EDITORS’ PICK
Animal Instincts
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Animal Kingdom Editors’ Pick
Following Tim Flach’s selection of winning images for our recent Animal Kingdom 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: SEBASTIAN HANKE
“A co-living space could be defined quite differently for some, the actuality of monkeys and humans sharing this city mustn’t be an easy one for either species. The scene is a realistic portrayal of animals evolving to human living conditions, adapting their behaviours to acquire food and shelter amongst a people-populated environment. The wonderful ‘street documentary’ style of photography helps narrate the strange scene as if it was a familiar one.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – A lady contemplates the monkey-ruled city streets. from a series that shows the Thai city of Lopburi, where monkeys have nestled in the town, creating a unique co-living between humans and monkeys.
SIMON BUCK
“When viewing this photograph, it’s not difficult to comprehend how these large, tree-dwelling mammals share 96.4% of our genes. The tight crop forces the viewer to stare directly into the face of this giant ape in search of the many similarities. This uncomplicated portrait reminds us of the deep connections and relationships that exist between us and animals, particularly the primates of the world.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Orangutan.
MAGNUS BERGGREN
“Without even reading the caption it’s clear from the image that this photographer treats their animal portraits as they would a portrait of a person. There is as much consideration for the personality of the bird as there is for its physicality. The use of the soft, dark backdrop doesn’t just echo the Jackdaw’s coloring, but emphasizes the quiet sense of awareness held by this creature at all times.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Jackdaw. I try to capture the soul and the beauty of animals that I photograph.
FRANCESCA MAGRINI
“An insightful response to the theme, where everywhere and anywhere can be an animal’s habitat, navigating each location as if their own kingdom. This is a beautifully composed photograph of detailed layers and landscape, only the thin horizontal wire revealing the element of human interference – a subtle reminder of who thinks they’re in charge. A serene and symbolic scene charged with meaning under its surface.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Despite our attempts to appropriate spaces that are not ours, animals show a very high degree of adaptation to the surrounding environment despite its artificial perpetual changes, confirming their supremacy of their kingdom.
FLAVIEN FREMINET
“This distinct, two-part, black and white scene only takes perspective when the viewer locates the Ibex, perched on the distant ridge. This animal’s kingdom is vast, intimidating and hostile for some, but undoubtedly rewarding and comfortable for this beast. A truly insightful take on the theme, a striking and cleverly composed image.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – An ibex napping on the ridge.
IDA KAISER
“The colour intensity of the surrounding landscape almost matches the tension between the two sparing stags. A body of bordering trees dominates the background as if rounding up the herd, and the pared back, minimal color palette of greens and browns allows the viewer to focus on the delightful elegance of this gathering.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Stags having a disagreement over lunch.
LUÍS HENRIQUE BAHÚ
“There is a softness to this scene not usually associated with this intimidating reptile. The singling out of the alligator’s paw allows the viewer to take in the impressive detail that covers these giants and appreciate the complexity of its biology – enabling its impressive lifespan. An absorbing, informative and unexpected image.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Alligator Paw. A majestic and striking alligator paw viewed from an untraditional angle.
DANICA BLAJDA
“This cleverly cropped image brings the human and animal to an equal level, removing the many differences and highlighting the commonality between the two species. The simple color palette encourages the viewer to focus on the likenesses, appreciating the relationship between the trainer and the bird, with a sense of mutual understanding enveloping the scene.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Eye to Eagle Eye. Scout the Eagle Owl as presented by his trainer, Paige. She is a Falconer in GA. I travelled there to do her maternity portraits with her beautiful birds.
GLEN FISHER
“Absolute confidence instantly comes to mind as you cast your eyes across this unusual scene – the lion out of place yet unperturbed by his unnatural surroundings. Sparse in its content and style, the black and white image is all the more impactful for it. This arresting photograph could as easily be found in the pages of Vanity Fair as it could be in National Geographic.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Lion on the Runway, from a monochrome wildlife portfolio. The photographs were taken in the Madikwe Game Reserve, up in the north-west corner of South Africa, near the border with Botswana. Each of these images, in its own way, captures a moment and a perspective that is a little out of the ordinary, showing, for instance, the aggression and mass of the jousting elephants, the sheer bulk and armoured appearance of the rhino, and the air of command with which the lion occupies the airfield runway.
OLIVER TAKÁČ
“The caption almost undermines the image, there’s more of an air of menace here than just simple ‘monkey business’. The ever so slight blur fills the scene with apprehension, as if either monkey or photographer will be making a move imminently. The beautiful use of negative space gives the night sky its significance in the scene – as night brings its own troubles. An exceptional portrait. ” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Too much monkey business.
CARL DE SOUZA
“The viewer is immediately faced with what is missing from this scene, but the photographer enlightens us that this is a necessary evil to combat poaching. We still emote with the animal however as it locks eye(s) with the camera, and the sad irony of it being held in captivity for its own safety. The glimpse of the surrounding landscape just heightens the proximity of freedom. It’s a simple but powerful image.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – A captured wild male black rhino named Sero at Lewa Wildlife looks out from its crate at Lewa conservancy Eleven of Lewa’s total 73 endangered black rhinos were relocated to neighboring Borana conservancy to afford them more space and security. The horn of each relocated rhino is cut and a tracking device is fitted to monitor its movements and to help combat poaching. Lewa has suffered severe poaching in the past. Illegally poached rhino horn is sold for large sums as an ingredient in some traditional Chinese medicine.
TED VAN DER HULST
“Here a portrait of prestige and posturing awaits the viewer. The photographer is quick to point out this image was taken and produced in color – as at first glance it’s easy to assume this is in black and white. There is possibly a narrative on how we as humans assume we know, or know enough, about this agricultural staple. But do we? It’s a fascinating picture of prominence.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Black Rooster. A color photograph taken in a studio in market located in Denpasar, Bali.
DANIELA BURYOVA
“An image full of character – almost cartoonish, as if this sheep is about to give a wink to the viewer at any moment. The photographer has achieved their goal of capturing the personality of each sheep individually with their unique portraiture approach. The human-like posing and style of this photograph really adds to the humour and peculiarity. it’s an intriguing single image and no doubt the wider series is just as entertaining.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Are there any parallels between sheep and human behaviour? Each of us has probably found ourselves in a situation where we got carried away by the crowd. It often doesn’t even occur to us – consumerism, marketing, group dynamics, social pressure… Sometimes we simply aren’t as bright and independent as we like to think of ourselves, and we accidentally resemble sheep in a herd. This is the reality of society. In their research, scientists from the University of Cambridge found that although sheep in a herd, like humans, are easily manipulated and lose their personality, as individuals they are surprisingly bright and manage things that are a problem for many primates. In this project, I focused on a small herd of sheep on a family farm. I captured the personality of each sheep individually, just as I do with portraits of people.
DANIEL KIM
“A scene akin to a still from a Wes Anderson classic. Once the viewer observes that vast vista the strangeness of the image sets in – how often do you see a lone cow? This is a perplexing yet pleasing photograph, the photographer enjoying the minimalist, straight-up symmetry not usually found in a natural landscape.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Colorado Cow.
NYNKE VAN HOLTEN
“An image of joy for the sake of joy. The character of this quirky little dog isn’t easily hidden, an ideal sitter for such a portrait. The photographer’s aim to celebrate each animal and its personality with single portraits is both admirable and entertaining as no doubt the project came with its own set of challenges. A fun and heartwarming photograph.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Smile! From the series SWEET, just meant to make you go ‘aaaaw’.
ALIZÉ JIREH
“We tend to see animals in relation to ourselves – from a perspective of human life and culture, but so often it’s us boldly interrupting their lives and existence. This is a bizarre scene and the reaction of the deer amplifies the curious actions of the person involved. The tones and light are akin to that of a film still, helping make this a really engaging image. ” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Being watched in Terceira, Azores.
FRANCESCO DEL GRECO
“It’s hard to argue with the photographer’s comparison of this place to heaven, with the unending horizon and divine waters – you want to jump right into the scene itself and experience each element. A true picture of paradise, following these astonishing creatures on their Aeolian Islands’ journey. The photographer’s intention to document these animals appears as pure as the water within the scene.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The Aeolian Islands compose a volcanic archipelago in the Southern Italy. Each Island is unique and the deep-blue sea which touches every island is rich of life. The wilderness of this place is incredibly powerful. The rough and heavy sea sometimes doesn’t allow to reach this archipelago and Stromboli (one of these islands) is an active volcano which is currently erupting every 20 minutes for instance. But when the weather gives its permission, this place becomes a sort of heaven. A local sea-wildlife conservation organization (composed by marine biologists) gives the chance to follow their wonderful monitoring activities during the summer, in such a way to finance their self and to rise awareness of the importance of local species.
LEX BOUMAN
“Three trunks, two elephants – a clever composition (or composite?) of a mindful and harmonious moment, working equally well as a commercial piece and documentary image. The use of black and white appears to emphasize the age and wisdom of both species. A true depiction of how the gentleness of these mammals is just as powerful as their strength.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Composition of an elephant bull.
WENYING LIU
“The dramatic tones and dark detail of this image stress the sadness and despair of this situation, a combined mix of extreme human and animal labour. This is a fascinating but significant topic for this photographer to dedicate their time and attention to. A poignant and compelling single image, that is no doubt part of an engaging wider body of work.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The donkey has been a working animal for at least 5000 years. There are more than 40 million donkeys in the world nowadays, and about 96% are in undeveloped countries, where donkeys primarily played as human labor; Due to the rapid urbanization in China in the past 30 years, 70% of young people have moved to the city to work and live. Thus, The elderly have been left behind in the countryside and on farms for a living. Donkeys are their lifelong labor tools; cheap and easy to raise, smallholder farms raise over 70% of donkeys in China. However, the usage rate of donkeys is declining rapidly. Because the elders could not operate large-scale machines, most of their farmlands were outsourced to ranchers for planting.
KELLI WILKE
“The ‘commissioned’ aspect of this portrait is an important one to note, as the caption reinforces the significance these pets have in their owners’ lives. This classic style of studio portraiture – the black and white gradient tone, the subjects avoiding the lens and looking slightly beyond, the simple setting – bring the viewer’s attention to the beauty of these dogs, understanding why there is such adoration for them in the first place.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Great Danes, commissioned portrait.
