1ST PRIZE: ABHISHEK SHETTY

This stark composition of dramatic lights and shadows stood out for how well it embraced the potential of black and white. I appreciate how carefully crafted it is, with half the picture in deep shadow, while on the other side three figures – a pair of children and a single adult – are silhouetted against geometric blocks of light. – MARTA WEISS

Shadowy scenes are always so impressive in black and white, as viewers search for hints of detail in the grey tones and lighter shaded areas. There is a familiar and unfamiliar sense as the shadows and framing distort the distance between the subjects, and in doing so emphasizing the uncertainty and anticipation. The photographer has artfully composed this frame, understanding the nuances of shadows to help create the atmosphere. – LIFE FRAMER

2ND PRIZE: MICHAEL ERNEST SWEET

This street photograph conveys both the anonymity and intimacy of urban life. The off-kilter framing suggests that it was snapped on the move, in close proximity to the man who fills the foreground. Behind him, a sliver of sky is sandwiched between tall buildings and their reflections, while other pedestrians hurry on their way. – MARTA WEISS

The chest-height street portrait welcomes the viewer’s gaze but not the subject’s, an intentional part of this photographer’s composition we understand. The subject appears focused beyond the camera and its operator, as their expression remains stern and unimpressed – one that seems commonly associated with that of a police-officer. This upclose perspective gives the scene a sense of intensity and apprehension. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Capturing unique and visually compelling street photographs is a challenging endeavor. I strive to observe the subtle nuances that define our individuality while consciously avoiding direct eye contact, as eyes often dominate the composition. Balancing this delicate interplay allows me to encapsulate the essence of a person without relying on traditional focal points. This approach has become a hallmark of my work–a continuous effort to evoke contemplation from viewers. If my images can momentarily arrest someone’s attention and provoke reflection, I consider it a success. How frequently does a street photograph prompt you to pause and ponder?

ASTRID VERHOEF

A wondrous, conceptual piece awakens the viewer’s imagination, as if welcoming into this alternative reality. The photographer’s skill and understanding of the light and shape is exceptional, shade is subtle and the detail of the scene is beautiful and exact. And the use of black and white enhances its idiosyncratic form. A visually pleasing image in all aspects. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Human//Nature. As a fine art photographer I explore my personal connection to the natural world. The complicated relationship between human and nature is a common thread throughout my work. For these images I work alone, and when I photograph myself in desolate landscapes an anonymous character arises that wants to connect with her surroundings. However, my roots in contemporary modern life often remain visible in the form of an unnatural element, all props that are photographed on location. The serene images can be seen as emotional translations where the desire for synergy is challenged by an urge to control.

With an increasing minimal visual language and a more geometrical approach to composition, I aim to emphasize the contrast between the human presence and the natural. At the same time I wan to create moments or scenes that can only exist because of the combination of the two. My theatrical photography is also an ode to imagination itself.

JAUME LLORENS

The viewer is presented with a strikingly blended scene accompanied by a sincere and poignant message of unison and complex collaboration. The photographer’s careful combination of images in diptych attempts to emulate the essence of the symbiotic relationships we witness in nature. Scale seems purposely skewed to highlight the mirroring of forms and textures mixed between these two very different surfaces. It’s a balanced and sublime image. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – This series, still in progress, takes its name from the hypothesis by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis which describes Earth as a single superorganism in which living beings and the rest of the planet establish a self-regulating equilibrium that ensures the survival of the whole.

I have juxtaposed photographs of our natural environment and explored what links, echoes and resonances are established between them. Each image brings something to its companion that modifies the interpretation of the whole. It is as if a new reality were generated, a harmonious whole that differs from the simple sum of its parts.

This effect ties in with Ralph Gibson’s theory of ‘visual overtones’, according to which by putting two images together, an effect similar to that of music can be produced when two or more tones combine to generate a different, richer, and more complex third.

This game intends to pursue a double objective. On the one hand, a desire to remember the hidden links that the elements, living and non-living, maintain between them, and that these links become keys to the self-regulation of the planet. On the other hand, to remember an obvious fact: that our species is part of this precious gear and that, consequently, we have the urgent responsibility to stop turning our back on it and to contribute in an active way to its balance, to its survival, which is also our own.

 

TOM BOURDON

Uninhibited, raw energy bursts from each edge of this frame as the subjects look almost comfortable in the discomfort of the crowded scene. The photographer’s intimate approach to the portrait allows the viewer to employ their senses beyond sight to feel the full force of this moment. Capturing the scene in black and white allows the facial expressions, textures and tones to be fully appreciated. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The Fervor of Lelo Burti in Georgia.

RYAN CONRAD

The photographer stumbles across this peaceful isolated scene, one that is unique and unable to be appreciated without this bird’s-eye perspective. The snow covered ground creates a large negative space which allows the short line of trees to become almost sculptural, as the low winter light casts shadows that appear like characters. A placid and poetic picture, all the more so in black and white. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – After a recent snowfall in January, I ventured out into the cold with my drone to photograph shadows in the freshly fallen snow. I found a small line of trees and flew the drone up approximately 200 feet to make this image.

GAVIN LIBOTTE

Humour and vanity both take centre stage within this exciting and unique scene. Each character, whether man or bird, within the frame has their own role to play – however it’s the seabirds that take the spotlight, the perfectly balanced exposure emphasizing their pose and presence. Almost like a spread from a high-end magazine fashion or doc shoot, this is a weird and wonderful photograph cleverly composed and captured. Just brilliant. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – “Of Birds and Men”. Street photography at Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia.

DAN GIANNOPOULOS

A fascinating perspective grips the viewer’s attention almost immediately, as a subtle symbol of action interrupts this night-time cityscape. The viewer is left to figure out each element of the composition while attempting to place the photographer’s position when capturing the moment. A sharp and exciting shot that captures the specific energy of this subculture. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Justo pops a wheelie during a UK Bikelife meetup at the 02 Strip in North Greenwich, in front of the Canary Wharf Skyline London. 2015.

ISABEL MOMBAERTS

The photographer uses their street imagery to highlight the growing concern – mainly observed in large cities – that the more people in one place the lesser the connection or community. The low angle allows the scene to unfold uninterrupted by presence of a camera or photographer, while people pass by in their individual spaces together in one space but removed from any connection to one another. An intriguing concept dramatically executed. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Paradox. Hong Kong, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient,’ is a vibrant spectacle of life and activity, where ancient traditions harmoniously merge with the futuristic skyline of towering buildings. The photographic work capturing this city reveals a fascinating paradox: amidst the chaos and bustle, people often appear isolated, like solitary figures lost in the flow of daily life.

Perhaps it’s the pace of life, the endless pursuit of success, or the pressure of a competitive society that contributes to a sense of loneliness, even amidst a crowd. The more people inhabit a city, the easier it seems to lose oneself in the anonymity of urban life, experiencing one’s existence as an unassuming dot amidst a sea of faces.

UTA GENILKE

The image alone is stunning and extraordinary, but once the accompanying text is appreciated by the viewer then the photographic piece can be fully realized in all its layers – both material and metaphorical – of form and meaning. It seems this profound moment in the photographer’s life has remained with them and potentially – at the very least – influenced their view on art and identity. An exceptional photograph from concept to composition. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Sacre. The title refers to Stravinsky’s ballet, Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), which was the first I ever saw on stage as a young girl. As ballet students, we got free tickets for the opera, until recently our teacher danced here herself as a soloist. The play is about the sacrifice of a young woman who is chosen in a ritual to be offered to the sun god. The music was like lashes, and in Act 2 a dancer suddenly stood completely naked on the stage, dancing like a madwoman, showing the audience everything, her most intimate parts of the body, the male audience below in the stalls jumped up to get a good look, and then they hooted and cheered on the dancer like they were in a strip club. They did not rest either when the woman lay as dead on the stage, shouted Bravo Bravo, over and over again.

We later learned that our teacher had to leave the company because she was unwilling to have her breasts surgically removed, as the new ballet director favored boyish female bodies in his ensemble. Only such “nude roles” would have been possible for her. Her lifelong dream had come to an abrupt end.

What sacrifices are you willing to make to gain recognition as an artist? How far do you have to humiliate, conform, sell yourself to be successful? These thoughts have occupied me for a long time, also as a photographer.

DIANA BARTHAUER

Veins of history work their way through this mountainscape – as if an unwilling collaboration between nature and humans to mine the land for resources has left it with deep memories and scars. Taking this photograph in black and white the photographer celebrates how these patterns of peaks and contours, like waves, have created an identity for this landscape. A striking image. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Dissolve, Utah, USA. Factory Butte, near Hanksville Utah, rises over 6,300ft (1,900m) out of an eroded maze of valleys and combs. The area has numerous coal seams and historically people came to this desolate environment for mining. These days the tracks of thrill seeking dirt bike riders mar the fragile ground.

JUKKA MALE

There is a tone of sarcasm or cynicism to the portrait, as if the subject wouldn’t necessarily agree with the caption of their own portrait. Their facial expression seems to express their experience in a spectrum of life, understanding the many varied characters, personalities and beliefs that can occupy one space. The photographer has considered each detail of the picture, cropped closely with subtle juxtaposition of patterns – both natural and fabricated. An enthralling photograph. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Life is colorful, its fates black and white.

LAWRENCE UMENHOFER

A commonly photographed location that appears much more subdued during this night-time scene. The dark, starless sky allows space for the viewer to truly contemplate the historic legacy these ancient structures embody. However, the subject sitting in the foreground quickly brings the present back into focus as a reminder of the daily life and business that continues around these worshipped and overfamiliar edifices. – LIFE FRAMER

EDUARDO TEIXEIRA DE SOUSA

The photographer seems as much a part of this scene as the other two subjects – each person occupying their space on the staircase in a different, unrelated way. The perspective of the picture almost separates the image into different sections of movement and structure. A simple yet effective photograph which gives the viewer permission to stop and ponder these brief, almost insignificant moments unfolding within the frame. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Vertigo, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

ANNA LIGUS

The photographer / subject chooses to turn away from the camera for this portrait, instead focusing their gaze into a deep, dark cavernous space. The viewer is left to study the subject’s form within their surrounding natural environment, considering the synergy and support that tends to flow between the two. Although shrouded in a sense of unknowing the image brings an element of natural comfort and appreciation. Beautifully done. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Self portrait.

MIHAIL MINKOV

A strange and intimidating scene awaits the viewer, the three masked figures loom large, dominating the scene and setting the tone. A perfect balance of light and dark fills the frame; the inky black sky, speckled with stars, adds to the mystery and romance of the tradition. It’s clear this photographer has taken great care to consider this portrait, ensuring the tradition and culture is accurately portrayed and celebrated, and using black and white to enhance the unfamiliarity. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Kukeri are elaborately costumed Bulgarian men, who perform traditional rituals intended to scare away evil spirits. This Bulgarian tradition has been practiced since Thracian times and is of Thracian origin.

The costumes cover most of the body and include decorated wooden masks of animals and large bells attached to the belt. Around New Year the Kukeri walk and dance through villages to scare away evil spirits with their costumes and the sound of their bells. They are also believed to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness to the village for the year ahead.

The weight of the bells is approximately around 50 kg per person, and it’s very hard for a man to stay upright for too long, so I don’t have a lot of time to shoot. As an astrophotographer, the initial idea was to capture them during the night. I carefully planned the location, so the main accent is the person, and there is just the sky and the foreground. There was almost a full moon, which lit up the person and created a volume in the shot.

KUNAL KOHLI

This portrait alone is simultaneously arresting and reassuring, however when the context of the caption is applied it is elevated into a sphere of self-awareness and connection. The tidal waters represent the reality of resisting change, and how we must relinquish our idea of control to truly enjoy our life experiences. The tones and textures of the scene give the scene its reality. A powerful portrait where the use of black and white strips it back to its essentials. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Absolution about our ability to move on from our past that is holding us back. When we are finally able to surrender to what has been in order to move on, accept it and then let go of it, then we are able to reach our Absolution. I want to show the emotions we go through in order to reach our Absolution, and also what is feels like when we reach our Absolution.

REBECCA SOLIMAN

The shades and tones of black and white within this scene are subtle and timeless picking up each bit of detail and character. The viewer is left to consider the life and traditions of these people through structures and inanimate items alone – bar the lone goat. The photographer appears to want to share a postcard of reality from this culture rather than stereotype tropes, and they’ve certainly achieved it. A thought provoking photograph. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – This image is from a series called “The Other Egypt”. The Sinai. Egypt. Bedouin people. Bedouin culture. Aspects of Bedouin life. Life in itself. Street life. Family life. Still life. The life of a humans – who happen to be Bedouin – whatever that means.

As a solo traveler the camera became my companion. It allowed me to walk and wander around; into the unknown. Looking around. Seeing what´s happening. Or not. Watching. Wandering. Observing. Contemplating. Analysing. Enjoying. Or not. Being. Being in the moment. Whatever that is.

SERGE BÉGUET

The subject’s facial expressions tend to embody that shared feeling of ‘fed-up-ness’ most young students experience when working their way through the school day. However, the group portrait has a further element of character and depth, as the viewer takes in each face and attempts to understand their individual personalities. Further info on the intention of this image and the work it was born from would be welcomed. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Students in the village of Youga Nah Falaise, Mali.

TUNA ANGEL

A sombre and serious scene presents itself for the viewer’s attention, one full of destruction, confusion and human pain. The smouldering building becomes a backdrop to the smaller stories and big emotions at play within this one frame alone – from the person looking on in hopelessness as if in a trance, to the mannequin legs almost randomly placed in the foreground. A traumatic moment documented in its most raw state. We’d like to understand more about the scene and the photographer’s intention. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – A scene from Suleymaniye Istanbul, during a time when its urban transformation project was underway. As an Ottoman district from 16th century, Suleymaniye is famous forits mosques, churches, madrasahs and authentic social complexes. It was included in UNESCO History Heritage list in 1985. As the area was declared a renewal area, the neighborhood has experienced a massive eviction of the local residents. As time went by, the derelict housing increased and the area became occupied by homeless immigrants, paper collectors and locals trying to survive. The rundown environment acted not only as a trash area of all kinds but also as temporary housing for the poor immigrant population, some of whom have even resided in wall-less, to be knocked-down buildings. The collective memory of the neighborhood day by day yielded to the fit packaged practices of neoliberal urbanization. The scene was among one of the series of photographs that shows the uprooting and the tragic transformation of the neighborhood between the 2018 and 2023.