Many of the contributions to this assignment came from India, where about one quarter of the population still lacks access to electricity. "In a simple world, emotions will still exist and stories may still be told," wrote Sandip Dey of his photo.
Pictures: A World Without Energy
National Geographic's photo community created haunting images for this Great Energy Challenge assignment.
Energy is nearly as important as the air we breathe and the water we drink—yet not everyone has ready, reliable access to it.
Recently, members of National Geographic's Your Shot community were challenged to think about what a world without energy might look like, and then capture that idea with photography.
The assignment resulted in more than 8,000 images filled with both bleakness and hope, sunshine and fire. It also sparked a robust discussion among the participants, including debates over the use of fossil fuels, how to meet energy demand in a world where more than a billion people live without reliable power, and how those of us who do have energy use it in our daily lives.
Your Shot Director Monica
