, which his grandfather worked in for more than two decades.

Christian Moorman

Photographic Areas of Focus

Film/Analog, Photojournalism, Portrait

Location

United States of America

Explore Other Winners

View All
Nominee +2
Edward Matthews

Edward Matthews

Photojournalism

Nominee
Eduardo Esses

Eduardo Esses

Photojournalism

Honorable Mention
Haochen He

Haochen He

Photojournalism

Nominee
Riccardo Zennaro

Riccardo Zennaro

Photojournalism

logo

Contests

Info

FAQ & RulesTerms of UsePrivacy Policy

Links

Facebook

Instagram

Contact Us

© Creative Resource Collective, LLC 2025. All Rights Reserved.

1839 Awards is managed by Creative Resource Collective, LLC.

Learn More

Creative Resource Collective, LLC.