BANNER IMAGE: BRIAN KENNEDY

Being in awe is something children know very well. But it’s challenging to capture the exact moment, their stillness and complete admiration, and it takes a patient and understanding photographer to take a good shot. Featuring a well-balanced composition that creates a dialogue between the child and the fireworks in the night sky, this image looks like nothing less than a movie scene. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – He held still for once, silhouetted against the shimmer of fireworks cracking open the summer night. I watched him watching the sky, that quiet awe only kids seem to feel fully.

MARIUS BURGELMAN

A theme like youth provides the opportunity to dive deep into social issues, raise awareness, and change the world for the better. This documentary shot has a meaningful narrative and denotes good technical and storytelling skills. The subject stands out due to the low shooting angle, a strong leading line guides the viewer throughout the frame, and the color palette enhances the contrast between how the world should be and how it actually is. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The hard truth is that millions of children have to live in these conditions. and even then the child spirit remains, but that is not the case for all of them. Looking at what is happening elsewhere in the world, it is hard to understand that children have to pay for what we adults do. these boys are fishing between the mountains of rubbish at the train station in Battambang Cambodia. I try to call myself a storyteller so I never ask people to be on screen I want to show the image to all of you how I see it and try to share it with people around the world.

LYON VAN DEN OORD

This playful and unusual composition aims, successfully, to bring back childhood memories. It builds up expectations and leads the viewer towards the main focal point, but it is not about the child we can see here but rather about the inner child we often overlook. The photographer skillfully uses visual elements to create a gentle reminder and turn the lens onto the viewer. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – On the Ice. Themes of play, childlike joy, curiosity, and exploration run throughout my work. I strive to capture the humanity of youth, documenting intimate moments that show the energy and excitement of children to bring my audience closer to the memories of their own upbringing.

This series of photographs invites viewers to reconnect with the unbridled wonder of childhood. I’m drawn to children’s unfiltered authenticity–the way they engage with their world without self-consciousness, evoking a feeling of nostalgia and emotional proximity. My unobtrusive approach captures genuine moments rather than posed scenes, revealing the pure emotions that forge our closest connections: from deep concentration to spontaneous laughter. I hope to collapse the distance between past and present, reminding us all of our capacity for discovery and the importance of preserving spaces where children can freely explore, question, and simply be.

AMAAN ALI

Youth is vibrant, colorful, optimistic, and full of life. But it is also unknown territory. This close-up captures a multitude of layers, from appearance to experience. Light is beautifully used to add warmth and brighten the scene, while the cropped elements convey an unfinished stage of life. The image raises questions, provokes, and starts conversations, which is one of the most powerful characteristics of good photography. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In the Quiet Heart is a quiet exploration of the moments that often slip by unnoticed in places designed for connection. Set within a summer camp in Devon, UK, this series looks at the subtle, shifting emotional landscapes of teenagers as they move through group rituals, unspoken expectations, and their private inner worlds.

Growing up, I imagined summer camps through the softened lens of cinema as places of friendship, adventure, and belonging. But when I arrived at a predominantly French camp to work as a photographer and fashion coach, I noticed how between the laughter and games, there were moments of longing. Teens sitting alone by the pool, gazing out of windows, or quietly lingering at the edges of groups. Even in spaces built for connection, solitude quietly finds its place. Many of the camp’s activities — rifle shooting, laser tag–still carried traces of their older purpose: once designed to toughen boys into men. While those origins may be forgotten, their echoes remain in the language and rituals of these spaces. Words like “kill” shouted in play reveal how easily old ideas about strength and dominance are passed on. These casual remnants of power, play, and old masculine ideals continue to surface, even in places that now aim to be more inclusive.

In the Quiet Heart lingers in those tender, often overlooked spaces where solitude and introspection weave through the backdrop of collective joy. These images ask viewers to look beyond the familiar, curated imagery of youth camps and pause for a moment with what’s usually left unseen.

VEDAT SENTURK

The photograph artfully follows the golden rule of composition to exhibit the camaraderie of youth. The main character has the scene, but he is a representative rather than an individual subject. The clever way in which the photographer has thought this image through, toning down the color palette, increasing the contrast, and using a high shooting angle, all act to enhance the energy, vibration, and sharp edges of youth. – LIFE FRAMER

TUNA ANGEL

Young love, exuberance, happiness. This candid photograph encompasses all of them and mixes them into a carefully curated composition. The high contrast speaks about exuberance, the color palette represents the feelings, and the bright light underlines the happiness. The slightly unrevealing angle is a beautiful touch, protecting the couple’s intimacy and leaves them to enjoy their love anonymously. – LIFE FRAMER

ANDREAS BLECKMANN

Seeing the wonders of the world through a window – what a metaphor for the beginning of life, that is, youth.  The composition is effective and encompasses multiple layers that slowly reveal themselves. Analogous, earthy colors, powerful leading lines, transparency, reflections, and a rich variety of textures create a complex, multi-sensorial image. The fact that the occupants of the car have spotted the photographer only adds to the narrative. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – “Rock-a-Nore” is a coastal area of Hastings, a fishing town in East Sussex, England. Iconic black huts and dramatic cliffs flank this strip of land, which ends with a sizeable concrete car parks. The space between Rock-a-Nore and the English Channel, a beach-landed fishing harbour, is the backdrop for this series of portraits.

Traditional Small-boat fishing fleets like this one are under threat across the UK. Despite this responsible and sustainable fishing practice, fish numbers are dwindling, and restrictive regulations threaten a way of life, culture, and heritage. Nevertheless, fishing continues throughout the year, but the visual landscape shifts as the tourist season commences, bringing an influx of colour and life. This, contrasting with the grit of the fishing industry, creates a fascinating visual harmony and is a living example of balance and diversity.

For the past four years, I have walked this beach near my home, attempting to capture the essence of this contrasting and ever-changing demographic landscape. I have been so fortunate that many fishermen, residents, and day trippers have given me their time and permitted me to take their pictures which collectively have enriched this project beyond measure.

ANDREW SOHN

The photographer has found a unique way to convey the intensity of relationships between young people. The warm colors enhance the feelings, whilst the entanglement of the hands shows the strength of the bond. The photographer dared to focus on a single detail with courage and determination and found the recipe for a lovely shot. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Girlfriends.

RYAN ACKLAND

Adults see environments, opportunities, and issues. They spot differences wherever they go. Children, on the other hand, have a way of being children regardless of what happens around them. The photograph captures an iconic moment of childhood but also the filters through which adults see the world. It’s a meaningful picture-in-picture shot that puts things in perspective and makes the viewer engage with the topic. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In Koh Panyee, Thailand, a unique floating village that’s home to around 1600 people, two brothers watch their favourite cartoon. Due to where they live, their life is so different to so many. But then again, the things they do are so similar as they sit and enjoy each others’ company and cartoons.