EDITORS’ PICK
Raw Emotions
BLACK & WHITE
BLACK & WHITE EDITORS’ PICK
Following Hengki Koentjoro’s selection of winning images for our recent Black & White 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: PETER FRANCK
This house seems derelict and broken but somehow reformed and still standing. Like a fragmented memory. The photograph is well-constructed, the subject is interesting, and the composition guides the viewer from edge to edge. But what’s impressive is the level at which one wants to know more, to look around the corners, to explore the interior, to understand the process. It has an almost three-dimensionality. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – From Wood We Build Lumber, From Lumber We Make Paper, From Paper Comes a Book, From Book Emerges a Story…
In this collection of images, I present ten works from ma ongoing series ,,Lost” I work simultaneously on large bodies of work, each of them subjected to a process of deconstruction. They defy conventional photography, expanding the boundaries of the medium to embrace the act of destruction and reconfiguration. These pieces capture the tension between creation and disintegration, occupying a space where painting, graphic design, and photography collide–an analog-digital playground (with no use of AI). In this space, anything is possible. The usual rules, the arbitrary laws that bind us, are not just ignored–they are deliberately broken.
Yet despite the apparent chaos, the works unfold slowly, step by step, with a quiet deliberation. What we see here is not the finished product, not an endpoint, but a snapshot of an ongoing process. It is an interim state, a moment in between, a reflection of something still in the act of becoming. The images stand as both a beginning and an end–simultaneously. In their fractured state, they both construct and deconstruct, capturing the fragile equilibrium between what is and what could be.
JAMES CONWAY
This complex and artful composition fits perfectly the black-and-white aesthetic. The overlapping of layers creates a dynamic scene that keeps the viewer engaged whilst adding depth to the image. There is stillness, and there is movement. There is human presence, and there is nature. There is so much going on that one can’t stop wandering from edge to edge, almost hearing the waves and the birds, losing themselves in the solitude of the central subject. – LIFE FRAMER
ALEXANDER KUCHERIAVIY
The photographer masterfully uses contrast and reflection to connect human existence with the environment. The level of detail is astonishing for an image reduced to a minimum range of grey shades. Using just shapes and symmetry the photographer transforms a simple scene into a movie still. The image makes you wonder about the story of the main character and the surrounding buildings. – LIFE FRAMER
PABLO MCLOUD
What a beautiful perspective of nature! The photograph manages to transform the simplest and easiest-to-find subject into a glittering work of art, proving once again that the beauty of nature is all around us. We just have to be loving enough, brave enough, and silent enough to see it. Even though the photograph denotes an impeccable technique, what strikes me is feeling the photographer’s presence in each pixel. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Frozen Intersections – Icicle labyrinth at 14,000 on summit of Maunakea volcano in Hawaii.
VALENTINA STALTARI
An interesting perspective of a unique gathering, the image denotes the photographer’s artistry and storytelling abilities. The viewer is immersed in the crowd, feeling its energy and perilous force, being dragged, pushed, and pulled like everyone else. The image is almost fluid, with faces appearing here and there from a sea of shadows and highlights. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The religious fest of Sant’Agata in Sicily is one of the most heartfelt events for the faithful who dress in white and walk on the lava stone’s streets of the city. The photography is taken from a roof and show the continuous movement of faithful during the night. This procession becomes dangerous at times because of the wax from the candles that people carry. People support each other while pulling the ropes tied to the statue of the saint.
SANDRA RISI
The photographer proves that monochrome images have their place in all photographic genres. For this wildlife shot, in particular, the lack of color emphasizes the animals’ silhouettes, enriches the sky, and leads to a beautiful contrast. It improves the composition, but more importantly, catches the viewer’s attention and makes them aware of the challenges this endangered species faces. An absolutely wonderful, beautifully executed image. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Guardians of the Wild. Four majestic rhinos charge across the open plain, their powerful strides echoing a blend of raw strength and quiet vulnerability, a poignant reminder of the gentle resilience of these endangered giants.
STEVE EVANS
Pure documentary, this is a raw image stripped of any distraction. The photographer invites the viewer to focus on lifestyle and cultural details, to enter the world of the characters, and to take in the mood and atmosphere. Although a posed portrait, the picture denotes the photographer’s strong storytelling skills and deep engagement with the subject. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – From a series I did on the people who live in Canada’s Ottawa Valley. I grew up in the Ottawa Valley and spent a great deal of my life travelling and listening to the stories these people told.
HENGKI LEE
A psychedelic image of a running silhouette, the photograph has a minimalist composition and a reduced range of grey tones but conveys a strong feeling. The photographer artfully enhances the focal point through symmetry and allows the viewer to engage with the image more reflectively and personally. Instead of telling the viewer what to see, the photographer lets the viewer feel and take in the message through their own emotional filters. – LIFE FRAMER
GABRIEL MARCOS
This unusual portrait captures a moment of presence on both ends of the camera. The model’s candid pose facing the light, undisturbed by the camera, is a testament to being instead of acting. At the other end of the camera, the photographer, too, is in the moment, undisturbed by thoughts and actions. They both are, and one can’t be anything else than amazed about how a photograph can capture so much of a split second. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Portrait of my father (2024). As an accomplished artist and professor, my father often finds himself lost in contemplation of being and nothingness.
ALENA NIKOLAEVA
Black and white photography is often chosen for fine art projects that focus on metaphorical concepts because it conveys the raw message like no other medium. The photographer uses this back-to-the-essential approach to bring emotions and dreams into focus and does it with subtlety and kindness. One can see the reflection of the photographer in this photograph and its unrealistic poses and well-studied lighting. And this is the main goal of conceptual photography, to bring the photographer and viewer together. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Right Where It Belongs is a surreal photo project that explores the unexpected landscapes of dreams through the lens of young girls, who symbolize my personal reflections and subconscious experiences. These girls inhabit whimsical and mysterious settings that defy logic yet feel oddly familiar, echoing the fluid nature of dreams. The mix of analog and digital formats reflects our memories and dreams that sometimes are more clear and sometimes less so it`s hard to understand what was real and what`s no. Each image invites viewers to step into a dreamlike world, where reality blurs and emotions take center stage.
FRANCESCA CLAYTON
What is beauty? What does it mean to be whole? This beautiful portrait shows nothing but candour and grace, even in the absence of color. The photographer, deeply engaged with the model, pierces through the social standards and reaches for the soul, our true and only beauty. Once again, photography teaches us a lesson about ourselves above all. If you look at this photo and can only see a missing leg, look again. This time, inside. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Since the beginning of 2022, I’ve been working on a photographic exhibition called DIFFERENT IS BEAUTIFUL 2.0, focusing on a subject close to my heart: disability.
Why do you ask? When I was a teenager, walking with a friend suffering from cerebral palsy, I experienced with anger those “looks that need changing”. Her unbalanced gait aroused curiosity. Heads turned towards her, stares pursued us. Weighed down, insistent, but she insisted on making me understand that this behavior was “normal”. Above all, she made me understand that if these glances bothered me so much, it was perhaps because I myself had difficulty accepting her disability. That day, my friend taught me a real lesson, which matured and gave birth to this project.
At the heart of the project, the intention is to bring society face to face with disability through a traveling exhibition of 100 black and white photos, each of the models of which is the bearer of a disability, be it visible, invisible, motor… The aim of the exhibition is to encourage us all to question our own view of differences, as well as that of society as a whole. Differences that will be laid bare and exhibited without taboos in the street, in public places, for all to see.
BENJAMIN REY
The composition juxtaposes clarity and blurriness, moving and standing silhouettes, and shadows and highlights in a complex and metaphorical mix. It is the photographer’s intention to show us how much of the story we think is real is, in fact, a production of our mind, a blend of memories and dreams. It speaks to this timeless topic, but also the zeitgeist: surveillance, anonymity and loneliness in our urban environments. Fine art photography is not the easiest medium for metaphorical concepts, but the photographer here uses it elegantly to explore universal ideas. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Echoes of my Mind illustrates the warped reality born when ones dreams and memories blend with the images their eyes capture. Past and Present colliding create ones own reality that is for them only to be perceived.
PIOTR SKUBISZ
How beautifully the contour of the model unravels on the grey background. And what a powerful leading line it creates! The photographer masters the art of composition and places each visual element exactly where it needs to be. A portrait of a poet indeed. Smooth curves, low contrast, and a bit of texture are all that’s needed to put together an artistic portrait that tells the story of a subject and will look great as a large print. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Portrait of a poet. Marble.
JEREMIE DRAINVILLE
This photograph is a beautiful example of high-key photography. The bright background is mesmerizing but doesn’t distract the viewer from the main focal point. On the contrary, the person’s face, the darkest shade of grey in this image, stands proudly above all. Even though the composition is simple and almost minimalist, one can’t stop wandering around the frame, catching a glimpse or two of fantastic details. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – This image was taken in the winter for my Monochrome personal project. I lived in a community where people love to create costumes and fantasy characters.
MIRANDA DEKEMPENEER
A standard pose, a simple black background, no colors, and still a touching portrait. That’s because emotions transpire through the frame, and one can feel both the model’s and the photographer’s hearts beating. The slight ambiguity of facial expression will lead the viewer to overlay their own emotional state onto the scene. Even with a static pose, the portrait vibrates thanks to a wise choice of lighting that naturally places highlights and shadows on the model’s face. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Emotions.
MICHELE DALLA FONTANA
The photographer chose an unusual camera angle to make the subject stand out without leaving the environment out. Earth, tree, and sky coexist peacefully and invite the viewer to rekindle their relationship with nature. One can almost see the clouds passing by, feel the wind, and hear the movements of the grass. It’s a moment of reverie beautifully captured in black and white. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Soito, Coimbra, Portugal.
ISABEL PINTO
Extremely technical, this photograph denotes both storytelling and compositional skills. The light is perfect, the water droplets crystal clear, and the characters are naturally framed. The strong contrast creates a cinematic effect, clearly intended, but also adds depth and movement to the scene. Although it captures a mundane scene, the photograph has something serene and magical. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – These images are from the set photography I did for the film my brother Joao Nuno Pinto was directing. The film will be launched in 2025, and in the process changed the name to 18 Holes to Paradise. Shot in different locations in Portugal, and not being easy to shoot behind the camera, as most times, the spaces are really small , priority being the film crew, B/W was the option to level all the different lighing and location in one coherent language, that could translate the emotional intensity of the story.
RICHARD SCHABETSBERGER
The photograph shows how an extraordinary subject can turn a mundane background into something artful. The acrobat takes a surreal pose, creating a curved line in an otherwise square space, a contrast the photographer does not miss. By leaving out color, the photographer emphasizes geometry and textures, hides distracting details, and clears the scene for a wonderful performance. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Doorframe Acrobat. An acrobat balances on a hotel room door, turning the ordinary into something extraordinary. Salzburg, Austria.
JOEL HERNANDEZ
The photographer chose to frame only legs and the pavement to illustrate street artists dancing tango, and it is a good choice because the photograph is nothing but rhythm and passion. The texture and shadows on the pavement add dynamism; one can feel them vibrating to the rhythm of the music. The dancers, undisturbed by the rest of the world, create a nostalgic atmosphere within and outside the frame. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – A Tango in Buenos Aires. An unforgettable moment of life on the streets.
JULIEN LINDNER
This peaceful aerial view puts things in perspective. From down here, our world seems noisy, crowded, and busy. From out there, it seems calm, silent, and serene. The photograph conveys a universal spirituality that shows how nature and humankind can coexist harmoniously and work together to create beautiful things. – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Baltic Sea. I always loved black and white photography. To see and think in monochrome helps me to reduce my photos to a kind of minimalism and quiet atmosphere.
