All images © Steven Laxton

Steven Laxton’s portrait series, “Circo El Salvador,” documents nomadic circus families of El Salvador who perform in rural and impoverished areas of Central America. This form of entertainment is an important escape for those who live in remote areas of the country where they face not only poverty, but also the highest homicide rate in the world. This photographic series placed in the “personal” category of the 2012 PDN Photo Annual  and was the winner of the $15,000 Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture.

The 2013 PDN Photo Annual is now open for entries through January 29. With your entry you can opt to have your portraiture considered for the 2013 Arnold Newman Prize. For more information and to enter the contest, visit: http://pdnphotoannual.com

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All photos © Jason Larkin/Panos

Jason Larkin won the 2011 Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture, awarded to a winner in the PDN Photo Annual, for his series “Past Perfect.” It’s Larkin’s examination of Egypt’s museums, which preserve the country’s history and archaeology for tourists and also show in their architecture and design the continuing influence of British and French colonialism. In addition to a cash prize, Larkin won a three-month exhibition at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine. In the artist’s statement that accompanied the show, Larkin explained, “The open-air museums of ancient Egypt promoted the world’s first package holidays, drawing visitors to celebrate and interpret the country’s complex history.” Larkin, a British documentary photographer represented by Panos Pictures, told PDN that he’s interested in exploring “the stories behind the stories.”  All photos © Jason Larkin/Panos

Entries to the 2012 PDN Photo Annual are still being accepted through February 24.

Above: One of the many bowab’s (caretakers) for the Agricultural Museum in Cairo takes a rest in the natural history room.

Above: Two Egyptian women study a painting depicting a large battle in the Military Museum. Housed in the Citadel, it features weapons and costumes from Egyptian warfare as well as life-size simulations depicting several of Egypt’s key battles.