FRANCESCO GIOIA

“When I saw this picture for the first time I marveled at the complexity and the remarkable coincidences within its perfect frame. Such images can prompt an idea that they must have been a set-up – a carefully orchestrated idea, impersonating a genuine moment, but not reality. These kinds of pictures are in fashion at the moment.

I have no reason to believe that’s the case here, but I also thought about the idea for a while and decided that for street photographs it just does not matter. To me all photographs are fictions wrapped in fact anyway. To quote the great photographer Charles Harbutt: “Writing about a visual medium tends to make the simple complex. If you want to make photographs, all you do is point the camera at whatever you wish; click the shutter whenever you want. If you want to judge a good photograph, ask yourself: Is life like that? The answer must be yes and no, but mostly yes.”

This humane and lively photograph is a huge yes, and life IS like that! So, hats off to this great, winning photograph, and in the words of John Lennon “nothing is real, and nothing to get hung about.”” – RICHARD SANDLER

Photographer statement – The Notting Hill Carnival has been held annually since 1965. It draws its origins from Caribbean carnival traditions and the social and political conditions of the migration of Caribbean peoples after 1948. The shot portrays some characteristic faces and expresses the modern essence of the event.

ANNA BIRET

“I like complicated pictures like this one, where the chaos of ordinary life is tamed by the photographer’s keen eye for order. To me this picture also asks many more questions than it answers; only great photographs do that. Its tensile strength and formal balance are dazzling. I’m reminded of Winogrand who said, “there is nothing more mysterious than a fact clearly described.” In this perfect frame something profound and dreamlike is shown, but remains a mystery, wordless and unspoken. ” – RICHARD SANDLER

Photographer statement – From the series City Transport, taken during my stay in Kyrgyzstan in September 2022.

LIHI BROSH

“You might at first think this is an image of protest or a religious event, but it’s a different type of fervor – fans jostling to catch a t-shirt thrown into the crowd. It feels dynamic and captures a different, non-conventional perspective on a rap concert. Nicely done.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From the series Downtown Stories, following the youth of downtown Manhattan from 2018-2022. A collection of spontaneity and personal moments focused on history, self-expression, fashion, and social dynamics. Long. Live. ASAP- Long. Live. ASAP is the debut studio album by American rapper ASAP Rocky. It was released on January 15, 2013. For the 10th anniversary of the album, Rocky hosted a pop-up in Canal Street, New York City. In the photo, I captured fans trying to catch a signed T-shirt that had been thrown to the crowd.

CAMILLA RICHETTI

“There’s something absorbing about this image – in the warm eye contact with this man at the barbers, and the texture of the battered wall behind him, as if the many layers of paint and posters describe the history of the place, of many people sat in this same seat before him. “Being on the street keeps me connected to the community” says this barber, and get a sense of that connection in this image, of the endless evolution of the streetscape and its inhabitants.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In India, barbers can be found very quickly. Cuts are direct, quick, and affordable. The barbers, frequently positioned next to apartment buildings, have a list of regulars, nearly always men. As a result, there may be dozens of customers on a good day. Barbers are typically located near business districts, allowing customers to take advantage of their services before, during, or after the workday. The barbers typically carry on from generations before them, and because of their limited financial resources, they frequently cannot open their salons. However, as a barber says, “Why have a salon? I prefer being on the street because it keeps me connected to the community.”

STEVE WALSH

“A stark portrayal of man’s impact on the natural world, this monolithic, soulless building looms heavily, reaching upwards almost endlessly and dwarfing the bird at its base. It’s a very well put-together image that comments on how oppressive our urban environments can be, but not without a bleak beauty in the outstretched wings of this bird in flight.” – LIFE FRAMER

THOMAS ESNÉE

“There’s an urgency and dynamism to this arresting image – chasing the subject through the night the streetlights distort and burn like flames. The accompanying statement provides only the most abstract of clues to the context, but that’s perhaps the point – the image being less about meaning and more about the energy of racing through the city at night in gleeful abandon.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – During the 25th hour in Deauville.

GIULIA GIU

“There’s something that doesn’t feel quite real about the scene this man traverses, or something hyperreal perhaps. The gorgeous pastel tones, perfect blue sky, shimmering plants and lone bird watching from on high all combine to create a strange dreamland. The towering wall should feel imposing, but it feels like it keeps the chaotic world out, rather than constricting what’s inside. It’s a perfectly executed image that sparks the imagination, asking us – as the statement reads – “reflect on what it means to live together.”” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In cities, where we find the highest concentration of people, where can we find solitude? Is it even possible to embrace the solitude? I travel the world looking for those moments of loneliness in the middle of the crowd, those moments where someone can finally embrace their solitude at the corner of a less busy streets, to be able to reflect on what it means to live together.

MURAT HARMANLIKLI

“Nicely composed as a frame within a frame, this image has a wonderful ambience, capturing both the momentum and mundanity of travel. It’s an image that draws the viewer in, questioning what the story of its protagonist might be.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Somewhere to Go. “Everyone needs a somewhere, a place he can go. There comes a time, you see, inevitably there comes a time you have to have a somewhere you can go.” – from “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

ANDREA KUENSTLE

“Not a street in the strictest sense of the word perhaps, but this atmospheric and beautifully toned image provides a fascinating glimpse of life in rural Georgia. The street is where many of the transactions and interactions of life take place, and it’s no different here.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From the series Georgia – A country between modernity and tradition. How trite. They simply still exist, these villages where people have not been caught up in consumption. They live with their animals and are happy. Yes of course, the smartphone has reached them, but they don’t want to trade places with the comforts of the people in the cities. Streets are part of their habitat. Every morning the cows are escorted out and in the evening they are taken off the roads again.

I am currently on a cycling world tour, from Germany, Berlin to Cambodia and maybe once around the world. In my luggage, of course, is my equipment. But I love taking photos like this with my smartphone. I’m faster and don’t miss those wonderful moments and…. don’t disturb either.

ANDY GALOWSKI

“This image speaks to the grind of urban life – the drudgery of long work days and lonely commutes in the rain – but also the moments of brief connection that remind us of our shared existence and shared humanity that can cut through the anonymity. It’s a lovely, affecting shot.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – This is my favorite photo of my series taken in Beijing in China. To me it was the perfect street photography moment as it was only there for a few seconds. The image was taken during the rush hour in Beijing. The streets were noisy, full of cars, buses and people. I was a quite rainy and uncomfortable evening. Nevertheless, I always wear my camera close to my body to be “always ready”. And there it was, this special moment. The bus passed by in just a few second. Enough time to take a couple of photos. This man sitting in the bus and starring outside perfectly reflects the whole sad, ugly scenery. He looks like he just want to go home after a busy day at work.

PANAGIOTIS PAPAGIANNOPOULOS

“Tight cropping and low-key lighting imbue this image with an absorbing noir atmosphere – an inconsequential anonymous moment made arresting through an eye for shape and detail. There’s character in the subject’s stance, encouraging the viewer to invent their own narrative. Great storytelling with simple elements.” – LIFE FRAMER

TANAËL GIOVANETTI

“Black & white is the perfect choice for this well-composed image – capturing the shimmering light and deep shadows, isolating this musician and his instrument from the clamour of this street festival, distilling it down to elemental form. The result is an image with real intimacy which, as the statement says, portrays quite beautifully the attachment of man and instrument.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From the series A Moment of Life in the Streets of Cayenne. A series with a festive and nocturnal atmosphere, whose black and white are as contrasted and varied as the skin colors shown, whose dark tones illustrate this nocturnal moment in all its singularity and whose light tones illustrate this luminous moment filled with emotions in all its depth. The strength of contrast of this series goes hand in hand with the contrast of emotions that I myself could perceive that evening. This series, in addition to showing a particular moment of sharing, illustrates humanity in all its splendor. In the splendor of its emotion, its creativity and its solidarity. I love this image, it exudes a love, an attachment of the man for his instrument. I was lucky to fall in the right place at the right time.

CARL DE SOUZA

“The beach provides a rich seam of street photography, and here the glare of sunlight, golden coloration and elongated shadows give this image a real character – a carefree slice of life in the most stunning of settings.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Football on the beach in Ipanema, Brazil.

SINA DJAM

“Brilliant use of leading lines and chiaroscuro create something bigger than the sum of its parts – a wonderful moment of quiet beauty as this man carefully steps out of the dark abyss and into this shiny, near empty cityscape. There’s a sense of mystery and wonder, which when uncovered out on the streets can make the genre so compelling. We’re not sure what the title might mean or allude to, but it imbues this man with a sense of character and heightens our curiosity.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – “Mr. Hummington Visits Every Now and Now” – Toronto, 2022.

GIEDO VAN DER ZWAN

“The unconventional crouched and up-close framing is a perfect way to capture the energy of this impromptu street dance, demonstrating the “get closer” principle of street photography and the photographer’s confidence and creativity to find the right shot. The strong diagonal through-line is subtly echoed in the aeroplane vapor trails, a nice if perhaps coincidental touch, and the skulls and roses of the woman’s dress are also apt in emphasizing the subtle anarchy of dancing in public. Wonderfully done.” – LIFE FRAMER

CLARENCE LIN

“Employing an elevated vantage point and slow shutter speed to capture buzz of movement at this night-time street market, the energy is made tangible – full of life and the interaction between static and dynamic forces as life inexorably races on.” – LIFE FRAMER

SERGE BÉGUET

“No accompanying statement is provided and so we can’t be quite certain even where this was taken, but it’s a compelling slice of street life – bright, alive and with every element holding its own place within the well-organized frame. Seeing children occupied in play as something out-of-shot holds the attention of this man, we’re drawn to the cultural and contextual clues, and absorbed by the passing of daily life.” – LIFE FRAMER

TAE HWAN KIM

“Comprised of well-worn elements of street photography, this image nonetheless works well for its strong framing, sharp simplicity and satisfying geometric juxtaposition. A strong shot that reminds us that it’s worth getting out into the rain to shoot once in a while!” – LIFE FRAMER

GAVIN DORAN

“The lashing flakes of snow caught in artificial light and the slight grain and mis-focus of movement give this image a real energy – you can feel the chill in this New York backstreet on a winter’s night. Shooting his subject from a low vantage point, with buildings looming on either side, it should feel gloomy and oppressive, but there’s a grace in his posture and expression. It’s a wonderful portrait full of life and character.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In the West Village, New York City, on 16 December 2020 during the year’s biggest snowstorm.

JASON AU

“Heavy silhouetting and clever partitioning of the frame give this image a graphic quality, deep black and brilliant white in perfect balance as this bird sits quietly on-high, surveying the bustling movement of the city below. It’s a wonderful juxtaposition that brings momentary order to the “chaotic urban environment of Hong Kong” described in the statement. An elegant, minimalist, and highly satisfying frame.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From the series Hong Kong Lines and Patterns that depicts my creative vision on my hometown. It comes with a fine art aesthetic and the compositional approach of isolating urban subjects, geometric elements and forms from the chaotic urban environment of Hong Kong. This series portrays the way of life of different urban characters in the context of their surrounding geometric environment, which were all culled from mundane everyday scenes, with fleeting moments seized from near and distant.

Nevertheless, those subjects look trapped and lost inside an artificial geometric labyrinth without realising it. The sense of confinement in which the urban structure crashes the person, enclosing them into small boxes with no way out, is suggestive of the modern condition of how we succumb to the glory of the urban landscape, which is also a product of our creation. Perhaps this is a metaphorical view of urbanity while also implying the melancholic romance of hectic modern city life in a metropolis like Hong Kong.