EDITORS’ PICK
Earth as a Canvas
PLANET EARTH
PLANET EARTH EDITORS’ PICK
Following Ami Vitale’s selection of winning images for our recent competition Planet Earth, 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: SEUNGGU KIM
A fascinating experiment where the photographer is recording their environment in multiple ways, in an effort to further understand our direct impact on this planet. A warm glow sets a familiar sense of security as the viewer is left to study an urban night scene, mainly illuminated by artificial light, and the pollution emitted in a multitude of aspects. The photographer has taken both an artistic and scientific perspective with this image. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – This series is “Hadong Observatory”. There is a province called Hadong, which is 350km away from Seoul. We can see the coexistence of national marine parks, national industrial complexes, and a thermal power plant at the top of this coastal mountain. I have set this place up as my own atmospheric observatory, checked the Air Quality Index every day, and recorded the faint traces left by light being transmitted, reflected, and absorbed by air pollutants on film. I hope that through this work we will recognize that everything surrounding humans is connected and influenced by each other.
Image: 21-9-11, 8:43 PM, Air Quality Index 51.
DUBI ROMAN
The fields appear like a wave of cascading color before the viewer, as shade and tone is meticulously captured throughout the scene. Moravia is home to 94% of the Czech Republic’s vineyards – a huge amount of vine sewing and production that could presumably put a lot of pressure on the natural environment. This postcard picture is a detailed perspective of a beautiful countryside and how agriculture has shaped its evolution in modern society. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Picturesque landscape fields in the autumn of South Moravia.
FIN DEPENCIER
The soldier emulates the landscape they are surveying – in the camouflage of course, but also in their stance which feels as strong and defiant as the mountains in the background. The photographer delicately depicts the value of the landscape in war – where armies can hide, where battles are fought and won, where land is occupied and destroyed… It’s a pensive and well balanced photograph. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I named this photo “War on The Horizon”. It shows an Armenian soldier staring off into the planes of Syunik province. The photo has a complete trifecta of the colour wheel, placing man in equal parts with heaven and earth.
MARJORIE BECKER
Sky, cloud and snow dominate the scene, dwarfing the marching explorers as they traverse the icy landscape, emphasizing the magnitude of this terrain. The image is enticing and intriguing, the red an ideal contrast to the powdery white and sky blue. There is an element of excitement amongst the tiny subjects at the center of the image, as the viewer considers the adventure they have embarked upon. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I had an opportunity to travel to Antarctica in December 2022. While on location, I was struck by the massive landscape and history of this region of our planet. I came home with work that reflected my inner conflict feeling both excited to travel to such a place of raw beauty, seemingly untouched by humans while also processing the guilt of entering a space as a member of the species that has caused so much damage over a relatively short time. These images tell the complicated story of how we relate to planet Earth, the highs and the lows of our relationship, and coming to terms with our future.
Image: Walking On Cloud Nine – The concept of “cloud nine,” meaning to feel at the highest point of happiness, originated from the first edition of the International Cloud Atlas in 1896. The atlas classified various clouds making the billowy cumulonimbus cloud number nine on that list. Being the cloud to reach the highest heights on our planet, it became synonymous with the feeling of elation. This image was captured on an expedition in Antarctica, a location known for inspiring a sense of awe and wonder. Walking amongst these clouds in such a special place was the epitome of this phrase. Part of the human experience is the ability to feel uplifted and inspired by nature. We are healed and restored by it and because of this, I continue one of the oldest human traditions of creating art inspired by our planet.
ALAIN SCHROEDER
This is a conflicting image for the viewer as they observe the destruction of an already ravaged rainforest environment, but additionally learn this is a necessity for survival of the locals. The photographer chooses this bird’s eye view, packing the image with patterns and symmetry, but ultimately giving the viewer a full scope of this laborious and even dangerous endeavour. It cleverly articulates the nuance and complexity of one of the huge environmental issues we face, and the viewer is left to postulate on how we rectify things in a way where both the planet and people can benefit, rather than one prospering at the detriment of the other. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Indonesia, Borneo, West Kalimantan, Pontianak. Men illegally working in the river with rubber tree logs. Once felled, the trees are dried in order to prepare them for flotation. To speed up the drying process, they are burned before being transported from the jungle about 1.5 km from here. The wood is sold to small, local factories that use it as an energy source. A pickup truck load of wood sells for about 350,000 Indonesian rupiahs or 21 euros.
FLORIAN DELALEE
Only an aerial photograph could capture the full magnificence of a phenomenon such as this red salt lake, lying like an open clam in the hot desert landscape. Within this scene of true natural wonder, the viewer is left to examine each corner, comparing and contrasting the colors of water and sand, observing the surrounding landscape and examining the limited amount of vegetation visible. The level of ecosystem activity in such a seemingly barren environment is remarkable. An image full of texture, pattern and detail. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Earth is a canvas, and nature is the artist that creates masterpieces on it. The unique beauty of our planet is a sight to behold. I capture the stunning landscapes of China through my lens. My aerial photography series called “Beauty of the Earth” showcases the unique bird view angle of nature’s creations.
Image: China – Inner Mongolia. Daghtu Lake is a breathtakingly beautiful lake located in the Badain Jaran desert in China. It is known for its stunning ruby color, which has earned it the nickname “Ruby of the Desert.” The lake is surrounded by towering sand dunes, creating a surreal and otherworldly landscape. Despite its remote location, Daghtu Lake are for adventurers seeking to experience the beauty of this unique and captivating natural wonder.
SHOEB FARUQUEE
The mass scale of this site, the difficulty of this job, and the substantial amount of steel used in the shipyard, are all represented by this single image of two people deeply focused on this complex and demanding task. A semi-dismantled ship looms in the background, a reminder of the mammoth amount of work and materials involved in this industrial enterprise. It’s an intriguing image that would sit well within a docu-series of worklife at Chattogram Ship Breaking Yard. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Chattogram Ship Breaking Yard, Bangladesh.
PAUL D’ANNA
This majestic photograph shows both the beauty on our planet and all that exists beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. The night sky provides the perfect platform for us to observe our world as it merges with the galaxies and stars around us. A skilled photographer created this image, while enjoying and experiencing the astronomical performance before them. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The Milky Way and the setting crescent moon on the beach from Samuel Boardman Scenic Corridor in Southern Oregon, USA.
ELIAD YAHALOM
An enthralling scene awaits the viewer, one where surfaces appear to match yet contrast, where only slight elements of texture and fold betray the manufactured material. The photographer has chosen an ideal angle, one that enables the viewer to observe the sheer feat of this task, which appears to have an almost religious quality. An eye-opening image of a truly fascinating solution to our shameful state of global warming. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Fate catcher – A worker of the Swiss nature reserve, covering huge ice chunks with white plastic sheets, to prevent them from melting from the sun.
GREG GIRARD
Capturing the intensity of a lightning strike hitting the earth is a secret thrill of most people, but it’s challenging due to the many variables – timing, lighting, safety. This scene is cleverly composed, the artificial light of the city and natural light from the electrical storm in careful balance, neither robbing attention from the other. The photographer displays their pure technical skill as well as their understanding of this environment within this single shot. They complete the image with a considered piece of poetry, allowing their true appreciation of this natural event to be seen. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Lightning City (a poem)
Electric tendrils crack and blaze,
And pierce the veil of midnight’s haze
Blinding rivers of hidden dreams,
The awesome power of nature’s schemes
So, let us bask in nature’s might,
In lightning’s dance on summer nights
For in its splendor, we’re humbly shown,
A fleeting symphony of nature’s own.
ALIZÉ JIREH
The viewer is met with a surreal landscape, one full of unnatural vibrancy and strange perspective, as if superficial in some way. However this exceptional habitat of biodiversity is as authentic as it is inspirational. The photographer frames an incredible stack of colors – deep blue, dusky pink and acid green – to create an outstanding scene of natural and unexpected beauty. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Dreamscape, taken on the Andean Plateau, Bolivia 2020.
KRISTOF VADINO
A photograph that looks more like an illustration found between the pages of a novel, where a world of fiction awaits the subjects and the journey they are about to embark on. The darkness only punctuated by the deep fuchsia garment worn by the centre subject, the viewer may have to squint or ‘zoom’ in to observe the details, posing the question – is this all the light the subjects have to navigate the sea in this small fishing boat? A captivating image where the photographer allowed this enclosed environment and night sky to completely dictate the outcome. Quite what is being documented is not clear, and a caption would have been appreciated, but one can’t help think about refugee crossings given how the subject dominates today’s news cycles. – LIFE FRAMER
GREGORY KAMELAKIS
Flowers at the periphery are used to frame this romantic, intimate scene as pink and yellow petals hang delicately around the two subjects. However, the image is anchored with an uneasy voyeuristic element, as the viewer may question if the couple know they are being observed and photographed. An intriguing picture that perhaps leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Entering Heaven Alive.
MICHAEL BLANN
The photographer frames this rich, expansive landscape with depth and consideration, allowing the viewer to inhale the scene before them. A faint mist settles around the mountain peaks, as patches of electric green flow down to merge with the volcanic, grey ground. A sense of calm and quietness arises from this mountainscape, resulting in an image which is both reflective and impressive. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Iceland – Black volcanic rock contrasts with sparse green vegetation to create textural landscape with electricity pylon giving scale.
HUGO LAGENESTE
A magnificent scene of Longyearbyen, Svalbard nestled in this icy valley in all its raw beauty. The photographer’s caption encourages the viewer to consider the reality of life in this town, how the inhabitants work and socialise in such harsh winter conditions and apparent isolation. An enchanting panorama of civilization experiencing the sublimeness of this arctic environment. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The northernmost town in the world in winter.
DANIEL LUEBKE
An apt caption for this sprawling scene of humanity striving, achieving and populating in every aspect of a supercity. The golden shaft of sunlight spotlights the city, allowing a small stream of light to flow faintly across a section of this urban jungle, highlighting just a sliver of this ambitious survival. A stunning cityscape of a staggering site, emphasized by the simple colorway of grey and gold. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Tokyo, the endless city.
TANIA DE PASCALIS
The image reveals itself like an abstract painting, where the patterns of nature intertwine to create a thought provoking work of art – the ‘hand’ shape centred, skewing the perspective. It’s an engaging aerial photograph of such a spectacular site, its significance to this carefully balanced ecosystem apparent within the spectrum of green and blues that interrupt the creamy white mountains. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – From the series The Alpine River’s King. Hand. Tagliamento, known as the Alpin River’s King, is one of the last great rivers in central Europe that still flows freely. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful river on earth. It is a precious ecosystem, considered the last morphologically intact river corridor in the Alps, whose white gravelly mantle is visible even from the satellite. I love this photo because it seems to see the hand of the river that shapes its course.
ARGUS PAUL ESTABROOK
The observer is met with an unsettling site, where harsh man-made structures and soft natural landscape clash along this beach border. The photographer is careful to only illuminate the barbed barrier with artificial light, while allowing the low natural light fall across the coastal background – it cleverly emphasizes which is the alien element. There is no indication as to why this construction exists and who occupies each side, but the photograph leaves the viewer with an uneasy feeling of forced separation. – LIFE FRAMER
VERONIKA K KO
A simple and symbolic image, where the photographer illustrates how the fate of our environment is held in our hands. The photographer compliments this scene of uncomplicated elements by narrowing the focus and keeping colors to a minimum. The viewer is reminded that our climate crisis can be combated with strategies as straightforward as planting a tree. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Hope. A friend of mine from India often tells me about her homeland. Since she grew up on a farm in a small village, she feels very connected with nature and the Earth. Her land is struggling from poverty, overpopulation and degradation, and climate change (posing major threats to the farmers). India’s rapid economic growth and real estate boom transformed thousands of hectares of arable land into plots for steel and glass. She says that Indian people struggle to save their farms. She is sad that her home environment is changing for the worse and she finds it depressing. She feels solastalgia, a form of emotional distress caused by environmental change. We decided to create this image as a symbol of hope for a better, greener future. We all have to be concerned, live in balance with nature, and help somehow. We have a voice. We can do simple things like planting a tree to keep our Earth green, safe, and clean for future generations!
KARS TUINDER
Like burnt paper this photograph reveals the remnants of something that was – as if a clue to the past where life, growth and color existed. The smoke lifts off the scene, evoking the viewer’s senses beyond just the visual, the connection to the place within the picture is familiar even if they have never been there. The photographer respectfully documents a somber sight that is becoming increasingly, unforgivably common across the world. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Forest fire.
