Praying Valley

• Photographer
  Sungsoo Lee
• Prizes
  Bronze in People/Culture

The people of the Larung Gar buddhist monastery, Tibet Autonomous, live at a literally breathtaking altitude of 13,000 feet. For Tibetans, for whom religion is the center of their life, this monastery is a place regarded as sacred. The photos show monks and nuns spending the 15 years they need for their religious education. Though it is a religious place, it is turning into a secretive, political symbol that demonstrates the Tibetans’ devotion and determination. Without any obtrusion into their simple lifestyle, I tried to capture the everyday lives of these religious people in my photography.