A video interview with photographer Julia Gunther, who has traversed the African continent in pursuit of inspiring stories about women—cricket players, park rangers, beauty pageant queens and more.

In the decades-long struggle against poaching, a new strategic approach has broken through. Take a look at these proud portraits of the brave women who are preventing their local wildlife from being hunted to extinction.

LGBTI rights in Africa often clash with traditional African culture in which same-sex relationships are deemed ‘un-African’ and where homophobia is rampant. This is especially the case in the suburbs of the big cities like Cape Town or Johannesburg, where intolerance often leads to violence against women like Chedino and her friends — read their stories in this great photoessay.

Undeterred by the daily threats of violence, constant intimidation and at the risk of being cast out by their own families—the lesbian women of two South African townships continue to be proud of who they are and the love they represent.

Discover the three top winners of the Single Image Category in the 5th annual LensCulture Exposure Awards.