EDITORS’ PICK
The Power Over Our Souls
COLORS
COLORS EDITORS’ PICK
Following Jimmy Marble’s selection of winning images for our recent Colors competition, this compilation of 20 images represents some of the other talented photographers whose work struck us and left a mark. Each a stunning image worthy of exposure and attention…
When selecting for editor’s picks we’re always searching for those striking photographs that make for an unforgettable single image, whether from a broader series or not. We enjoy the accompanying text some photographers submit with their images, and while not always necessary it can be relevant when understanding the work in full context.
These are intended to be a conversation starter… so feel free to join the discussion on our social networks.
BANNER IMAGE: SHIVANI TIBREWAL
What a magnificent sight! The dusty cloud of turmeric takes over the scene, covering everything in its golden tone. The image is intense and memorable, conveying the entire dramatism of the event. It documents the grandeur of the celebration, but also how fascinated people are and have been with color. We weaved traditions, spiritual beliefs, psychological symbols, and cultural meaning around the way we perceive the world.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Every year at the ancient Khandoba temple in Jejuri, Maharashtra, thousands of devotees gather to celebrate the Bhandara festival — a sacred ritual offering of turmeric powder to the warrior god Khandoba. At the peak of the ceremony, clouds of bright yellow turmeric are thrown into the air by worshippers, turning the entire sky, the centuries-old temple architecture, and every face in the crowd a deep, blazing gold.
This image was captured at the moment the turmeric storm reached its crescendo — when the distinction between sky, stone, and human being dissolves into a single overwhelming wash of yellow. Color here is not decoration. It is devotion. It is noise and prayer and chaos and surrender, all compressed into one hue.
The temple of Khandoba stands as a silent witness in the background, half-consumed by the golden haze — a reminder that this explosion of color has been repeating for centuries, and will continue long after the dust settles.
DANIEL HOUSLEY
Highlighting color as a component of our cultural heritage, the portrait excels in contrast and lighting. Thus, color becomes both the focal point and the background, gluing the elements together and creating a harmonious composition. The ancient story of beauty and femininity takes the scene, mesmerizing the viewer and making them eager to find out more about this mysterious character.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Lianpu.
MARTINA HOLMBERG
This stylish pink and blue portrait does justice to its models and highlights their deep connection. The composition is kept simple to allow the colors to shine and the subject to be the main focus point. The space is well used, light falls beautifully, and the viewer is invited to connect on a deeper level with this intimate scene. Art works with and for the subject and not the other way around, which is nice to see.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Indra lives in the small town of Boras, Sweden, with her husband. She has always felt a deep connection to animals. The image was taken before her beloved Chihuahua passed away. The photograph is from my project People I Invited Myself To. It portrays individuals who, for various reasons, captured my interest and whom I visited in their homes.
HENDRIK BRAET
There is no doubt that colors can bring joy, fuel us with energy, and alter our mood, and that’s the first sensation one has when looking at this photograph. But there is a sense of rhythm that shines through, taking the viewer on a different journey, heart pulsating, eyes moving ahead, mind imagining the story of a little girl who once dressed as a colorful zebra and walked through the city. The perspective and close angle enhance the story and draw the viewer in like the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I consider color to be a fundamental element of my visual language. While wandering through the streets of Ghent, I actively look for colors that interact, contrast or resonate with one another. Color is never incidental in my work, but a guiding force that shapes the moment. It enhances emotion, suggests relationships and brings rhythm to the urban scene. Sometimes a bold color draws the eye, while at other times subtle tones create quiet tension. I use color to bring order to visual chaos and to add meaning to everyday situations. Light and color work together to create a distinct atmosphere. By patiently waiting for people, surroundings and color to align, I create photographs that feel both spontaneous and carefully observed.
CÉDRIC BERVILLÉ
We never cease to be amazed by the colors of the natural world. These two lovely models, so proud of their colorful feathers, remind us to embrace our quirkiness and differences and love all the colors equally. The image’s impressive subjects stand out, but the technical qualities are to be appreciated as well. Sharp edges, accurate colors, exceptional use of lighting, and a memorable composition are just a few of the features that appeal to the viewer.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Plumes Amoureuses (Feathers of Love).
MARC WAINWRIGHT
What a beautiful blend of vibrant colors, power stance, and symmetrical composition! Filling the frame with the orange hair was a great choice, highlighting the photographer’s ability to work with space and geometry and create intentional compositions. The portrait is theatrical and imposing, empowering its character and hooking the viewer. The fact that in this extremely colorful space one can still notice the color of the model’s eyes is impressive.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Orangina.
ORY SCHNEOR
‘Just stop and look around’ could be the message of this minimalist shot, and what a powerful message it would be. Shades of blue, green, purple and orange, gentle ripples, stillness, nature’s equilibrium at its best. It’s a mindful image that reflects the photographer’s mindset and their love for the wonders that unfold under their eyes, transporting the viewer into a calmer, more peaceful world.
– LIFE FRAMER
VICTORIA RUIZ
This fine art photograph speaks the language of color and texture. There is so much happening in an apparently minimalist scene: the innocence of flowers and the coldness of the guns, an alarmingly bright background, and two children’s silhouettes facing each other. The viewer can sense the tumult behind this image and the profound engagement of the photographer. All the elements in the frame are carefully curated and purposefully placed.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Golden Silence, 2025. Rooted in personal memory, this image reflects a childhood of violence. Two figures wear floral masks in peach and purple; blue-flower weapons juxtapose innocence and harm. Silence under dictatorship persists even in exile, where censorship follows.
We Knew the World in Fragments of Color is a series reflecting my experience of being born in Venezuela during political turmoil and leaving my native country for the United States at a young age. Utilising handcrafted full-body suits — drawing from Latin American cultural symbolism, spirituality, and a strong chromatic language — I stage a sequence of photographs in which the subjects convey meaning against a coloured backdrop.
Across this series, I represent successive stages of Venezuela’s recent reality, each carrying its distinct historical and emotional weight. Meanwhile, through performative self-representation, my internal world unfolds as one shaped by fragmentation and tension resulting from displacement. The work traces my attempt to reconstruct the scattered fragments of my passage across geographies and states of being, shaped by nostalgia and by the persistent scrutiny placed upon migrant identity — particularly that of the Venezuelan diaspora in the United States.
Meaning is embedded through richly layered symbols, from floral choices and costume details to a palette alive with colour and shadow. Dreamlike imagery unfolds through the perspective of a child suspended between worlds, capturing the quiet shifts of hope and uncertainty that accompany the experience of immigration; a perspective in which everything feels familiar and strange at once. In this sense, memory is reimagined as fractured yet luminous: like shards of tinted glass refracting identity, resilience, and faith. The work is a meditation on fragmentation as a condition of migration that does not seek coherence but rather embraces multiplicity, suggesting that belonging is not recovered but continually assembled.
Through a kaleidoscope of memory, displacement, and spirituality, I reflect on how life between worlds reshapes perception, and colour itself becomes a language of survival and belonging.
EMILY M WILSON
A field of canola in bloom on a blue sky is a popular choice for landscape photographers. However, it takes a creative photographer to come up with a fresh angle and new perspectives. In this case, the waving hills in the background disrupt the monotone scene, creating depth and enriching the view. At the same time, going for color, not for clarity, builds a poetic atmosphere and invites the viewer towards reverie rather than straight observation.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Blooming canola field in the Palouse hills of Washington State, USA.
LUCIANO LEJTMAN
In a cultural environment, colors are symbols and ways of expression. In this group portrait, colors are the binding that holds the group together, while blending it into the background at the same time. Through color, the picture speaks about belonging and a way of life rooted in tradition. Old and new come together smoothly thanks to warm tones and floral patterns, a tribute to femininity.
– LIFE FRAMER
MICHAEL LEMON
A yellow wall in the sunset glow transforms this mundane scene into something spiritual and touching. That’s the power of color. The warmth of the wall spreads over the entire scene, making us feel at peace, safe, and joyful. Nothing bad can happen. The composition is candid and simple, capturing the moment as it happens. Making the wall the focal point instead of going for the more obvious visual elements was a very inspired artistic call. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Holy Shadow.
JAMES MACHON
Life starts with a bit of color, showing us there is hope beyond ruins and loss. This small green focal point, bright and playful, is a reminder to enjoy the present moment, wherever we may be and whatever we may be dwelling in. It also highlights the visual weight of color. It takes an entire frame of dark, gray tones to balance the vivacity and freshness of a leaf. Well done for playing with proportions and negative space so harmoniously.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – What caught my eye here was the quiet contrast between light and darkness. Deep within the worn stone of Angkor Wat, the space feels still and almost enclosed, yet a small burst of green life reaches into the light. The foliage, illuminated so vividly, becomes the focal point, bringing a sense of renewal to an otherwise shadowed, ancient setting. It felt like a simple but powerful reminder of nature finding its way through time and decay.
JOSEPH BARRETTO
Such a masterful use of light to enhance the narrative and transform the subject into a movie star! The shot is cinematic and catchy, a poster for a film the viewer is now eager to watch. Light and color work together smoothly to build up contrast, create a well-balanced composition, and guide the viewer through the frame. Almost entirely devoid of edges and lines, the frame flows freely like an inspiring poem.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Laveau Aglow, New Orleans, April 2025.
YONG YE
Layer after layer of color and texture, a fairytale-like universe, so dramatic and beautiful. Colors are the center of attention, the star of the show, the performers. The photo shows how much we rely on colors for artistic expression and how long a history we have together. The simple and symmetrical composition balances the huge amount of color, allowing the viewer to go undisturbed from one element to another.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Colorful Opera Memories. Vivid pink, blue, and red costumes bring traditional opera to life. Against simple backdrops, bright colors honor cultural heritage and the warmth of folk performances.
RYAN SCOTT
By blending the subject in the colorful, abstract-looking background, the photographer creates context. The portrait becomes a story about a place, a time, and a way of life, a story of a community, a story of an identity. At the same time, the unusual background is food for thought and opens the door to exploring deeper concepts. The image feeds the aesthetic sense and the imagination equally. – LIFE FRAMER
MICKAËL LAURENT
Everything in this frame generates color or is glued together by color, and the result is explosive and memorable. The vibrant tones of purple, orange and red are the leading line that takes the eye from one element to another. However, due to the camera angle, the viewer is not an observer, but an active participant who takes in the street’s busy atmosphere. The picture becomes a multisensorial experience that exalts the senses.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Nightfall on a busy street of Jodhpur in India.
TOBIAS ULBRICH
To get so close to a subject, both physically and personally, requires a high level of openness, the willingness to show vulnerability and trust in human connection. In this scenario, colors help us establish a common language and build an atmosphere in which both photographer and subject feel comfortable. Used well, like in this frame, they also act as pointers, guiding the viewer’s gaze, highlighting interest points, and enriching the narrative.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I’m Here, I’m Not, Friedrichwalde, Germany, 2022. Shot on film, found in passing – color as it actually exists in the world. This image is part of En Route, my ongoing documentary analog street photography series capturing everyday colorful moments of people in public space across the world.
THOMAS MOREL-FORT & AXELLE DE RUSSE
Addressing the role of art in our everyday life, this conceptual photograph is striking and memorable. Color plays its role, too, infusing the frame with drama and contrast and separating the planes of the story. The photograph resembles a theater scene, with actors taking their place and performing in front of the audience. The viewer gets the best seats in the room and is hooked until the end of the show.
– LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Chun Ju Bian Lian, dancer and creator of Chinese masks.
“Art is not, in my eyes, a solitary pleasure. It is a means of stirring the greatest number of people by offering them a privileged picture of common joys and sufferings. It obliges the artist not to keep himself apart >>. Albert Camus, Speech from Sweden, 1957.
France 2022. The world of culture has been hit hard by the health situation. From an economic point of view, but also symbolic and philosophical. The artists, qualified as non-essential by the authorities, were prevented from practicing their art in public for sometimes more than two years. They were deeply affected and tried to adapt. Many questioned the meaning of their profession and often their practice was turned upside down.
We went to every region of France, in order to show the culture where it is least visible, but so essential. In the villages, the hamlets, the rural or suburban world. We slowly criss-crossed the country, far from the tourist cliches, on a “winding, capricious road, a road in no hurry that has no other aim than to trap as much humanity as possible” (Claude Roy). The technical constraint of working with a large format camera is for us a way of paying homage to the demands of artistic work in general, meticulous, made up of errors, repetitions… and symbolises the meeting between our subject and our approach.
ANGELIKA KOLLIN
Excellent compositional skills and an eye for detail transform a mundane scene into an artful photograph. No more than two colors, a boxy decor, and a subject lost in thought are enough to create an intriguing story and catch the viewer’s attention. The space is beautifully used to guide the viewer towards the subject, add depth, and prepare the field for our own imagination to take off.
– LIFE FRAMER
BETTINA BRUNSWIG
Street scenes are fleeting moments that only a very patient and observant photographer can catch. When everything falls into place, like in this shot, we get to see how wonderful the world may be, how colorful and full of energy, how whimsical in its coincidences. The world is a playground on multiple levels, but we need to take ourselves less seriously to be allowed to join the game. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – A real-life Tetris. I love observing life in the streets, waiting and anticipating what could happen next. Sometimes I see how the picture is being built in front of my eyes, with all the pieces being brought together. Until it all breaks down again and falls back into its own chaos.
