EDITORS’ PICK
Chromatic Revelations
COLORS
Colors Editors’ Pick
Following Stephen Wilkes’ selection of winning images for our recent Colors competition, 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: CHATREE LERTSINTANAKORN
“A wondrous event from our natural world often taken for granted, occurring daily but not always witnessed. This image reminds the viewer of the beauty and awe we are privileged to experience while occupying this planet. There are few things in life more dazzling and divine than the glow of a setting sun, and the photographer has captured that eloquently, avoiding some of the cliches we might associate with a typical sunset shot.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The Orange Sun from the series Twilight, reflecting the colors of the sky and the setting sun. Before the sun goes down, we often see the big orange of the sun. Dusk is a time of relaxation. Change colors and prepare to hit the ground. No one knows what tomorrow will be like.
OLIVER TAKÁČ
“A scene akin to an iconic cinematic still, this perfectly lit and exposed image reveals plenty of pop-culture and nightlife aspects. The rain drops set a downcast beat as the viewer is immediately met with the gaze of the subject, where thoughts and perceptions are formed on the photograph’s title. It would be interesting to hear the photographer’s interpretation of ‘Fallen Angel’ and the character the subject is portraying.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – From the series Fallen Angel, taken in Košice, Slovakia.
SERGE BÉGUET
“A perfectly timed image – as each person takes their own space in the group to look over the wall, one woman chooses to look back directly into the lens. The splendid colors of the saris with their individual prints creates a vibrant, repetitive pattern right across the image. This subtle group portrait is a glorious display of community and culture.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Young women, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India.
SANDRA RIVERA
“This dramatic mountainscape can be viewed as is, or as an abstract piece of visual art with layers of natural shape and structure, wrapped in warm-toned blues and anchored by earthy jagged rocks. An impressive image from an expedition of no mean feat. The perfect composition of land, ice and sky.” – LIFE FRAMER
MALU ORNELAS
“A figure of fire awaits the viewer with an air of scepticism and mistrust as their dark eyes take center focus. The photographer has created a mysterious image with its foundations in burnt orange and fiery red, evoking feelings of anger, pain and vengeance – allowing the viewer to potentially empathize with the subject. An unusual portrait with a familiar feeling.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The Hermit.
DHANESH MISHRA
“An insight into a daily life unknown to some, as the subjects seem unphased by the photographer while they wash and dry the saris by the river. These large sheets of soft material are positioned perfectly between the women to mirror the perspective of the rigid bridge in the background. The shapes and angles of this scene along with the vibrant colors are what elevate it as a photograph.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – There’s Nothing Like Calcutta.
ANDREW HALLINAN
“The blurred lights and streaks of neon create an immediate sense of urgency and confusion, until the viewer spots the pointed gun at the centre of the action – instantly anchoring the image with a grave seriousness. The photographer is not just a witness, but also a participant in this high-octane scene, using their flash to record all elements of activity, leaving nothing unseen. Their mission to ensure surveillance as a two-way system carves out a unique style and technique for this creative and timely work.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I originally conceived 1312 as a way to use photography as a form of protest and examine the ways in which the people confront State power. The NYPD is heavily armed, comparable in size to a military force, and commands a yearly budget of roughly $10 billion. At a protest, the people with me are teachers, bartenders, parents, and students. The imbalance of power is explicit and constant. In the streets, I am a protester first, photographer second. A photograph acts as a verb and action whether I intend it to or not, so I’d rather harness that and make it purposeful. My use of color is an immediate statement of my perspective. Using my own creative vision, I hope to question the accepted ways in which we are taught to photograph protests, especially the police. I don’t answer to anybody but my instincts and the will of the people. I get close, I aggressively use my flash, and I present myself as a protester. I aim to break down the barriers that traditional journalists face while documenting political action. This allows me to show the police when they feel vulnerable, examined or confronted. By photographing “cops, not comrades,” I turn the eye of surveillance back on the state.
JONAS GEORG SJOGREN
“An enchanting winter landscape awash with muted tones and simple shades. It’s fascinating how a minimal use of color can create such an impactful scene of nostalgia and wonder. This is an aesthetically pleasing photograph on many levels, one that comfortably sits on the line between commercial, documentary and fine art.” – LIFE FRAMER
LISA TOFFOLO
“The idea of a uniform doesn’t usually portray a sense of vibrancy and individual expression – however this unconventional style of group portrait appears to challenge that. The four dominant colors – orange, red, green and yellow – appear here as rich colorway, a myriad of meaning from celebration to significance, play to purpose. A joyful yet poignant photograph.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I was a volunteer Teacher with Education Beyond Borders. Our goal was to facilitate professional development for our overseas teacher colleagues. This photograph captures our student leadership collaboration in full effect, and in all it’s colourful glory. Arusha, Tanzania.
JOSH HYDEMAN
“There is a genuine sense of admiration and curiosity at play within this image as the photographer takes their time to capture this sublime scene, ensuring to capture the flowing, azure waters and low, warm sunlight as it illuminates the tunnel. Easily at home between the pages of a National Geographic issue, this is a highly influential image for anyone looking for their next adventure, or seeking a natural wonder to explore and understand. A scene where our natural world glows with otherwordly color.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Tunnel Vision is a photograph taken in a sandstone slot canyon in Zion National Park that is known for its tube-like formation. With the late Autumn light, deep blue pools and reflected glow the scene becomes surreal.
DAVID SZERLIP
“This is an uncomplicated image of tone and shape, and that is exactly what makes it so appealing. The viewer’s eye effortlessly consumes the entire photograph, following from the dark landscape below, up the tree silhouettes, and over soft gradients as the sky darkens again before resting on the clear, sharp moon crescent. A timeless scene that effectively transports the viewer into this desert scene with its minimalistic, less-is-more approach.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Palm Desert Sunset, California, USA.
TAL BRUSHEL
“Capturing the muted, low-light tones of dusk or dawn behind their silhouetted subject, we’re presented with an ambiguous and yet arresting scene – one we’re perhaps asked to feel more so than understand.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I love to see and feel the color through the nature, in the simple way of it and with the combination with design, naturally as possible.
ENZA DI LECCE
“There’s a relaxed sense of casual familiarity within this image – amongst the group of women but also between the group and the person behind the camera – as if the viewer has stumbled across the photographer’s own family album. Each person wears their patterns and colors with ease and joy, simultaneously expressing individual identity as well as a nod to their wider culture and the phenomenon of tourism and globalization. The photographer has seen a tapestry of seasons within and upon these women, and proudly captures it.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Women are the true canvas for all seasons.
GRAEME FORDHAM
“A wall of color pulls us into the scene, creating an animated backdrop of energy and drama, lighting up the rainy night sky. As the darkly lit figures, partially illuminated by the fireworks, gather to observe this explosive scene of celebration, they add both layers of perspective and significance. An inviting image of a subject which, will always awe-inspiring in the moment, is deceptively difficult to document in a photograph.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Rain drenched colours. Celebrating a landmark anniversary at a country estate in France, guests brave the weather to enjoy the colourful spectacle of rain drenched colours rising up through the misty smoke clouds.
NICOLAS CASTERMANS
“Everything about this image – the soft shadowing of the peaks, pale blue sky gradient and cream-like snow – encourages the viewer to want to reach out and touch it. This adventure above the clouds reveals a dreamscape where the limits of possibility are challenged and sometimes fractured. A majestic skyscape.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Winter Wonderland, Tatra Mountains, Poland.
CHRISTA FERRY
“It’s not just the analog aspect of this photograph that gives it a nostalgic quality – from tone to outfits and hairstyles, even the architecture sets a scene that could very easily have been taken in the 1970s. There’s a wonderful, relaxed sense of presentness with these two subjects, as they observe the world in front of them. A lovely warm image of time passing and people watching, from more than one perspective.” – LIFE FRAMER
LUKASZ KARWACKI
“When there is little light, we humans are unable to distinguish colors, and so for the viewer the elements of this image take time to form – an oil streaked side street eventually becomes apparent. Only a photographer with an avid sense of patterns and detail would have patience to observe this minute scene, looking back at us like an alien eye. It would very easily be overlooked by any other passerby – possibly a reflection of our ever-busy society.” – LIFE FRAMER
JOËLLE DE VRIES
“Symbology is the focus of this striking scene, layered with meaning and messages from both a social and political perspective. The concept that only the individual can control their own freedom purely through a state of mind, dismantles the perception of an enforced oppression from a cultural, governmental or religious aspect. The saturated field of flowers are almost too bright to contemplate, whereas the solitary cloaked figure draws the eye right into a blackness. A stimulating image from a visual and figurative context.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Freedom is a state of mind.
JOHN BULLOCK
“A street photographer in particular is always alert to their environment, scanning for a novel or detailed scene they can record in their own way, and this is a perfect example of that behavior. This scene may have been a self-portrait or one of an unassuming bystander, either way the photographer has taken time to frame the shot with their own style and context. An image that delightfully conjures up scenes from some classic detective novel, using silhouttes and expansive negative space to create intrigue an unknowningness.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Taken on lunch break at the library close to my workplace.
JUHA WIKSTRÖM
“The term ‘isolation’ has taken on an even deeper layer of meaning due to its significance throughout the pandemic, evoking a sense of missing out, a loss of connection and even identity for some. A beautiful spectrum of warm light welcomes the viewer into this scene, and they’re left to ponder what these subjects could be observing, or on what they could possibly be missing out. This is a beautiful but subdued document of a recent reality that will generate a lot of mixed emotions for its audience.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Isolation, Oulu, Finland.
