Roseli, 35 years old, grew up and continues to live in the streets of central Rio with her mother, two sisters and one brother. Roseli has seven children, none of whom are with her. Both of her sisters are pregnant. Rio De Janeiro, Brasil 2009.

Home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and luxury hotels, Rio de Janeiro is also a city of the starkest inequalities imaginable.

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Angel is a three-chapter story seeking to embody the life of an ex-gang member from a Mexico City suburb, his illegal crossing through Ciudad Juarez into the United States and his future life in “the promised land”. The work was produced in conjunction with Mexican writer Rafael Illich between 2007 and 2009.

Growing up in Mexico I was always aware of the vast differences between the wealthy, the not so wealthy, the poor and the extremely poor. Indeed it was very sad to have seen this so blatantly. The suffering of many people, because of the greed of a few –this picture will always stay in my mind, no matter where I go.

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Please note all pictures on the Big Picture are subject to copyright and are not for reproduction without the photographers permission.

“Miss HIV contestant, Elizabeth Ramolale, wonders whether her costume for part of the competition is going to keep her dignity intact.”

A photostudy of the Miss HIV contest in Botswana by David White a UK-based photographer, former contributing editor to Marie Claire and one half of the duckrabbit production team.

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Award winning photo by Yasuyoshi Chiba of a crowd watching the result of the recent American Presidential election in Kibera in Kenya.

(C) Yasuyoshi Chiba.