1ST PRIZE: ABHISHEK MASURKAR

“This is an image of a rare and unique event to witness, let alone photograph. Being able to capture the event from this dramatic perspective creates an almost surreal photograph. At first glance I almost couldn’t believe it was real – the fire is luminous, and the color envelopes you as it does the subject. The moment is captured perfectly, with the subject’s gesture in mid-flight jumping across the flames. All of this combine to create a very powerful photograph.” – STEPHEN WILKES

“The viewer is immediately on alert as they take in the intense inferno before them – it is almost inconceivable to witness a person at the heart of the perilous scene. Heat radiates from the photograph through the vigorous flames of red, orange and yellow. The birds-eye perspective gives a unique view into the heart of this significant, religious ritual. It’s a wild image of faith, courage and natural force.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Flame of Faith. Holi, one of the most auspicious festival which is celebrated in different ways and beliefs in different parts of India. One such comes from a small community from North India where there is a tradition that a person from a particular family takes the ultimate call to cross a grand fire Holi, whose height is about 14 feet and is 30 feet in diameter. It is a believed that the devotion showed by that family results in the person who adventures through it remains unharmed even in the deadly fire.

2ND PRIZE: BETINA SAMAIA

“This photograph captures a stunning, serene landscape with a dramatic touch of color. There’s the glass like quality of the water, the brilliance of the blue and the simplicity of a lone figure standing on a fallen tree… his shorts matching the yellow color of the fall leaves on the tree, his gesture and expression relating to the scene he’s experiencing. The photographer makes excellent use of infrared film here to create the dramatic contrast in the blue and yellow.” – STEPHEN WILKES

“Albeit a heavenly vista, this waterscape brings a sense of trepidation and foreboding – as the solitary figure, dwarfed by their unstable environment, gazes out to the darkening horizon. The photographer has carefully considered the composition, spacing and coloring of the image to hold the viewer’s gaze and ensure their poignant message is not overlooked amidst the beauty of the scene. An enchanting photograph, accompanied by an equally captivating caption.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Amazon – The Green’s End. At the start of the millennium, I began immersion periods in the woods. Amid the density of the vast forest, my eyes turned to the devastated fields, to the scattered islands, to the solitude of the trees. For my own version of Amazon solitude. How lonely some trees in the Amazon are. They seem endowed with that extreme awareness and stillness common only to those who survive a great destruction. With the lonely stilt, the abandoned dog on the shore, the rower, the waterfall, the boat, they make up inner landscapes.

With the infrared filter, I attempt to capture the shades of this reality, imperceptible to human eyes. A reality beyond the uniform intensity of green, manifesting in pinks, yellows and whites. Several shades of silence. Skins, sheets, surfaces to print on paper. Amidst the breadth of endless deep blue rivers, I photograph the particulars of each tree. Witnessing and recording tree and man, gazing upon this immense desert of water, as if staring at a mirror, looking for answers. In the Amazon there is a solitude as dense as the forest. This inexorable awareness of the world, contrasts with childish innocence: carefree about the future, children play, jump off the branches, do somersaults, sink into the water. They are agile, light, bold. They demonstrate that there are as many future possibilities as there are drops of water.

ALIZÉ JIREH

“From structure to color, composition to atmosphere, this image is magnetic on all levels. The photograph is sectioned in complementing tones and symmetrical patterns – the cracks on the steps, the rose coloured sky, the subtle spectacle of sea – leaving the viewer to finally focus on the hanging figure in bright blue. Pondering the scene, it’s easy to get carried away conjuring up many scenarios on why this person has arrived in this position. It’s a window into a dreamlike world – a beautiful cinematic scene that generates a sense of hypnotic mindfulness.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Take me home, taken in Flores, Azores.

MONICA ANTONELLI

“The photographer’s desire to make ‘the invisible that surrounds us visible’, is certainly achieved in this segmented scene as a seemingly painted concrete wall appears like a classic abstract painting. The smooth texture of the warm wall is speckled with small holes and painted with blocks of blue in different shades, momentarily interrupted with a dark wine stripe. The simplistic design, framed with real intention, absorbs the viewer’s attention. Would it have a similar effect if one were to pass this wall in person during a daily commute?” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Limiti from my “Visione Astratta” project based on abstract photography through which I observe and study reality, making the invisible that surrounds us visible.

RODNEY EE

“Color is at the heart of this globally recognised festival, the joyfulness and movement is almost addictive to anyone observing these celebrations. This image however depicts a moment of quiet solitude, where prayer and worship is less of a spectacle and more of a private and intimate experience. A unique and thoughtful snapshot from Holi, The Festival of Colors. ” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Handprints. A woman prays at the Sirji Temple in Nandgaon during a break in the Holi celebrations, where the walls are stained with the handprints of those celebrating the event.

TREVOR RAY HART

“An inviting scene so immersive you can almost smell the earthy moss, touch the damp bark and hear the raindrops dripping off one leaf onto another. A forest-scape familiar to any woodland setting but distinctive all the same – its rich green canvas as an unmistakable symbol of growth. It’s an absorbing, enveloping image, drawing the viewer directly into the heart of this pure and natural surrounding.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Moss covered pines near Ardochrig, Scotland. I created this image while exploring a forestry plantation. I found a small area of the pine trees within the forest, covered in this adorning hanging moss. It instantly transported me to a primeval, ancient woodland instead of the reality of standing in a young manmade forest. Part of a series of environments that connect to each other through my frequent wanderings, discovering something new on the journey and in turn recording the encounter. I enjoy my reactive approach to creating the artwork.

TING TING CHEN

“There is a sense of sadness in this golden landscape, as if the lonesome figure is quietly paying respect to the trees they have approached. The photographer welcomes the viewer to sit and contemplate this surreal scene, taking in the opulent tones and solemn atmosphere. An exceptional photograph, that one could easily get lost in, in no small part due to its vibrant, unusual color palette.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Surrealness in Bowring Park. My friend Robert Tilley and I both like to visit the century-old Bowring Park in St. John’s. I took this photo when Robert was standing beside the trees in autumn colors. Time seems to freeze in this photo, and the picture is shrouded in a surreal aura.

STASIA SCHMIDT

“A compelling perspective for a self portrait – the viewer can almost feel the temperature drop as the icy cave swallows you in. The haunting, cloaked figure echoes the surrounding giant shards of ice, adding to the structural make-up of the scene. The photographer has transported the viewer to another world of pale blue monochrome, where this alien environment creates a perfect platform for the photographer to explore their own identity.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Icefall – A self-portrait in a glacier ice cave in the Canadian Rockies.

GAVIN DORAN

“It takes a lot of skill to create an image like this, the photographer’s knowledge of light and color is apparent in every aspect of the frame. The two sides of this image – ‘the shelter’ and ‘the storm’ – have many complementing elements such as the light from the overhead window mirroring the lightning strike, but overall tell the story of two, often opposing environments; the natural world and the human-made one.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Shelter from the storm.

OSCAR MUNAR

“There’s a joyful perspective to this image with the subject appearing larger than life, comfortable and confident in their expression and environment. The simple colorway allows the viewer to soak up the atmosphere quickly and let the creativity of this scene take over, feeling the sun, sea and sand seep into the senses. The exaggeration – in color and scale – of the subject’s clothing and cultural items bring into question the objective of this image – high fashion? Satire? Commentary on cultural appropriation? A caption would be a great addition to this particular image.” – LIFE FRAMER

SILVIA STANCANELLI

“This is a really well captured image, as the photographer subtly depicts culture, identity and tradition in a simple but elegant manner. The low viewpoint adds to the sense of respect the photographer has for these women, as they capture textured and tonal detail from skin to garment. This scene radiates a rich warmth, admiration and a welcomed familiarity.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Orange and Red – Colours of India. With this shot I would like to express the elegance of Indian women, understood as a broad concept, inner and outer elegance. It depicts the intense, beautiful, vibrant and bright colours of the Indian saris, photographed during a trip to southern India in 2018. Even through details you can visualize the other, the rest of the frame, stimulating the imagination and making the subject portraits more complex and complete. My photographs are meant to be a starting point for exploring and imagine the magical world of Indian colours.

THALIA VAN DEN BOOGAARD

“This macro overview of these wetlands could quite easily be mistaken for a micro view of one the many plant species that exists within it. The image displays the organic patterns that occur in nature at their very best, from far reaching swaps, to the splintering spines of rivers and the repetitive shades of green. A true celebration of nature and color in cohesion.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Arnhem Land. Bird’s eye view of the green wetlands.

EVERETT KENNEDY BROWN

“From edge to edge, this is a visually pleasing image with a soft symmetry and serene palette of color. The pattern created by the laid out material is gently accentuated by the repetitive mountain peaks which dominate the background. A fascinating photograph with an abstract quality, documenting an age-old tradition of cultural craft. Very well done.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Kimono Cleaning. Nakajima Kiyoshi is a fourth generation kimono fabric weaver, placing kimono fabric on snow for cleaning in the mountain village of Shiozawa, Niigata province. One of the three finest kimono textile villages in Japan, Shiozawa is famous for “Yuki-zarashi,” a process of making the whitest fabrics. The 12.5 meter lengths of silk and hemp fabric are layed on the snow to absorb sunlight to whiten and remove impurities. Some of the handmade fabrics are valued at upwards of 5 million yen (36,000 euro or U.S. 48,000 dollars.)

GAVIN LIBOTTE

“It feels as if the photographer has thoroughly exercised their skill set, on both a technical and conceptual level for this striking image of light and dark. The rainbow sequence – synonymous with the LGBTQ+ movement – depicted in these distinctive garments, shines brightly against the darkness, like a sense of hope in the dark. The silhouetted figures, with their identity obscured, seemingly represent the many people who wear the flag with faith and pride. It’s a sincere and symbolic photograph.” – LIFE FRAMER

VICTORIA RUIZ

“This is an effective piece representing a complex issue in an abstract and unexpected way. The colors and flowers are reminiscent of spring and summer, radiating a feeling of hope and brightness, yet the theme is bleak, represented by the sorrow that’s tangible in the postures of the embracing figures. The dominant use of purple in the backdrop is significant as it takes the role of the higher power – royalty, grandeur and ambition – whereas the flowered figures crouch underneath it as the fragile, vulnerable element. The photographer has considered this immense topic and developed it into a multi-layered, structural image where hope and despair are intertwined. ” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – ‘El Carnaval Que No Pas?’ translates to ‘the carnival that did not happen’. In this series, I tell the story of one of Venezuela’s darkest periods through the carnivalesque and the surreal. It is a series that depicts the promises that the government made to the country but, in the end, did not happen. El Carnaval Que No Pas? is born from my experience of the Venezuelan crisis, depicting my interpretation of the citizen’s dreams and the reality Venezuelans face.

NICOLA FIORAVANTI

“At first glance this image reads like a collaged, mixed-media piece of work, the textures and colors so vivid as to appear like a painting in parts. The photographer pairs the soft material with rough structure, achieving a perfect balance between the composition and crop, making this digital photograph an almost tangible piece. An engaging image with an apt title.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Textures. Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Morocco, 2022.

KELLY-ANN BOBB

“The photographer has taken time to contemplate the colors used in the painter’s work from which they draw inspiration – from styling and posing the sitter, to choosing the exact green to set them against. The vivid backdrop, rich tones, and patterned uniform reveal a flicker of the culture and expression of the identity the subject represents. It’s an impressive homage to Holder’s work, and yet it stands alone as a striking portrait in its own right. ” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – From a series entitled “Musing of Boscoe”, influenced by the paintings of the contemporary Trinidadian painter Boscoe Holder.

JESSE BARRACOSO

“A postcard of simplicity, where the unusual color filter sets the mood and helps create this nostalgic, dreamlike landscape. Here the viewer can project their own memories or imaginations of a similar setting, placing themselves in the scene and experiencing each element of this environment. A subtle and effective image.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – A Filipino boy trying his hand at hand fishing on Debotunay Island in the Palawan Islands of the Philippines. Shot on Lomochrome Turquoise, which rearranges the emulsions on the film, flipping the colors of the normally blue skies and warm sands onto each other.

VERONIKA K KO

“Color slices through this frame with an unbridled energy. It’s only when the viewer spots the minute farming vehicles does this controlled, natural environment come into focus – rows and rows of flowers in bloom. The fact this is an orchestrated setting doesn’t diminish the vivacity and vibrancy stretching across the scene, the top-down perspective celebrating the splendour and patterns of this bloom. An image full of color and joy.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Spring in the Netherlands… Tulip, hyacinth and narcissus field, crossed by a water channel, from a bird’s eye view. A natural colourful carpet.

PETER OSCARSSON

“Observing a photographer’s archive can be a real privilege, and the viewer is not disappointed with this 28 year old street shot of Mexico. There’s little to really date the image – it could be set in the 60s, 90s or yesterday – a sign of the city’s true identity continuing through its colorful architecture. The figure is perfectly framed as they emerge from the shadows in blue, reflecting the building in the background. This photograph is a rich tapestry of character allowing the viewer to imagine life in San Miguel de Allende, today or back in 1995.” – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 1995.