1ST PRIZE: FABIEN ECOCHARD

This image captivated me by the way the bold color planes come into play through the composition. Framing both movement and subjects, each field works together to create a dynamic image in the moment. – ALIXANDRA FAZZINA

The beauty of photography lies not in recording what everyone sees but in capturing what is often overlooked. A feeling, a mood, colors, the story in the background, the passage of time, and the stillness of a moment are just a few of the many concepts encompassed in this photograph. The skillful framing and exquisite attention to detail catch the vibrancy of youth culture and draw the viewer in. This may be a scene that one has passed by without noticing, but from now on, they will see it, and it’s all thanks to one photograph. – LIFE FRAMER

2ND PRIZE: PAUL KILLEBREW

This very notable runner-up is a complex scene. I love that each quarter tells its own story. It’s an image that requires a longer look. Each room, with its own unique color palette, frames a narrative- lives that I want to know more about. – ALIXANDRA FAZZINA

The juxtaposition of colors, people, and activities is representative of the local culture. The photographer relies on color to provide aesthetic and spiritual guidelines, to lead the viewer from one scene to another, and to bring everything together in a cohesive narrative. It’s a scene that requires considerable time to fully absorb, which sparks curiosity and investment from the viewer, and ultimately makes the picture memorable. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – India provides an unparalleled color palette blending culture and beauty with a rich array of color and textures. These colors are weave together aspiration and reality where specific colors represent emotion and spirituality expressed in environment and fashion while reality may sometimes clash with those aspirations.

ANJA PIRES

Nothing beats the colors of nature, and this beautiful bird is proof. By choosing a simple and immediate composition, the photographer allows the true star of the photograph to stand out. It doesn’t need any embellishment. The bird provides everything needed in a good photograph: vibrant colors, high contrast, clean edges, and mesmerizing textures. It seems to know its strengths and best angles very well. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Star Appeal. I call him Elvis…this Green-billed Toucan posed like a super star for me.

ANNE NEIWAND

Artful and colorful, this photograph offers multiple layers of texture and a striking focal point. The clarity and sharpness of the strokes of color are impressive. It’s not easy to photograph art and capture not only its artistry but also its energy and narrative. Composition and lighting are key here. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The Eel.

MARIUS BURGELMAN

Colors are signs and pointers we use every day to find and stay on our path. In this busy urban scene, color contrast creates an atmosphere and provides clues, while various levels of clarity add movement and evoke the passage of time. Amidst it all, the yellow cab is the reference point that gives stability to the shot. In this photograph, color is both the storm and the stillness in the eye of the storm. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Rush. Kolkata breathes in color. In this image, taken outside Sealdah Station during rush hour, the city’s restless energy is painted in motion. The vibrant yellow of the iconic Ambassador taxi anchors the frame–a symbol of tradition in an ever-changing urban landscape. Against it, the cool blues of the weathered wall and the blur of passersby create a striking contrast, evoking both warmth and melancholy.

The motion blur adds a painterly quality, with streaks of earthy browns, muted reds, and deep indigos blending into a visual symphony of Kolkata’s daily rhythm. At the center of it all, a taxi driver’s steady gaze pierces through the chaos–one moment of stillness in a sea of movement. This photograph is not just a scene; it’s a palette of Kolkata’s soul, where color is not merely seen but felt.

DEBORA LOEFFEL

There is so much love and kindness in this double portrait. Analogous and complementary colors create a strong palette that enhances the composition and complements the story. It’s whimsical and immediate but also tender and warm. It’s not only that the image invite you to check out every pixel, line, and corner but it also creates a soft, pleasant feeling that lingers long after your interaction with the photograph is over. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Jeu de Couleurs (Game of Colors).

MARIO WONG

A rainfall of leaves wearing the best of autumn colors, a mesmerising bokeh effect, and a smooth but decisive leading line are the main visual elements of this fine-art photograph. It invites reverie and conveys a melancholic state, but there is nothing sad about it. It’s clear that the photographer has deeply connected with the subject and has found an artistic way to express personal feelings and moods. It’s a dance one wants to be part of. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Maple leaves fall like fleeting meteors, burning bright before vanishing.

ERHAN CORAL

Here, colors dominate the entire scene, making the viewer grin (at least this viewer). The composition is playful and artful, the small human silhouette providing an interesting focal point but also a sense of scale and proportion. The warm color palette is inviting, the balloon’s pattern provides natural leading lines, and the recognizable shape adds a note of realism to an otherwise abstract composition. A potpourri of visual elements beautifully mixed in a well-balanced image. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Famous hot are balloons are being deflated after landing in Cappadocia, Turkey.

GLENN HOMANN

Colors are everywhere, it’s up to us to notice and enjoy them. This image proves that mundane objects can be amazing photography subjects if the photographer masters the art of seeing. Striking colors and shapes create an image like a puzzle and enchant the viewer. A bit of yellow to make a leading line, a bit of blue and green to make a soft background, a vibrant red to make a focal point, and voila, an artful image that makes you commit to looking at everything. – LIFE FRAMER

XAVIER AUTREY HOLSCHNEIDER

The colors of the sunset and clothes, the human silhouettes and the sun’s disc, all blend in smoothly to convey the connectedness between humans and nature. It’s a meaningful shot that speaks about spirituality, tradition, and century-old civilizations that never grew apart from nature. The composition is elaborate but soft and lets its elements speak for themselves instead of trying to get across a certain message. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Captured at Prayagraj during the sacred Kumbh Mela, this image immerses the viewer in the spiritual ritual of pilgrims bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges. The rising sun casts an ethereal golden hue over the river, blending seamlessly into the silhouettes of devotees, their forms reduced to shadow as they surrender to the sacred act of purification. The deep reds and warm ochres of the women’s saris contrast with the somber silhouettes, symbolizing devotion, tradition, and the vibrancy of faith. In the background, a boat drifts with a medical flag, a subtle reminder of modernity within this ancient practice. This interplay of color and shadow echoes the transcendence of the moment–where earthly presence meets the divine, and faith is both seen and felt in the hues of dawn.

JULIO MARCHAMALO AMADO

The photographer shows us an unusual perspective that captures the colors and dynamics of a carnival. The frame is filled with shapes, textures, and tones that lead the viewer toward the main subject. At the same time, the visual elements are part of the celebration and encompass traditions and beliefs that passed the test of time. This is another of the many roles colors have in our lives. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The “Mascaritas” make their appearance on the town of Guadalajara (Spain) on the night when the carnival is announced.

MARI SAXON

This fine-art photograph that resembles a painting is a powerful statement. The game of light and shadows, the mix of nature and human-made fabrics, and the clever use of reflections denote a profound sense of storytelling and a deep connection with the subject. Nothing is left to chance in this composition and each aspect serves the narrative differently. The image speaks in tones about the multiple layers and facets of humankind. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Let me tell you about the heroine of the Self Love Club project—the incredible Sophie. I met Sophie at an exhibition of her paintings, which all are self portraits, and I was struck by the contrast between her beauty and the self-hatred reflected in her art. I proposed we work together on a project to explore this self-hatred. For me overweight does not detract from beauty; rather, it’s self-hatred that distorts it. She agreed to work on this project despite knowing from the very beginning that it would be incredibly difficult, deeply personal, and painful. But Sophie is one of the bravest women I have ever met (I am lucky to encounter such extraordinary people). We worked on this project for six months. From the first to the last frame, she remained open, courageous, strong, and unbelievably beautiful to me. I hope my audience will be able to see all of that in my photographs as well.

MONIA MARCHIONNI

Surreal, colorful, and emotional, this photograph makes the best out of summer shades. The fresh and eclectic palette is the star of the composition: The viewer can feel the warmth of the sun, experience the carefreeness of childhood, and rediscover the playfulness of life. The photograph acts like a reset button, making worries disappear and inviting us to live fully in the moment. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Emotive Snapshots: horizon, perspectives, points of view, and escape routes. This picture was born I was observing my daughter relating with the sea and friends. Every summer I capture moments of “magical realism” because I felt particularly inspired, transforming every day into a little fantastic story with soft colors and a retro atmosphere. Poetic visions that show how summer is not just a season but a feeling.

NOEL ROJO

There is nothing standard in this shot. Intense, dark colors, a skewed perspective, random objects, and a confused human figure somehow make a well-balanced and cohesive composition. Its strangeness engages the viewer, providing the unique feeling of entering a parallel universe; a bizarre world where normality is ever so slightly skewed. The photograph doesn’t convey its message directly but rather through an experience. – LIFE FRAMER

BOUSHRA ALMUTAWAKEL

It takes courage to create a “non-portrait” and plenty of skill to produce such an appealing one. The colors complement each other and fit the model’s skin tone perfectly. There is balance and a good use of space, and, even though it is posed, the portrait feels fresh, innocent and candid. The lighting is also very good and makes the subject look peaceful and comfortable. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Sarah B on Grass.

YVES LACROIX

Featuring a natural color palette, this environmental portrait puts things in perspective. The flag, with its most recognizable colors, localizes the scene but only to remind us of our similarities. This encounter could have happened anywhere in the world. We share the same blue sky and green trees, are surrounded by the same gray concrete, and have the same dreams and hopes at sunset. Colors unite us. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – When our paths cross is the fourth part of my work on Ukraine, which began in 2023. With this series, I wanted to focus on the concept of encounter. The encounter with people, places, during my travels in Ukraine that started in 2024.

To leave room for the random, the unpredictable, the pure encounter. As I wandered through the country, walking through streets, paths, with no other purpose than perhaps to meet someone, to cross paths with a person who would provoke that emotion, that desire to create their portrait. To let the magic of the encounter take its course. It is also about finding those places that inspire me, that speak to my subconscious, that tell the story I want to narrate. Then, it’s just a matter of meeting the characters my narrative has imagined, the ones my subjectivity wants to present to you. Using chance to tell a story.

Daniil. Donbas. Ukraine. August 2024. Daniil works in a food truck on a crossroad in Donbas, not far from the frontline. He is a civilian. His business is critical for military as he is feeding them but also offering a place to sit and have lunch or diner and sometimes relax and forget about the war for a few minutes.

TUNA ANGEL

Here is a good example of how to capture the colors of the city. Reflections multiply the layers and enlarge the scene, allowing us to see 360 degrees around us. Colors are everywhere and, like magic, they match and complement each other. This complex composition offers food for thought and makes us curious to look around and notice the colors of our world. – LIFE FRAMER

LUCIANO LEJTMAN

What a beautiful, feminine, and sweet color palette to photograph! Everything blends in smoothly, from architecture to clothing and objects. The pastel tones infuse the image with warmth and candor. The rhythm of similarities and differences speaks about conformity and individuality, tradition and self-expression, culture and personality. This group portrait is full of heart and humanity. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – India.

ANH DANG HOAI

This image of a woman wandering barefoot seems like a dream. The fact that it is not one denotes the photographer’s elevated spirit of observation and ability to catch the decisive moment. Although the scene is interesting, it wouldn’t have been so impactful without the striking color contrast, which only shows, once again, the power colors hold over us. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The female tourist’s red shirt stands out against the green background of the pine hill on a foggy early morning. I took this photo with a film camera.

IRIS MARIA TUSA

Who can even forget the colors, smells and textures of childhood? This photograph reminds us of the place that made us who we are, the traditions we inherited, and the memories we cherish. It’s impossible to be proud of who you are without embracing where you come from. In this case, the photographer’s ode to childhood is a colorful poem. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – My Thresholds project aims to encapsulate the emotions evoked by my childhood memories and transform them into meaningful images to coax the audience into finding the different dimensions to what they might see as mere personages living in a deprived socio-economic context. By lifting them out of this context and reframing them, I aim to convey meaningful flashes from my childhood memories that viewers can relate to, even if the shape of the memory is different.

Thresholds is not primarily an arch of entering and leaving in a geographical lived space that endured through history and time, but rather a passing bridge between memory and imagination, reality, and fantasy. In this sense I used photography more as an artistic and metaphorical tool rather than an instrument of documentary evidence.

Thresholds presents a continuous visualization of images that blend, a “glissando” over different layers exploring elements of memory. Each layer is marked by a threshold I have crossed during my investigative photographic quest: initially from the outside of people’s homes into their privacy, then from the bare lands’ solitude to the animated play of the children, and lastly from digital images to polaroid images that explore my dreams, and nostalgia about the ephemeral childhood. Like the fragments of memories, each of the layers presents a discrete visualization of images, each one speaking by itself.