1ST PRIZE: TURGAY UZER

A really wonderful composition that utilizes every inch of the frame. The light and texture of the animals’ fur blends perfectly with the mountainous landscape, which had a great transition from warm, to shadowed to cooler tones all the way in the background, adding depth and a sense of wonder to the scene. Although every element in the image is exotic in content and scale, the image remains grounded and it evokes an almost contemplative mood. – PETROS KOUBLIS

This is the Animal Kingdom at its best: wild animals in their environment, resilient, adaptable, and ultimately happy. The shot is impressive both in the choice of subject matter and the composition. It has depth, perspective, and a strong focal point. At the same time, it has a sort of sweetness that comes only from a photographer’s love for the subject. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Geladas on the “Roof of Africa”. An iconic animal of Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains: The gelada monkey (theropithecus gelada), also known as the Bleeding Heart Monkey. To protect themselves from predators, they spend the night on tiny ledges on the impossibly steep cliffs of these canyons and climb back on the plateau at daybreak to graze. Which they do with grim determination all day because this grass is not nutritious. This view was captured in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains National Park.

2ND PRIZE: MARTIN JOYAL

A surprising composition, where every element is harmonious but there is a strong feeling of a narrative taking place. The way the fox is looking at the camera while moving carefully inside the landscape, which feels both enclosed and symmetrical, creates an interesting connection with the viewer. The scene is immersive with a sense of mystery while it maintains its clarity and a natural, almost organic simplicity. – PETROS KOUBLIS

This image seems taken from a fairytale. The vegetation’s texture hides the fox perfectly, giving it that shy, slick, sneaking attitude we often associate with its species. This only enhances the story and makes us curious to know more. Furthermore, the framing is simple and efficient, cutting out unnecessary elements and keeping everything in harmony. – LIFE FRAMER

ROY EGLOFF

One simply can’t look away from the amazing red eye of this bird. Such an impressive subject deserves a minimalist composition with no distractions, which is exactly what the photographer did. A simple black background is all it takes to make every detail stand out. A photographer who knows how to tone down a composition and adapt it to the subject’s features is to be appreciated. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Victoria crowned pigeon at Servion Zoo, Switzerland.

FELIX HUG

Something is mesmerizing about this shot. The waves and the rows of ducks are in sync and produce a fluid effect. Even though the composition is simple and direct, with few tones and large empty spaces, the elements are revealed slowly and lead the viewer’s gaze throughout the frame. There is also something intriguing, almost contradictory, somewhat gently amusing that makes the viewer want to know more. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Ducks on a volcanic beach in Indonesia.

ANDREAS BAUER

Photographing animals is part of documenting a place, just like photographing people is. This candid shot features all the elements of a successful picture: an impactful subject and a telling environment. The simple composition, with tonal colors and well-used spaces, touches the viewer’s heart and invites them to focus on details. Almost immediately, one spots the location cue, then the general atmosphere of the place, the foreign influence, and the sweetness of the inhabitants. It’s a story within a story, layer after layer of meaning. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Cuba.

RENA SCHILD

Capturing such a graceful moment of flight so accurately shows exquisite technical skills and attention to detail. The composition is constructed around the subject even though the subject is moving at the moment of shooting, which shows patience, skill and great respect for the subject. At the same time, nothing is missing or left to chance. A meticulous and extremely beautiful shot. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Aerial Ballet. Two common terns fly high above the beach.

BRICE WEAVER

What a unique underwater shot! Dynamic, dramatic, relevant, and artistic, this photograph takes your breath away. It underlines the intricacy of nature, the balance of forces, and the ecosystem we are all dependent on. It’s very difficult to manage lighting and composition underwater, which is one more reason to praise the photographer. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Great White. I spent an entire week with Nautilus liveaboards down at Guadalupe Island diving with this spectacular animal.

THOMAS RETTERATH

The animal world provides stunning subjects that look great in the simplest compositions. But it takes an artist’s eye to recognize the opportunity and catch the decisive moment. The cloud of dust and the trail it leaves behind, as well as the horizon, are the only leading lines this scene needs. Put together the blue sky and the green grass, a standard rule of thirds composition, and a magnificent subject, and you get a memorable photograph one can’t take their eyes off. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The duster. Elephant on the banks of the Chobe, Botswana.

KATHARINA BERTAGGIA

An iconic view of mountain goats, this photograph makes excellent use of light and shadows. The layers of mountains add depth, and the bright background enhances the goats’ silhouettes. It’s a picturesque view that stays with you for a long time, making you love the mountains and their inhabitants even more. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Switzerland.

WILLIAM GOODWIN

It’s an honor to witness the tiniest miracles of our planet and the delicacy and dedication of the photographer who shows them to us. This little guy in an amazing underwater environment is nothing less than majestic and graceful. The composition flows smoothly, balances the main subject and the background, and produces a beautiful color effect. It’s a photograph one can look at again and again without losing interest. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Queen of the Sponge – this diminutive Peppermint shrimp holds court in the shadowy depths of a vase sponge at 85 feet deep off the Caribbean island of Bonaire. Light comes from a bright video torch shining through the thin wall of the sponge.

EMERIC DALLOU

The Animal Kingdom has its rules. A wildlife shot full of strength and movement, the image serves both a documentary and artistic purpose. It’s engaging and straightforward but leaves something for the imagination. Like an action movie, it makes the viewer take sides and hold their breath until the end. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Dominance. Taken in Kenya, a male lion returned from his patrol of the territory, and had an altercation with this lioness to have priority on the carcass of the buffalo they’d killed in the night.

THOMAS DELIBERTO

Oh, how photography loves a show-off! Animals are photogenic by nature and capable of the most elegant and presentable poses. However, the subject doesn’t do all the work here. The photographer composed the scene around its best features, leaving space for its majestic gaze, making the crown stand out on the black background, and creating a powerful focal point from its blue eye. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Elegance! This gray crowned-crane walked out of the shadows of the surrounding trees at the Denver Zoo, and into the spotlight of the sun. Its beautiful golden crown, red and white cheek patch, and deep blue eyes stunningly contrasted by the dark background, as well as its shaded silvery grey and white plumage, and dark red wattle.

SAMUEL BLAND

Although we prefer to look at the Animal Kingdom from an aesthetic perspective and emphasize its beauty, we must document its challenges too. This photograph represents the brutal reality of many animals forced to look for food and survive in our tremendous industrial landscape. The angle and proportions are very well chosen, adding a sense of depth and putting into perspective the endless human developments that threaten to overwhelm this solitary subject. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From my British landscape project Farewell Promethia. A subjective, poetic representation of the feelings and preoccupations of our time – of climate anxiety, of alienation from the natural world and from each other, a sense that the paradigm we’ve been living in is coming to an end.

KAROLIINA KASE

By keeping the composition so minimal, the photographer emphasizes the emptiness, the nothingness that appears due to intensive farming. High temperatures and hot winds become visible in this shot, and the viewer can feel their power. It’s an impactful photograph that raises awareness of the harmful human activities that destroy the environment, push wild species to extinction, and sacrifice the well-being of farmed animals. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Sheep in the midst of heavy winds

European farming techniques continue to significantly damage native ecosystems. Livestock grazing takes up 54% of Australian land. Compared to native animals, introduced farm animals overgraze and damage native vegetation with their heavier bodies and big hoofs. Sheep consume ten times more water and produce significantly more methane compared to kangaroos, for example. Furthermore, many farmers overstock their land, leading to long term or even irreversible loss of vegetation. Intensive pastoral farming has led to loss and pollution of natural water sources, erosion, species extinction, and desertification.

The sheep in the image were kept in a paddock where all vegetation had been lost. The image was taken on a day when temperatures soared past 40 degrees Celsius and heavy, hot winds were blowing. Like most sheep in Australia, these animals had no shade in their paddock.

LIZELLE LOTTER

It takes a while to spot the subject of this photograph, but only because cats are masters of disguise. The lack of conventionality in this photograph denotes a unique artistic voice. An unusual angle, a soft color contrast, silhouettes, a vantage point, humour, and a sort of abstractness create a rich, well-balanced mix that fascinates the viewer. – LIFE FRAMER

JO SAX

If you want to understand the world, be part of it. The photograph, though reminiscent of a still-life painting, reads like a candid shot taken with extreme attention to detail. In this instance, the butterflies are friends rather than just models, and the photographer dedicated more time to interacting with them than merely capturing an image. It’s in these acts of kindness and immersion that we get to see the expressive potential of photography. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Chrysalis. Caterpillars arrived to me in the post , I fed them on nettles until they turned into chrysalis and hatched .I then released them to their own nettle filed to start the cycle again.

FRANCK JACQUARD

Peacock courting is a true performance, but it takes a good eye for photography to create such an artistic image and strong storytelling ability to make it more than a beautiful image. The black and white aesthetic flatters the white peacocks, and by filling the frame with the astonishing tail of the male, the photographer gives its lacy beauty justice. At the same time, the photograph captures the conversation between the two, their dance of love. Beautifully done. – LIFE FRAMER

GEORGE BROOKS

This is poetry in motion, a photograph transformed into a painting, a view of the grandness of the animal world recorded from a humble position. The photographer takes a step back and lets nature do its magic. The shapes, textures and movements of nature speak for themselves. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Starling murmurations.

JOZEF MACAK

The urban landscape was built for humans without any consideration for other animals, but they have adapted and stayed. This powerful image underlines their resilience and the joy they bring to our lives. The photographer captured emotions and warm feelings even in this bleak landscape, which says a lot about their involvement and connection with the subject. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The new supervisor from the series Urban Jungle Citizens. Amid the structured chaos of the city, animals carve out their own narratives, seamlessly adapting to an environment built for humans. My series explores the unspoken relationship between urban spaces and the creatures that inhabit them-not as outsiders, but as parts of the landscape.

MARIA YUDINA

A surreal image in which reflections and transparency take the scene, this photograph showing how composition can make a subject stand out and tell an interesting story. It also blends in the below and above, supporting the philosophical idea that we are all one. Infused with love for nature, the photograph is testimony to the photographer’s engagement with the colorful subjects. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Pond with golden fish in Tokyo . We had a nice family trip with my kids during spring break and enjoyed the beauty of Japan. I love this picture as it represents a passing moment of peace and dreams.