The composition, moment and technical skill make this a winning image for me. The depth of field and use of the light source help bring balance to what could have easily been a chaotic scene. You can almost feel the flakes of snow touching your face as you look at this photo. I can just imagine being bundled up and walking along this iconic path with Simon and Garfunkle playing in my ears. Well done. – ALEX SNYDER

Snow is magical, no wonder it is often present in fairytales. But there is so much more happening in this image than snow. There is the cold and light of a winter day, a lonely walk in the park, layers of untold stories, and food for the imagination. The black and white aesthetic and the bokeh effect are smart choices because they allow the viewer to focus on meaning rather than on colorful or sharp details. This is an atmospheric shot more than anything else. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Wonderland 2, Central Park, New York.

Technical skill elevated what would have otherwise been an average photo. Using a longer exposure and allowing the grasses to blur draws us into the scene. This painterly effect allows your eye to travel throughout the frame – noticing the sand, the waves in the distance and the soft beginnings of a sunset. You can almost feel the sea breeze. – ALEX SNYDER

This minimalist and artful composition captures beautifully the warmth of a summer day, the kind of place we’ve all visited and fallen in love with because it is untouched nature that speaks the language of love. You can almost hear the rustle of the grass, the rhythmic melody of the waves, maybe a few birds or human voices in the distance. It’s a visual haiku with a powerful impact on the viewer. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Summer Days.

A really wonderful composition that utilizes every inch of the frame. The light and texture of the animals’ fur blends perfectly with the mountainous landscape, which had a great transition from warm, to shadowed to cooler tones all the way in the background, adding depth and a sense of wonder to the scene. Although every element in the image is exotic in content and scale, the image remains grounded and it evokes an almost contemplative mood. – PETROS KOUBLIS

This is the Animal Kingdom at its best: wild animals in their environment, resilient, adaptable, and ultimately happy. The shot is impressive both in the choice of subject matter and the composition. It has depth, perspective, and a strong focal point. At the same time, it has a sort of sweetness that comes only from a photographer’s love for the subject. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Geladas on the “Roof of Africa”. An iconic animal of Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains: The gelada monkey (theropithecus gelada), also known as the Bleeding Heart Monkey. To protect themselves from predators, they spend the night on tiny ledges on the impossibly steep cliffs of these canyons and climb back on the plateau at daybreak to graze. Which they do with grim determination all day because this grass is not nutritious. This view was captured in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains National Park.

A surprising composition, where every element is harmonious but there is a strong feeling of a narrative taking place. The way the fox is looking at the camera while moving carefully inside the landscape, which feels both enclosed and symmetrical, creates an interesting connection with the viewer. The scene is immersive with a sense of mystery while it maintains its clarity and a natural, almost organic simplicity. – PETROS KOUBLIS

This image seems taken from a fairytale. The vegetation’s texture hides the fox perfectly, giving it that shy, slick, sneaking attitude we often associate with its species. This only enhances the story and makes us curious to know more. Furthermore, the framing is simple and efficient, cutting out unnecessary elements and keeping everything in harmony. – LIFE FRAMER

This image captivated me by the way the bold color planes come into play through the composition. Framing both movement and subjects, each field works together to create a dynamic image in the moment. – ALIXANDRA FAZZINA

The beauty of photography lies not in recording what everyone sees but in capturing what is often overlooked. A feeling, a mood, colors, the story in the background, the passage of time, and the stillness of a moment are just a few of the many concepts encompassed in this photograph. The skillful framing and exquisite attention to detail catch the vibrancy of youth culture and draw the viewer in. This may be a scene that one has passed by without noticing, but from now on, they will see it, and it’s all thanks to one photograph. – LIFE FRAMER

This very notable runner-up is a complex scene. I love that each quarter tells its own story. It’s an image that requires a longer look. Each room, with its own unique color palette, frames a narrative- lives that I want to know more about. – ALIXANDRA FAZZINA

The juxtaposition of colors, people, and activities is representative of the local culture. The photographer relies on color to provide aesthetic and spiritual guidelines, to lead the viewer from one scene to another, and to bring everything together in a cohesive narrative. It’s a scene that requires considerable time to fully absorb, which sparks curiosity and investment from the viewer, and ultimately makes the picture memorable. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – India provides an unparalleled color palette blending culture and beauty with a rich array of color and textures. These colors are weave together aspiration and reality where specific colors represent emotion and spirituality expressed in environment and fashion while reality may sometimes clash with those aspirations.

I love the idea that one does not need to travel to exotic places to create an outstanding image. Instead, it only need take great observation and a creative mind. I like the unique point of view and how the photographer used the power lines to create the composition. – LARRY LOUIE

The sky is the limit for parental love. That seems to be the message of this photograph. Its unusual shooting angle and the clever integration of power lines into the composition put the subject in perspective and create a strong focal point. The stork’s nest in the background is just another nice touch. This image proves that color is not the ultimate ingredient for an amazing shot. The black and white aesthetic can be equally powerful as long as the photographer understands that any subject comes with a story. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Safe place.

The boy in the foreground has a magnetic look and the two girls with the house in the background added to the unique composition. Normally a lesser photographer would center the kids in the photo but in this case I like how the shooter intentionally decentered them. – LARRY LOUIE

This environmental group portrait almost defies the rules of composition. The subjects are crowded intentionally, to leave room for the mundane background of their lives. Nevertheless, their facial expressions gather all childhood moods in one place. The image is rich in symbolism, paradoxically well-balanced, and extremely appealing. The viewer can’t help but look around, from one face to another, from foreground to background, looking for clues and emotionally responding to each find. – LIFE FRAMER

I really liked the carefully constructed composition of this camping scene. The colors, the children’s poses, and the lighting give it a surreal quality, as if it were an illustration from a children’s book. – SMITA SHARMA

The photograph captures the endless curiosity and preoccupations of childhood in a perfectly lit, perfectly composed cinematic scene. The campsite is buzzing with energy, with colorful toys shining through the grass, and the dark forest providing a comfortable, blanket-like background. One could not wish for a better shooting angle. The complex narrative is mesmerizing, leading the viewer from one plot to another in a whimsical and engaging manner. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Camping playground. In this photo series, I embark on a journey through inspiring locations that have the power to ignite the imagination. Guided by the virtual lens of Google Street View, I find myself wandering through the digital corridors of the world, embarking on endless virtual walks. Like a spy plane soaring above, I observe the landscape from different angles, seeking out wooded areas, specific architectural styles, and mysterious structures that exude a captivating atmosphere. These locations serve as the foundation upon which I build my narrative.

Through this approach, I hope to uncover the hidden narratives embedded within these captivating locations. The fusion of personal stories, carefully constructed staging, and the inherent magic of photography allows me to delve into the depths of youth experiencing adventures and create visual moments that resonate on multiple levels.

The portrait of the girl in traditional attire, set against the backdrop of a waterfall, is stunning. Sometimes, context becomes essential in a photograph to understand what the image is trying to convey. This portrait is part of the series Threaded in Time, which explores a generation rooted in memory yet reaching toward the future. – SMITA SHARMA

This environmental portrait may very well look like fine-art photography, but it is actually a very good documentary picture. The photographer found an exceptional way to visually convey the complicated relationship between youth and tradition, the contrast between the future and the past. The photograph is artfully curated, each element having the exact amount of visual weight and a precise role in the story. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Threaded in Time. In these portraits, youth meets tradition. Girls under 18 wear the traditional costumes of their heritage–not as museum pieces, but as living threads in a fabric that continues to evolve. Captured as part of the Mitos Project, these images reflect a quiet defiance: a generation rooted in memory, yet reaching forward.

There’s a tenderness in the way they carry the weight of culture with the lightness of youth. Between the folds of woven cloth lie stories passed down, rituals learned, identities forming. This is youth not just as a fleeting moment, but as a bridge–between past and possibility.

This work radiates authenticity and creative intent. With patience and technical skill, the photographer captures a fleeting moment—the infinity symbol traced in sand and dirt by hands in motion, paired with a kneeling stance that speaks volumes. It becomes a visual language of pleading, of justice sought and forgiveness yearned for. The slight blur in the figure adds to its realism, grounding the image in truth rather than illusion. Nothing feels forced or overly edited. Accompanying the image, a heartfelt caption reveals the artist’s deep passion for the project – ALISON MORLEY

With a thoughtfully constructed composition and a powerful message, this shot is intended to impact the viewer at a deeper level and make them ask the hard questions. The photograph is fluid and harmonious, with color palette, textures, and shapes all artistically used to match the background story. Clearly, this is a project close to the photographer’s heart. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The series, Absolution, explores the profound journey of releasing ourselves from the weight of a past that no longer serves us. It reflects the universal struggle to confront, accept, and ultimately let go of the identities and memories that once defined us but now hold us back. True transformation, it suggests, is only possible when we make peace with our past, allowing us to step into a space of personal freedom and renewal. In Absolution, I aim to capture the emotional spectrum we encounter on this path, the turbulence of unresolved pain, the quiet resistance to letting go, and finally, the liberation that acceptance brings. This series offers a visual meditation on the act of release, embodying what it feels like to reach genuine inner peace and the emotions while going through our struggles.

Viewing the tri-level architecture of the train through a child’s perspective is captivating—it invites curiosity and encourages a deeper look into the many intriguing elements within the frame. This image doesn’t just ask to be seen; it demands a pause, a second glance, urging the viewer to explore every corner. I love how it engages both the mind and the senses, making us truly think, observe, and feel. – ALISON MORLEY

By composing the frame in layers, the photographer guides the viewer not only through a two-dimensional image but through an entire journey. The use of available light, reflective surfaces, and transparencies is outstanding, especially because this is a candid shot with no possibilities for the photographer to arrange the scene. An image that sparks curiosity, this shot proves that a good photographer always keeps a camera close. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The train ride.

This image is complex and stunning, with an element of mystery that transports us into an alternative world. The lighting adds a sense of discovery, like an alien visitor trying to make sense of a curious, unusual formation. A unique blend of light, color, and balance holds the viewer in awe, mesmerized… with questions left unanswered. – COREY ARNOLD

The photographer lets us know that Planet Earth is perfectly capable of putting on an exquisite spectacle, full of contrasts and surprises. Blizzard and sunset, soft hills and sharp rocks, blinding light and cold darkness all come together in this natural show. The framing reveals the elements slowly, inviting the viewer to pass mindfully from one to another, taking everything in and opening their hearts to the beauty of nature. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Planet Earth: As a moonrise burns across the horizon, lights cut through the darkness, illuminating the Old Man of Storr in Scotland. Blizzards howled through the night, and a brief gap in the whiteout left minutes to execute the photograph. As the storm passed, ice crystals were left suspended in the air, through which the moonlight refracted to a fiery orange.

I could stare at this curious image for hours trying to unlock the mystery of how this incredible color and texture was formed, and to what extent or detriment has this human intervention altered the landscape. Further examination into the details reveals a complex grid of posts and lines, a red road being breached by a white substance seeping in from above and two pools of colorful oozing fluid or is it mineralization? Curiosity is a powerful emotion, and this image masterfully lures us in. – COREY ARNOLD

This amazing aerial photo shows just how little we know about our planet. The symmetrical composition is mesmerizing, making the viewer look again and again, trying to figure out the details and the story behind the image. Impactful and memorable, the photograph stays with you like a mantra. It makes you curious and invokes wanderlust, urging you to explore the world, love it by all means, and do your best to minimize the scars humankind leaves behind. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Primordial, from a collection of aerial photos of mines, braided rivers and salt lakes across Australia and New Zealand.

This photograph is interesting for the contrasts it manages to capture in a single shot: balloons that a man tries to remove from a trash can. A heavenly blue sky, under which a scene unfolds with a certain cruelty, testifies to the difficult living conditions of our contemporaries. – DAMARICE AMAO

We think we know everything about life, but what we actually do is rush from point A to point B, hearing nothing but the thoughts in our busy minds. This image reminds us of the incredible happenings outside our little minds, the surprising finds we would have access to if only we lifted our gaze and, at least for a brief moment, saw the world. A lot is happening in this frame, but even more is happening outside of it. Very good storytelling skills. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Dumpster diving. Captured on a day that I wasn’t planning on shooting anything specific. I was just going about my day and watching the world around me. Moments like this are unassuming things that could happen at anytime but I was drawn to them. They serve as reminders of people or things in my past that unexpectedly came up when going about my day.

I was particularly interested in the choice of viewpoint here, as well as the ability to avoid certain clichés of travel photography by taking a step back to see more clearly. I like this image of quiet moments, intelligently composed, with no particular story to tell but showing extreme empathy. – DAMARICE AMAO

A warm black and white photograph, full of candor and grace, the image excels in using space and shapes. No color, no contrast, just lines and textures that make the foreground and background blend in harmoniously, creating a never-ending story. One can only hope that each scene is closely observed by someone because otherwise it wouldn’t exist, just like this one wouldn’t have if it weren’t for the photographer noticing the observer. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Local life in Jamestown, Ghana, before the construction of a new harbour.

For me, a compelling image doesn’t merely convey a clear, decodable message; it holds a mysterious layer that keeps it alive long after we see it. This winning image embodies exactly that. It speaks to my curiosity and subconscious, creating a subtle yet profound connection with the man, even though I don’t fully grasp the story. There’s an undeniable bond between us. I am also captivated by its tonality and lighting—they are deeply poetic and evocative. – JOAKIM ESKILDSEN

A portrait tailored for its model; this outstanding image is based on mutual respect between the people standing at the two ends of the lens. The photographer stripped the frame of any distraction to allow the subject to tell the deepest, holiest story: the legacy of the ancestors. The light and the sparse color palette complement the portrait perfectly. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – A member of the Dust Shaker clan, Papua New Guinea.

Exactly what is the Dust Shaker ritual in Papua New Guinea? After a period of mourning, the widows and widowers present themselves back to social groups through this ceremony. It signifies the end of mourning and also their resilience to embrace new beginnings. They literally are shaking off the ashes of old and starting new again.

The ceremony beautifully embodies the spirit of life’s ups and downs and their ability to move forward while honoring their past. Joy after loss is something that I struggle with and seeing a secluded tribe on the other side of the earth having the same experience makes me feel less alone.

This image is indescribably beautiful, moving, and sensual, yet also unsettling, infused with a sense of mystery. We cannot tell whether the figure is drowning or simply feeling a stream of water trickle down their face in enjoyment. The boy is both incredibly delicate and haunting, evoking the fragility of life and resonating with the countless people who drown fleeing from Africa to Europe. Without being overt or explicit, the image masterfully combines the sublime experience of being in water with the claustrophobic terror of drowning, creating a profoundly moving and sensory experience. – JOAKIM ESKILDSEN

So pure and artistic, this portrait encompasses raw emotions. The glittering, brown, swirling water, the peaceful emergence of the subject, and the warming sun say nothing and everything at the same time. The portrait simply shows how happiness looks and feels. However, without impeccable technical skills, this beautiful concept would have been lost, so well done for masterfully using photographic technique to convey the message. – LIFE FRAMER

This portrait captivated me with its extraordinary delicacy. It is an image of tenderness, trust, and care – feelings that cannot be faked, as they truly radiate from this frame. The photograph does not need many words, because it speaks for itself with calmness, closeness, and love. It is beautifully executed: simple in form, yet deeply moving. A quiet, intimate moment full of warm emotions has been captured here, and they reach the viewer directly.

The photograph also has exceptional value in the way it presents the man. It shows him from a perspective rarely seen in visual culture – not as a tough, independent “macho” figure, but as someone tender, attentive, and caring. This gentleness does not take away his strength; on the contrary, it gives it a new, profound dimension. It is especially moving because, in iconography, it is most often the mother who appears in such intimate scenes with a child. Here, that role is reversed, which makes the image even more unique and important. The author’s description opens an additional layer of interpretation. The photograph was created as an act of opposition to injustice, to the poorer treatment of people with a different skin color, to harassment and racism. It is a protest that does not express itself through images of violence or dramatic scenes, but through a completely different language – the language of love, closeness, and dignity.

In this sense, the photograph becomes an act of resistance through affirmation. Showing beauty, tenderness, and humanity is also a fight for equality and justice, because it reminds us of what is worth nurturing and what values should guide us as a society. This approach recalls the later work of Sebastião Salgado, who – after years of documenting pain and suffering – began showing the beauty of the world to awaken responsibility and sensitivity in people.

Similarly here: love, not accusation, becomes a form of resistance. It is a deeply humanistic, beautiful, and profoundly necessary photograph. – MARCIN RYCZEK

When one looks at this image, they don’t see skin of one color or another. They don’t even see individuals or relationships. All the viewer sees is love and tenderness, a close embrace, hope, and safety. It’s the purpose of photography to help us focus on what’s real instead of on what’s socially and culturally manufactured. We need to see life as it is, without misconceptions and biases. And life is love. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – This series was born during the political unrest of 2020. Every time I looked at my phone, I saw Black lives dying at the hands of police.

As an Afro-Latino immigrant from Brazil, I grew up adjacent to, but not fully within, the Black American experience. When I moved to one of the poorest neighborhoods in the state at age nine, I quickly realized that America was not as white as I’d seen in the movies. The only white people I saw were my teachers — and I often found myself in trouble with them, though I didn’t always understand why. Looking back, I realize it wasn’t about what I was doing, but how I was perceived. It wasn’t until adulthood that I understood: we were all perceived in a certain untruthful light. Too loud. Too messy. Too dangerous.

During the protests, I felt the pull to do something. Also, numbness. Black death became more common on my feed than roadkill on a Midwestern highway. Protest after protest, and yet the fear only grew: for me, a fear of the police. For many, a fear of Black lives. To resist that narrative, I turned to tenderness. I wanted to photograph the quiet, sacred moments I’ve witnessed within Black communities, the gentleness that never makes the headlines. Sometimes images are enough. But I also asked each person to write a message they wished others would carry with them.

Rahim and Ruel: “I fear being wrong. I fear being wrong because I’m dark and I was always told, that’s where the monsters are. But the light reveals, cameras now help us see clear, actions of racist are uncovered. Acting like they shooting for justice when there’s mainly blacks red after flashing white in the streets but only the privileged blue left without a defeat. How do I tell my son that the color of his skin has been weaponized? That’s it’s a threat to some and a thug is what we symbolize?

Although we are Christians that belong to a church family with a color woven with our character aligned with our allegiance to Gods kingdom, we still somehow are viewed less than the whites. Ghetto is what most whites will view him in this so called sweet land of liberty. I wish he would grow up to be professionally, spiritually and personally successful viewed equally with white people, singing and living in this sweet land of liberty. But this systemic oppression has me fearful of being wrong.

This photograph stands out for its remarkable multilayered quality – both visual and emotional. At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary scene from the subway, yet the way it is captured transforms it into a reflective image of contemporary life in a big city. It is a photograph about the phenomenon of loneliness in a crowd: people physically close to one another, yet separated, immersed in their thoughts, daily worries, and private worlds.

Particular attention is drawn to the woman at the center of the frame. Her closed eyes, slightly bowed head, and crossed arms create an intimate, almost contemplative scene. One could read it as a moment of fatigue, a brief pause, or a desire to withdraw from the bustle – as if, for a fleeting moment, she were trying to wrap herself in her own presence, to find a fragment of inner calm amid the city’s noise. These gestures make the photograph, seemingly documentary, open to multiple interpretations. There is both serenity and a certain fragility, and this ambiguity gives the image its exceptional strength.

The reflections on the window, the blurred lights, and the fragments of mirrored shapes create a sense of suspension – as though veils of neon appear before the viewer, giving the photograph the character of intimate observation from a distance. These luminous layers – together with the figures in the background – are not accidental; they form a carefully composed, deliberate frame full of depth and visual tension.

The author’s description adds further context to the image. The artist – born in Korea and raised in the United States – returns to his home country with a sense of partial estrangement. This perspective of someone both “from here” and “not from here” subtly resonates in the photograph: in the gentle feeling of distance, in the figures seen as if through a veil, in the thoughtful, observant recording of everyday moments. As a result, the photograph becomes not only a document of a subway scene but also a visual metaphor for the search for identity and a place to belong.

It is a compositionally and technically excellent work, and at the same time an image full of poetic sensitivity. – MARCIN RYCZEK

The ability to freeze motion just enough to create an impressive focal point is commendable. Technically, the image checks all the boxes of an interesting composition. But what’s more exciting is the facial expressions of the two people in focus because they give the tone of the photograph and create the plot of the story. It takes a lot of patience and a well-trained eye to be able first to see and then to capture such a transitory moment from our everyday life. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Express Bus Terminal Station from my series Reflections Inside the Seoul Metro.

Photographing the Seoul Metro is a time of reflection for me. Although I was born in South Korea, I was raised in a rural, predominantly white area of the United States that culturally distanced me from my mother’s country. Since moving to Seoul, I’ve made a habit of haunting the metro. I can spend days jumping from line to line, taking in as much as I can. I could say it’s because I want to go somewhere new but that isn’t the full truth; I’m exactly where I want to be.

The metro is where the “real” Seoul congregates: true lives that won’t be portrayed in tourism ads or K-pop songs. Travelers on our own journeys, we pass and disappear in a blink of an eye. Here we are all away from home.

Is that where our similarities end? We may share heritage and fleeting travels, but as a foreign gyopo, I fear I won’t be able to overcome my sense of separation.

The commuters remain to me as apparitions, echoes of light and shadow on the subway walls and windows. Is it an otherness I feel inclined to understand or facets of myself? All I know is I must raise my camera — Click. I am left amid reflections as trains of thought prepare to depart.

This is an intriguing photo that instantly made me look twice. It’s an image that raises more questions than it answers. The precise composition and timing, combined with a sense of ambiguity and mystery, made it a clear winner in my eyes. – JESSE MARLOW

A surprising view beyond the walls, this image takes us to the heart of the city. Although we see the marks of industrialization and globalization, we also see old traditions and the imprint of local culture. The dragon’s gate, a subtle Feng Shui reference, is nothing but mesmerizing. It makes the viewer want to know more, which is always an omen of good photography. It’s an exquisite composition, making for a masterful capture of the decisive moment. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement –  Unique perspectives of the city of Hong Kong from above.

Containment, 2020. A lone container ship passes by a dense residential building in Hong Kong. Seen through the building’s ‘dragon gate’ an architectural feature based on Feng Shui principles, that is said to allow dragons to pass through the building from the mountains to the sea.

With its warm, complementary colours, this photo perfectly embodies the key elements I love in contemporary street photography: people, place, and the moment. – JESSE MARLOW

The photographer creates a three-dimensional artwork by overlapping contrasts of all sorts whilst still maintaining the harmony and balance of the composition. In a way, this is the secret of long-lasting cities: the ability to adapt, mix, and embrace the future without losing the past. Artful and creative, the frame acts like a history lesson, inviting the viewer to delve into the moment and take everything in. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The historic centre of Rome is full of construction sites, which hide historic sites but also create beautiful, colourful backdrops for photographing passers-by.

This photograph of the Dayak in Borneo is striking in its subject, its composition, its detail and its emotional intensity. It is also a testament to the power a captured fraction of a second can have to inform the viewer. It is clear the amount of time the photographer took to understand the Dayak culture was vast. – BRONWEN LATIMER

Nature has played a major role throughout the history of humanity, and it still does today, although we might often forget it. This cinematic shot has the difficult job of reminding us of our bond with nature through depicting traditional indigenous dances, and it does an incredibly good job of it. Artistically composed and sharply shot, using multiple layers to create depth, featuring a soft palette with sepia accents, and making excellent use of lighting and space, the frame is impactful and memorable. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Rituals of Borneo. The Dayak are the indigenous people of Borneo, known for their deep spiritual connection to the forest. Traditional dances, performed with elaborate feathered headdresses, body paint, and ritual ornaments, embody myths of origin, warrior pride, and respect for ancestral spirits.

The photograph of Hattie is striking, not only because Hattie looks serenely into the camera, but the photographer’s choice to frame her, and to use a similar background color, as the famous “Afghan Girl” photograph was created by Steve McCurry is magical in its subtext. Nearly 15% of the world’s population live with some form of disability and Hattie openly shares her experience on Instagram and in this photograph. “Perfection is something we all define differently,” she says. – BRONWEN LATIMER

Humanity is diverse and imperfectly beautiful. That’s the message behind this strong portrait. With a classic construction and an exquisite use of light, the image highlights the endless stories that define us, reminding us that humankind is not made of flesh and blood, but of stories. The photographer’s storytelling abilities shine through, as does their engagement with the subject and artistic sensitivity. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Hattie lives with an eye prosthesis. She shares her experiences on Instagram and inspires others to appreciate the beauty in what is unique. “Perfection is something we all define differently. What makes each of us special are the small details that tell our stories.”