EDITORS’ PICK
Humans United
HUMANS OF THE WORLD
Humans of the World Editors’ Pick
Following Amy Kellners’ selection of winning images for our HUMANS OF THE WORLD call for entries, this compilation of 20 images, selected by the Life Framer editors represents some of the other talented photographers whose work struck us and left a mark. Each a stunning image worthy of exposure and attention…
These are intended to be a conversation starter… so feel free to join the discussion on our social networks.
BANNER IMAGE COURTESY OF BASTIEN DESCHAMPS
www.bastiendeschamps.com / @ecdemomaniak
From the series Ecdemomania – “Ecdemomania (n): 1) A morbid impulse, or obsession, to travel or wander around. 2) A compulsive wandering away from home. An extended black and white photo-essay started in 2015 which documents years of questioning and travel around the world: from Siberia to India, Iran to the United States, Tibet to Australia. But the places are not especially relevant. This is a mix of reality and daydream. This an attempt to map a part of my own psyche and to create a lexicon of my inside world. Ecdemomania is more the story of an inside journey than an outside one. It’s an invitation to wander and get lost. This on-going body of work counts so far 400 pictures (selected from around 80,000 shots). A frantic race against the clock. Hop a train. Fleeting encounter. Next stop. Fugitive friendship. Jump in a bus. One-night stand. Ride. Clog the drain of time. Fail. Try again. Walk. Be the stranger again. Follow a path. Get lost. Often. Don’t understand. Don’t try to understand. Lose yourself. Let go. Run away. Search. Run after your shadow. Hang on to it anyway. Let it go. Be in motion. Do not stop. Refuse to settle. Do not take root. Only way to fight against the anguish of time passing and its frightening traces. The distance traveled as the only weapon against Chronos. Every kilometer is an illusion of victory.”
Editor’s comment: Although taken well before the recent Coronavirus pandemic, there is something prescient about this image, evoking the worst aspects of it – the fear, tension and uncertainty. With a well controlled blur that heightens the atmosphere, it captures a motion of moving on public transport, a density of strangers’ bodies – things we won’t experience in the same light ever again.
IMAGE COURTESY OF IAN BAGUSKAS
www.ianbaguskasphoto.com / @ianbaguskas
“Freshmen Military Training, Beijing, China. From the series Freshmen which documents how first year university students in China take part in mandatory military training during the beginning weeks of school.”
Editor’s comment: Documenting mandatory military training for Chinese university students, there’s something fantastic about the way this centrally framed woman catches Ian’s eye, breaking from the regimented order, even if just for a moment. It’s a wonderful insight into life and shared experience for Chinese youth, and a brilliant moment of spontaneity.
IMAGE COURTESY OF EUGENIJUS BARZDZIUS
www.eugenijusb.com / @eugenijusb
From the series LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) – “People are becoming more and more conscious of plastic waste. Accumulated amounts of it are the source material for new products but in between, there are recycling processes operated by people. One of the biggest plastic recycling factories in the EU is in Vilnius, Lithuania, with a production history of over 50 years. The facility contains in itself the Soviet past with a few remaining workers who are have been there since the very start. With the independence of the country, there came ownership changes in the facility and at the same time optimisation of the production. But noisy, smelly and dusty conditions are tuned up with make-shift imagination for old and even for new machinery. The constant need for a labour force that would take 12-hour shifts in production lines attracts people from very different walks of life: from social margins to top managers who wanted to change their careers. Low salaries and hard conditions in the recycling process lines are also a bridge of opportunities for a cheaper labour force from Ukraine that comes for three month periods with the hope of extending their work permits. High consumption generates high quantities of plastic waste but to run the factory 24×7 it is required to import plastic waste from other countries in the region. And the majority of recycled products are sold back to the EU countries and beyond. The high paced recycling processes were examined with photographic ,,waste” material – a slow speed outdated film in order to recycle it for a new life.”
Editor’s comment: Taken from a clever project about plastic waste, Eugenijus subverts the traditions of portraiture and high-concept fashion photography to create something a little surreal but with an important underlying message. Here a plastic recycling factory worker is enveloped in waste, almost drowning in it and yet clinging onto it as a means of earning a living. It is both an ode to the hard-working, underpaid people who keep our world of material consumption going, and a reminder of the troubling reality of it. All told in a playful, unexpected way.
IMAGE COURTESY OF LORRAINE TURCI
www.lorraineturci.com / @lorraineturci
From the series AKUNNAAKK – “Living in a small inuit village in Greenland. Changes in the environment, food; globalization (notably via ultra-connectivity and the economy); the break with the way of life of the elders: it is about the transformation of an indigenous identity, between claim and adaptation. Paneeraq is swinging in a fishing net. She dreams of becoming an air hostess.”
Editor’s comment: This is a wonderful view into life in a part of the world that will be unfamiliar to most of us. Captured swinging in a fishing net, the smile of Lorraine’s subject Paneeraq is just infectious, and that it’s symbolic of her dream – to fly around the world as an air hostess – is a lovely touch.
IMAGE COURTESY OF JAMAL YUSSUFF ADELAKUN
@papajgun
“During lockdown, one of the things I told my self was to make sure I kept shooting images. A day after the George Floyd incident that took place in America, I spoke to my daughter (Lola 13yrs) about creating some images based on “I can’t breathe”. My Daughter and I have bonded and created previously when it comes to photography, but never before have we both used the medium of photography to talk about racial injustice or racism. For me this was a new way to have that conversation with her. I shared my images on my Instagram and within a couple of weeks lots of traffic started coming my way. Recently a mural was commissioned (Edinburgh International Festival /BLM Trail, Scotland).”
Editor’s comment: This is powerful response to the racial injustices and resultant BLM movement that has shaped the narrative of the last few years. Shot in a masterful way, with subtle lighting and carefully controlled tones, Jamal and her daughter respond to George Floyd’s “I can’t breathe” in a way that is equal parts elegant and arresting. The mouth may be covered but it’s Lola’s eyes and the humanity they convey that stays with the viewer.
IMAGE COURTESY OF LAURA CHEN
www.laura-chen.com / @lauramchen
“For my series Killer Queens, I have photographed around 40 individuals from Birmingham’s (UK) LGBTQ and drag community; the scope and participation of which demonstrates the growth of this countercultural scene in contemporary Britain. The colourful portraits celebrate and explore performance and self-expression. The series ultimately addresses current issues surrounding identity, sexuality and community spirit, and tells a strong collective story about discovery. Fascinated by the ways in which drag artists can create endless variations of characters, in the most unique and innovative ways, I set out to document the scene. Unlike a traditional reportage however, I use simple backgrounds in various colours to isolate my subjects from their context. At first glance, the images may look like glamorous perfection, but on closer inspection details and imperfections draw attention to their constructed nature; the fake hairline of their wigs and the texture in their skin, coming through the surface of many layers of glossy makeup. Essentially I play with the same idea as my subjects; the disconnection between desire and reality — the person they feel like being that day, in that moment, and the person they are behind the mask.”
Editor’s comment: Laura’s portrait of a drag queen is brilliantly colorful portrait – both literally and in the way it captures the personality of its subject. The bold DIY aesthetic celebrates the imagination, inventiveness and idiosyncratic nature of the drag community which Laura has immersed herself in. It’s full of energy and color, but in a way that feels harmonious and artful. Very well done!
IMAGE COURTESY OF SIMONE RAELI
@volevofarelarcheologo
Editor’s comment: Slightly underexposed to give a deep richness to the colors, Simone’s still life scene has a wonderful, real-life imperfection to it – beautiful in its naturalistic mundanity. The lack of people suggests a party that’s been missed, emphasizing the importance of community especially in these times.
IMAGE COURTESY OF CHRISTIAN HOLZKNECHT
www.christianholzknecht.com / @christianholzknecht
Editor’s comment: Christian’s portrait captures the natural warmth of these four carers in a long-term healthcare facility, their smiles evident despite the masks. It’s a wonderful ode to the humanity and compassion of these four women and countless others like them that work tirelessly to care for those in need. The flat black background, contrasting with their white uniforms, is an effective stylistic choice – acting to draw all attention to them; rays of light in the dark.
IMAGE COURTESY OF BERNADETTE FOX
www.bernadettephoto.com / @dettesnaps
“Ashanti, 19. 47th annual Mahkato Pow Wow at Land of Memories Park (MN, USA).
Editor’s comment: A lovely portrait highlighting a growing movement to recognize the native heritage of the United States. Bernadette’s subject Ashanti comes across as informed and assured – an optimistic message for the future.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ORRIN SAINT PIERRE
www.orrinsaintpierre.com / @orrin.pierre
Editor’s comment: A fabulous portrait that encapsulates childhood dreaming – the idea of escaping the boundaries of the world you inhabit. Glancing up at the sky, in a hammock patterned with stars and rockets, the symbolism is clear.
IMAGE COURTESY OF MICHAEL BLANN
www.michaelblann.com / @michaelblann
“People seen from above… exploring cities, relaxing and taking time out.”
Editor’s comment: An excellent aerial view of the public realm – equal parts mundane and profound, striking in the way it evokes the emptiness of our cities, deserted during lockdowns across the world.
IMAGE COURTESY OF RAFAEL G ANTUNES
www.rafaelgantunes.com / @vaderetrophotography
From the series The Last “Cante” Singers – “Strongly rooted in the collective memory of the Alentejo people (Alentejo is a region in the south of Portugal) as a work song, some musicologists attribute its origin to the Gregorian chant of Arab culture, while others give it more ancestral aspects, placing their roots in the pre-Christian, and even pre-Roman period. Polyphonic choral song, the “Cante Alentejano” accompanied men and women who worked the fields manually, as well as in festive environments. This informal form of “Cante” manifestation has gradually been lost in time with the arrival of agricultural industrialization in the late 19th century in Portugal. In this way, the informal “Cante” started to take place almost exclusively in the taverns – a place closed to women, and where men meet to socialize while drinking wine. (Inevitably, the informal “Cante” for women has lost strength over time.) In 1926 the first choral group of “Cante Alentejano” is officially created, and with that the proliferation of choral groups begins, which confers to this manifestation of Intangible Cultural Heritage a formal character. With the rural exodus of the younger generations and their consequent disinterest in this tradition, and with the closure of many places where this informal form of “Cante” take place, will we soon be facing an archaeological collective memory?”
Editor’s comment: In this gorgeous, warm formal portrait, Rafael documents the “Last Cante Singers” and in doing so asks broader questions around the role and importance of historical tradition in the face of technology and a globalizing world.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ANNA NEUBAUER
www.anna-neubauer.com / @annaneubauer_photography
”This is Bashir and Jade. I photographed them in their home in London, United Kingdom. I recently came up with a series called ‘The Story I Heard’ which is basically about asking questions instead of making assumptions or judging based on made assumptions. I photographed lots of different people; they opened up to me and told me their stories. Bashir and Jade have a beautiful bond and I am lucky I got to know them. For me, diversity and inclusion is one of the most important things. With my pictures I want to remind people to be kind and show them how beautiful differences are.”
Editor’s comment: Anna presents a gorgeous portrait that through a tight composition and warm tones captures a true tenderness between her subjects, their arms interlocked in intimate embrace. Bashir’s condition of vitiligo is presented here as a thing of uniqueness and beauty, with Anna rightly shows that his worth and experience is so much more than that.
IMAGE COURTESY OF MAX CAVALLARI
www.maxcavallari.it / @max_cavallari
”Beijing, Tiananmen Square.”
Editor’s comment: A brilliant slice of life in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Max is interested in the clamoring crowd, rather than whatever event has created the crowd, and it makes for an interesting comment on voyeurism and today’s culture of capturing the moment. The centrally framed young girl, wearied and adrift in the commotion, makes the image.
IMAGE COURTESY OF CATERINA BRUZZONE
www.caterinabruzzone.it / @bruzzonecaterina
Editor’s comment: Sunbathing in full PPE, this is an eccentric, creative response to the world’s current events, and the grey gravel, devoid of any life, perhaps provides an extra comment on human impact on the natural world. It’s a little silly, but we need some silliness right now.
IMAGE COURTESY OF THOMAS DUFFÉ
www.thomas-duffe.de / @thomasduffephotographer
Editor’s comment: This is a lovely portrait of two Romanian women, the sparseness of the frame and heavy light and shade creating something raw and intimate. We can lean something from their expressions, clothing and surroundings, but it’s the kind of image where you crave to understand more.
IMAGE COURTESY OF SASCHA KRAUS
www.saschakraus.com / @sascha.kraus
“Travel throwback to the good times when I was young and traveling along. Gaining experiences and spotting some real role models.”
Editor’s comment: This is a wry and witty self-portrait that takes the tropes associated with youthful ‘gap year’ travel – in this case the shooting of automatic weapons in places like Prague. With his empty smiling expression, Sascha asks ethical questions of tourist ‘attractions’ like these, and the broader impacts of fetishizing gun culture.
IMAGE COURTESY OF MIRANDA SCHMITZ
www.mirandaschmitz.com / @schmitz.miranda
From the series Everlasting – “In this series I try to give a visual insight into lifelong grief caused by the death of a child in Flanders. I make portraits of mothers and fathers who have lost a child with an object that reminds them of their child. All causes of death (stillborn, sickness, accident, suicide) and all ages are represented. I chose this subject because I have some friends and acquaintances that lost their children. They keep telling me how difficult it is to mourn these days. In our amenable society where there is a solution to every problem and a specialist for every disorder, a lifelong grief has become a genuine taboo. After all, people don’t want to be continuously confronted with other peoples’ sorrow, because it reminds them over and over again of their own vulnerability. Whoever mourns often leads two lives: one in which one acts under social pressure as if everything is normal and one ‘still life’ in which one’s heart screams out in pain…”
Editor’s comment: Photographed in stark black and white to emphasize emotion, Miranda uses a clever visual device to explore the subject of grief. Her subject seems to simultaneously convey hope and sadness – just a glimpse into the complexity of the subject matter which she handles with sensitivity and poignancy.
IMAGE COURTESY OF JACOB JOHN HARMER
www.jacobjohnharmer.com / @jacob_john_harmer
From the series Lost Ones – “This series follows the journey of a group of friends in Hastings, UK, traversing the gap between adolescence and adulthood; with many turning eighteen during the three summers that we shot. An exploration into the headspace of being old enough to explore the pleasures that adulthood brings, but not always experienced enough to be able to navigate the consequences that may come with them. A mixture of optimism and trepidation; the heady excitement of embarking on a voyage into the unknown on the cusp of a new decade.”
Editor’s comment: Framing his subjects in embrace against a vast landscape, Jacob captures the all-consuming intensity of emotion felt at this stage of life – love, freedom and escapism in that liminal state between childhood and adulthood. It’s nicely done.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ANNIKA HAAS
www.annikahaas.com / @annikahaasphotography
From the series OMG! She Is Bald! – “Driven by my own experience of contradicting opinions caused by experimentally shaved head of a woman, I wanted to capture on film other women who, for various reasons, have ultra-short or no hair at all. Valerija tried it out of curiosity and has had mostly positive reactions.”
Editor’s comment: With a tongue-in-cheek title, Annika asks viewers to rethink their preconceptions of the ‘skinhead’. Presented in beautiful colors, her portrait of Valerija may be about the hairstyle, but really it’s about the eyes – her expression is powerful, capturing a boredom and standoff-ishness from the judgement she might sometimes endure. Contrasted with the milkshake and carefree connotations that brings, it makes for a fascinating portrait.
