1ST PRIZE: NICOLE LAND

This to me is the clear winner. The image is striking, not just in its content but it’s graphic composition and lighting, which combined with its subtle colour palette make for a beautiful image. – CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES

A photograph of poetic beauty, timed to perfection and depicting elements of natural beauty in unimaginable ways. The birds are in an impressive mating pose, their shocking white plumage standing in contrast against the dark, rich green foliage, as the little blue eggs that add an electric element to the scene. An image full of noble and lyrical qualities, perfectly captured. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Tall Tales. If I hadn’t captured this image I would never believe there could be such beauty in the world.

2ND PRIZE: MAGALI CHESNEL

This beautiful image of flamingos looks more like a painting than a photograph. The colours work in true harmony together and the structure of the birds flying sits perfectly within the vertical frame. – CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES

An arresting image, drawing the viewer in to examine its unique little subjects, as their gathering begins to take form and shape. The accompanying text gives fascinating insight into how intertwined these birds are with their environment, describing a type of symbiotic relationship between lagoon and flamingo. An aesthetically pleasing image, that would no doubt be enjoyed as a large print in a gallery or scene from a natural world documentary. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Pink on Pink. Greater Flamingos are taking off from a wild lagoon of the St Martin island, based in Southern France. Being normally a migratory bird, it happens that a certain population of Greater Flamingos decides to stay, as it has been the case for those living in Camargue, one of Europe’s largest wetlands, hosting to a vegetation variety, but also a natural wildlife paradise, listed at UNESCO World Heritage site. They have been breeding there naturally for centuries (back to the Roman times) and according to experts, the Greater Flamingos might be one of the few survivors that will continue to live or to come to this natural reserve, despite the heavy erosion and rising sea levels, due to climate change.

The color of the Greater Flamingos varies according to seasons. Almost white in summer, their plumage becomes flamboyant, with a very pink color during winter time.This is indeed during this season that they courtship displays, to attract their future partner.
Their bright pink color comes from beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment that’s found in high amounts within the algae, brine fly larvae, and brine shrimp that they eat in this wetland environment. As this diet is nearly exclusively carotenoid, the birds have no problem coloring themselves. This pink color of the water is due to the dunaliella salina, an algae rich in beta-carotene which takes all its intensity from above and especially during the summer time.

Thanks to the natural beauty of this French colorful area, which never ceases to amaze my pupils and together, with my aerial shot, I like creating a confusion between reality and illusion, photography and painting, based on Rothko’s principles: insisting on the primacy of raw emotion, to push the boundaries of form and color, to make photos appear as “painting-like” as possible.

GEORGE KAVANAGH

There are many shared qualities between these subjects – from softness to strength, to tone and texture – as they stand side by side within the frame. The horse appears calm and focused as the woman looks on in awe of her equine companion. A perfect fit image for a high-end commercial campaign, that describes the unique bond between human and horse. – LIFE FRAMER

SAMUEL SIEDER

The photographer provides an enjoyable scene for the viewer to study – allowing both halves of this image to simultaneously compliment and contrast. The top half full of many birds before take-off and theatrically mid-flight against a low sun sky, and the bottom half appearing a little less exotic, where the dwellings of the pigeons pose a different scene, one in opposition to the freedom of the sky above. A beautiful birds-eye view of an iconic city. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Pigeon Tower in Cairo.

KAREN FITZSIMMONS

A truly striking scene welcomes the viewer, where a full expression of movement is frozen at the perfect moment in order to allow the viewer to study each element, from claw to feather, in their own time. The photographer captures the owl a split second before it perches on the wooden post, or captures its prey, ensuring a full display of its spectacular physicality. The dramatic scene is enhanced by the black, night background. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Tawny owl.

HOWARD RANKIN

Composed with the beautiful symmetry of nature at play from sky to land, tree to animals. The Giraffes’ necks cross over creating an exceptional pose in the shade of the solo Savannah tree, giving this double portrait its unique twist. The photographer’s use of the surrounding, bare landscape allows the viewer to observe this rare moment in its elegant and organic form. The photograph seems to be created with real care and consideration for the natural environment. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Umbrella (Masai Mara, Kenya).

STELIOS PETRIS

An exceptional image caught from a unique and engaging perspective, as if the insect is looking in to observe the photographer rather than the other way around. The image allows the Praying Mantis to take on a larger than life presence within the frame, with its looming shadow and intense stare. A brilliantly timed and truly idiosyncratic photograph captured by someone with plenty of patience and skill. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Praying Mantis on the leaf of yellow flower.

KATICHE VAN DER KNOOP

Detail weaves its way through every aspect of this portrait as the patterns that comprise the monkey’s coat compliment and contrast. The blackness of the background allows the little white flecks to stand out, while the clarity of the image almost invites the viewer to reach out and touch the subject. A quietly powerful portrait that would look stunning on a gallery wall. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Killing time (Helsloot, Boy Wolf).

LESLIE MEYERS

The image cuts a striking scene, one composed with vibrancy, creativity and humor. The layers of pattern reach effortlessly from foreground to back – the front page and angle of the newspaper mirroring the backdrop of the red, peaked building, while the accents on the news headlines appearing as if mocking the furrowed brows of the faceless reader. A truly engaging scene, where the connection between human and animal seems comfortable and understood. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Symbiotic 1, Athens, Greece.

NOA NICK

The viewer would be forgiven for thinking the photograph is a painting, as the portrait appears to have the details and dedication of an image created carefully over a long period of time. The adoration for this dog is clear in such a considered portrait, the rich dark color palette elevated by the subtle textures and tones, and giving the image an overall feeling of opulence. – LIFE FRAMER

ALEX DOUBLE

The view from below gives this magical moment its edge, allowing the scene to almost move in a slow methodical movement for the viewer to get lost in. The sealions seem to burst from the shadowy waters with the light pulling them to exactly where they need to be. What a privilege for this photographer to witness such a wondrous scene from the natural world, and then to capture it so elegantly. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Three sealions returning to their cave in the evening sun.

JAUME LLORENS

A scene that first appears like an ink illustration or vintage piece of wallpaper, bringing with it a serene sense of stillness. The photographer’s patience and attention to detail is key to this beautifully considered visual piece, one that subtly celebrates its bird subject and that would appease any viewer’s gaze with its monochromatic style and organic pattern. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Bird.

CHARLOTTE KEAST

Immense and impressive, this scene is layered with dominant elements, from the elephants to the threatening skies. The photographer takes an angle, possibly one of safety for themselves, but one which also depicts our own insignificance when in the presence of such powerful animals or facing an extreme weather event. Regardless of our vulnerabilities, the image is also a reminder that as custodians of this planet we also have a duty of care for the natural world, and all its constituents. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Tall Squalls. An African Elephant heads away from the eye of the storm in Maasai Mara, Kenya.

SABRINA REITER

An arresting scene greets the viewer, full of rawness and power – the horse’s muscular physique and smooth cream coat cutting a striking figure against the jagged black rocks. The horse on its hind legs, appears to be aware of its own magnificent presence, playing up to the camera with this both playful and threatening pose. An image full of beauty, awe and energy from the subject to the surrounding landscape. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Lusitano Dital in a special location – a black quarry.

PATRICK STRAUB

The photographer has honed in on these little stories and scenes from their Kenyan adventures, producing a unique insight into these wonderful interactions and relationships between certain species. They sum up these moments aptly by mentioning the symmetry and symbiotic aspects of the connections in their informative caption. An enjoyable image, full of authenticity and humour. More from this series of scenes would be truly enjoyable. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From a recent Kenyan Safari excursion, I found the hungry, thirsty, and tired, as well as the symbiotic and oddly symmetrical in nature. Here a quintet of oxpeckers look up in unison amid their daily grooming of a giraffe.

JACK KENYON

An intense and colourful scene awaits the viewer’s gaze, welcoming amusing assumptions on both the life of this cat and its owner. The image, vibrant and joyful, almost appears like a collage with many different scenes at play all at once. There is a true sense of celebration throughout the photograph, as the passions of the person – or people – behind this adored cat and its royal companions take centre stage. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From the series Cat Worship.

FLEUR SCHOLTE

In this enchanting image, the dog exudes an aura of quiet reverence, its posture poised with a sense of grace and dignity. Its fur, suffused with the warm glow of sunlight, has a subtle radiance that seems to illuminate the very essence of the moment. Against the backdrop of hallowed silence, the presence of the canine figure infuses the scene with a profound sense of companionship and solace. A regal and intriguing image. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Sacred Light. Saluki gazing through the window of an old Dutch church.

CAROLIN GIESE

This horse seems to wear a haunting gaze, locking eyes with the viewer and allowing them to observe the icy blueness of their irises, the highly contrasting colors of their coat and the unusual form of their equine features. There is however a calmness to the scene that seems to go beyond the animal and bring a personable, human-like quality to the subject. A striking portrait. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Black & White.

TIJMEN BERENS

A powerful image depicting the fragility of wildlife at the hands of humans. The gloved hand occupies most of the scene, symbolic of the power humans can have over animals, to hurt or heal them at our will. The focus hones in on the little vulnerable bird, at the mercy of this aid. The photographer has brought to light a fascinating issue of human ethics and documented with an apt visual perspective. More from the wider series would be an intriguing and important body of work to observe. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From the series Collisions Between Animals and Humans, exploring a complex relationship between wild animals and humans. The project is focusing primarily on instances where animals have been injured as a result of human ignorance.

While the question of whether humans should intervene with wild animals remains a debated topic, this series presents the sobering reality that our actions may be the cause of animals’ injuries. Viewers are taken on a journey through the unfamiliar world of injured wild animals, where they witness the efforts of dedicated professionals to rehabilitate and reintegrate them back into their natural habitats. Through this series, we gain a better understanding of the importance of respecting and preserving the fragile balance between humans and the natural world.

VANESSA CHOISY-THUILLIER

A strikingly stunning structure greets the viewer’s gaze. The flamingo is posed perfectly as the lighting falls across its feathered physique to allow full appreciation of its unique coloring and signature stance – as the caption indicates. The photographer has timed the scene perfectly, singling out this one bird balancing in the dark waters to highlight its classic qualities and identity within the Animal Kingdom. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Treble Clef.