1ST PRIZE: CHRISTOPHER LUNA

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.

2ND PRIZE: AZUMI HABIB

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.

EUGENE RESHETOV

To show resilience in the face of the unexpected, the photographer adopts an unusual shooting angle and lets the frame get crowded. It’s a risky choice, but it pays off because it is authentic. The photographer adapts technique and composition to the subject’s situation, making the viewer feel the discomfort, the buzzing, the intrusion. It’s a compassionate type of photography that goes a long way. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Ho Chi Minh City is in the process of constructing a new international airport about 60 kilometers from the city centre. In the meantime, Tan Son Nhat Airport continues serving as the main entry point to this bustling metropolis. With time, the airport, which is within the city limites, grew completely surrounded by residential blocks and alleyways. Life in one such airport neighbourhood, Go Vap, is punctuated every day by roaring jets landing just a few hundred meters away every couple of minutes. The local residents have no choice but get used to that and continue their daily lives.

JULIEN MAURY

A close-up responsible for painting an entire scene is an ambitious endeavor, beautifully realized in this picture. There is such a rich detail, such an emotional one, that the viewer is mesmerized and deeply touched. Myriads of feelings break through the image, encompassing everything that life is: love, care, togetherness. The soft color palette complements the scene, giving it a cinematic appearance. – LIFE FRAMER

DIEGO PINILLA AMAYA

Two people sunbathing on concrete is not something one gets to see very often, which makes it a good subject for photography. But the subject alone is never a guarantee for a good shot. The photographer has found the angle that emphasizes the subjects’ mood and attitude, has cleared the frame of any distracting elements, and has added a funny shadow for something extra. It’s hard not to smile and think, yes, life is what you make of it. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Summer in New York City.

LELA EDGAR

The photographer has chosen a very good camera angle for this shot because it conveys tension and puts things in perspective. Each layer brings a different attitude and invites the viewer to be aware of the world around them. Even light comes in blinding ice shades and comforting golden tones, adding even more layers to this complicated story. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – At an anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles, a woman on skates moves through the street, waving the Mexican flag as a protester lies motionless behind her.

JUSTIN ROQUE

This geometric, almost abstract shot is artful and very well put together, but also playful and entertaining. Architectural details take the scene and could be everything it needs if it weren’t for the small, colorful subject matter that makes it look like an ‘80s sitcom. This whimsical scene, candid and real as it is, reminds us that oftentimes we take life and ourselves much too seriously. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – By the empty pool, Deauville, France.

JOHN WALMSLEY

This black and white photograph shows the evolution of humankind from agriculture to industry and acts as a reminder of everything we’ve done and still do to support our modern lifestyle. With a well-balanced, layered composition, the image has depth, focal points, and leading lines to guide the viewer and keep them looking and thinking for longer. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Life as it’s going on around us all the time. Steelworks, Ebbw Vale, Wales, 1971.

MICHAEL WIRTH

A mundane scene can become an artwork in the eyes of the photographer. Just notice the bright shade of yellow of a bucket and the wonderful contrast it creates with the blue tiles around it. Observe the lines going up and down, shapes intersecting, massive glass buildings acting as mirrors. We encounter stunning scenes every day but pay no attention to them until a photo like this one makes us take a closer look and wonder: Could a yellow bucket spark joy into my day? – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Chengdu at Dusk, China.

THOMAS MOREL-FORT

What’s striking about this photograph is how much the attitude changes from one person to another, even though they share the same environment at the same moment in time. The use of highlights and shadows allows each character to shine and takes the viewer through the entire frame. The fact that the photographer is seen and thus part of the image only enhances the connection between artist, subject, and viewer. – LIFE FRAMER

MAX STURGEON

Henri Cartier-Bresson called it the decisive moment, the precise fraction of a second when the world reveals to you in full splendor and allows you to capture its meaning. This photograph is proof that this moment exists and is within reach. The photographer used light and texture beautifully. The viewer is not a spectator, but a guest at this energetic and joyful event. The image is multisensorial and vivid, conveying feelings, movement, the warmth of the dancers’ bodies, the pressure of the crowd, and the rhythm of the music. Well done! – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Wedding Party, Baktapur, Nepal, 2023.

JULIE MCGUIRE

Peeking into a sword maker’s workshop, what a unique scene of life and what a treat for the viewer! The craft by itself, so old and rooted in tradition, is an interesting subject matter, but the perspective is the one that elevates the shot. It makes the viewer feel privileged to witness such a scene, a traveler in space and time, which is one of the greatest benefits of photography. It makes us feel included in the universal life. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Swordmakers of Amritsar, India.

LUCY LYON

The photographer has chosen an abstract concept as a subject matter for this image, which is always a challenge. Instead of guiding the viewer to look at a visual element, the photographer invites us to see the contradiction. Innocence and landmines share the frame. Colorful uniforms and danger signs fight for our attention. It looks like a scene from a world that shouldn’t exist, but still, it is our cruel reality. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The David Nott Foundation equips doctors with the surgical skills they need to save lives in areas of conflict and catastrophe. Storytelling through photography is central to our mission, inviting audiences to connect with the extraordinary people behind the statistics: the patients, surgeons and communities at the heart of our work.Our photographs bear witness to courage, care and resilience in the face of crisis. Each image captures more than a moment; it reflects a shared humanity and the vital importance of safe, skilled surgical care where it’s needed most.

This image: Lucy Lyon, Danger Mines. Qaser al Yahud, Jordan River, March 2016. Two Palestinian girl scouts from Bethlehem stand looking over the Baptismal Site of Jesus, Qaser al Yahud. The area was littered with landmines meaning no visiting pilgrims could gain access.

LIVIA PERES

The big scenes of our lives are made of fleeting moments like the one captured in this photograph. They are everything we own, the present, although we mostly fixate on the past and future. This fluid composition encompasses the enthusiasm of childhood, the passing of time, and the ephemeral journey we are given. Simple, fast, and blurry. That’s human existence in a nutshell. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In the blur of small hands, half-eaten meals and fleeting flights, the self slips quietly into the margins. These moments, tender, chaotic and unspectacular, trace the invisible labor of love. Here, motherhood is both anchor and undertow: it holds, it pulls, it erases and it redraws. Between what floats and what breaks, a portrait emerges, not of the mother seen, but of the one disappearing.

Suspended Childhoods is a documentary project shaped by poetry. It explores the fragile threshold of childhood, a state suspended between gravity and dream, between the urgency of play and the silence of memory. I photograph children as they leap, spin, fall and hover, capturing bodies momentarily freed from the weight of the world. These fleeting instants reveal not only joy or playfulness, but also the universal condition of childhood itself: ephemeral, untouchable, always on the verge of vanishing.

TUNA ANGEL

We may not want to believe it, but tragedy is part of life and, more often than not, humankind is responsible for it. The photographer turned the lens to the more dramatic scenes of our lives, those struck by war, poverty, or loss, endorsing the documentary role of photography. The simple, immediate composition, the frame filled with debris, the paleness of the sky, and the despair of the man create an impactful image that stays with you for a long time. – LIFE FRAMER

JESUS JIMENEZ

By artfully using reflections, the photographer expanded the frame, creating a three-dimensional space and providing a glimpse into the web and flow of the city. Everything falls into place naturally, from lines and shapes to colors to highlights and shadows, which shows an exquisite attention to detail and mindful patience. The photographer put in a lot of energy to masterfully orchestrate the composition for the delight of the public. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Life reflected. Looking through a reflection or through a glass is like looking at a dream, a memory surrounded by a certain aura. Feelings seem enhanced and people’s expressions seem more powerful.

This image: Faces.  Looks and reflections, faces…many faces and direct and indirect looks in a single photo, many things happen in a single moment, it is the pulse of a city.

JESSE STAPLETON

What an impactful scene! The composition is simple, the analogous colors blend in effortlessly, and the sidewalk’s edge makes the perfect leading line. The excellent use of the space and exquisite framing prove that sometimes less is more. Nevertheless, technical aspects are here just to put the story into the light and reveal its depth. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The art district.

DANIEL RAMOS

Exuberant, vibrant, glamorous, life can be like that, too, especially at a Mexican fiesta. It’s hard not to admire the golden details of the costumes. The photograph is full of details and movement, accurately capturing the rhythm and energy of the event and embellishing it in warm light and bright contrast. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Santiago Zapotitlán, Ciudad de México 2025.

HAMZAH LIM

The photographer artfully puts together two worlds, two lifestyles, to remind us that we are united in diversity. Old and new, traditional and modern, spiritual and technology-based are just layers of humanity, clothes we put on as we like. The parallel composition enhances the message, as do the contrasting colors and the fact that the characters face opposite ways and have similar poses, although they do different things. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Love thy Neighbour. This photo captures the diversity of daily life, showcasing two neighbors embracing different routines. One finds solace in prayer, while the other is focused on work, highlighting the contrast between traditional roles and individual paths.

BENIZI SANTAMARIA

One can easily empathize with the camaraderie between the subjects and appreciate the benefits of belonging and community. These are the scenes we want in our lives, and the image manages to make us feel the yearning very well. At the same time, it is artistically composed, using the harmony of the golden rule to make everyone stand out equally and emphasize the group rather than the individual. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Even in our quietest moments, there is motion.  We breathe life into every movement of work, prayer and play.  These are the elements of life I seek to capture and share.

This image: Gold Miners Cards Club, Bitung, Sulawesi, Indonesia.