1ST PRIZE: STEFAN KLEINOWITZ

This was the most striking image to me. The dark-skinned black woman standing outside as day turns into night kept me fixated on the tonality of skin against the subtle shift in lighting. The photo tells me a story of truth and beauty through its sincere composition and sharpness. It’s fundamentally an excellent portrait. – LAURYN HILL

The caption doesn’t give much away, leaving the portrait to uphold its mysterious qualities from subject to location. Texture and tone become the dominant element in the photograph, as patterns appear in subtle ways, adding to this – seemingly opportunistic – striking portrait. The image discreetly displays the photographer’s skill and eye for detail. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Focus and Breathe.

2ND PRIZE: NICOLAS CASTERMANS

The movement of the dancers at night entranced me. The photograph portrays the perfect mixture of motion and composition that turns the image into a painterly one. When the viewer can feel the energy from a still image, they might have succeeded at touching the human soul.– LAURYN HILL

The viewer is greeted by a theatrical scene of vibrancy and energy, the blurred movements and surrounding night adding to the excitement of the moment. The photographer has captured an image that is full of the soul and heart of this festival. A photograph that goes beyond a traditional documentary style, like a painting that celebrates culture and tradition in an authentic sense. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Qoyllur Rit’i is the snow and star festival of Peru. It is the most important pilgrimage in the entire Andes. Peru is a Catholic country. Still, it is very much a syncretic one, meaning that Andean cosmology and spiritual tradition live alongside Catholic belief. Every year, around May or June, about 100,000 people walk 8 kilometers up high in the mountains to pray the ” Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i “, at 4,700 meters above the sea level in the region of Cusco. Thousands of dancers and musicians perform and celebrate religious beliefs during more than a week.

DANILO RÖßGER

The photographer immerses themselves into this neon world, seeking out the lit-up structures and celebrating them as familiar characters of the city’s nightlife. There is no need to add people to the scene as the buildings appear full of intrigue and their own personality, enticing the viewer and evoking thoughts of the events unfolding behind the exteriors. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Taken in Taiwan, December 2023. At that time, I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of all the neon lights everywhere, so I decided to go on some night walks to capture the colorful, haunting and somehow futuristic beauty of cities like Tainan or Taichung.

JACK LAWSON

Although surrounded by shadows the portrait remains sharp and impressive. The photographer appears to have captured something poignant about this person’s mood, as the shafts of artificial lights and subtle background silhouettes only enhance the atmosphere. A truly unique portrait, crafted carefully in low light and beautifully timed. – LIFE FRAMER

LJUBICA DENKOVIC

The photographer presents the viewer with an intimate and sensual scene, inviting them to project their personal experiences and emotions onto the intertwining subjects. There is an intimacy within the scene that appears more emotional and caring, rather than a purely sexual act. The tinted light subtlety lends itself to the photographer’s surreal concept while the simplicity and anonymity of the subjects allows the viewer to consume the piece as a whole. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Night Motions. In my work I built a seemingly different world, a movie scene or a surreal sight within the emotional field of collective loneliness. My photographic method over-accentuates and intensifies reality to such an extent that it ends making you ready to embrace it. The resulting photographs are a guide through the dark landscapes of the self, showing us external locations and discarded emotions in space, encouraging us to face the neglected internal domains.

YORICKO LIU

For the viewer, a seemingly passing street shot becomes layered with cultural connotations and questions on workers rights after reading the caption – Is there even time to really rest with such demands on the workforce? The movement of the image reinforces the constant businesses and intentions of the fast paced metropolis, as the solo subject sits quietly, hidden away from responsibility for now. An interesting series on the emphasis of work and culture. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In a city where the hustle never sleeps, Singapore boasts some of the lengthiest working hours and most demanding conditions globally. Faced with such a relentless pace, one may wonder: what do these individuals do with the limited time after work? As a nocturnal owl and largely free from the constraints of a 9 to 5 job, I am intrigued. So amidst this fast-paced environment, I delve around the streets, capturing the emotions and moods of individuals navigating the intricate tapestry of Singapore’s bustling urban life after hours. Each photograph within this collection is a poignant vignette, a visual narrative that unveils the nuanced human experience of a city that demands much but offers little in return.

EVAN CAMPBELL

The viewer is drawn into this picturesque winter scene, where small pops of colorful buildings add to the storybook feel. There is an unusual balance of light across the image, as if an artificial light source shines across the houses and mountain backdrop. There is a perceived quietness to the scene, as the photographer navigates the snow covered landscape to capture their night image. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Night Village in Norway.

PAOLO MANCA

The subject appears focused on their route, carefully looking at the path ahead as the photographer snaps their progress. The single spotlight lighting up the subject’s steps captures the viewer’s attention – posing questions on the subject’s goal, location and lifestyle. An interesting image founded on dedication and consistency – and a great, off-beat response to the topic of Night Life. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Stay focused on your goals.

TIJMEN BERENS

An intimate double portrait, the red lighting giving the image the night-life, underground atmosphere. The viewer is left to piece together the connection between the two subjects as they enjoy this sweet moment. An image not out of place as a film still or an affectionate scene from a music video. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Nightlife in The Netherlands.

NICOLÁS LÓPEZ

The scene appears haunting, almost supernatural as the viewer is left to make sense of perspective and light. The solo figure stands blurred and unsure at the centre of the image, as if not really present. The image itself is almost half in darkness, leaving the viewer to imagine what lies in the shadows. A magnetic scene, amplified by the viewer’s willingness to imagine. – LIFE FRAMER

MATT PAYNE

The photographer spoils the viewer with this exceptional nightscape, bursting with form, pattern, detail and millions of stars – their patience has been richly rewarded by waiting for the ideal moment to capture the galaxy vista. Perspective is skewed as rock and star formations take over, elevating the scene into something almost abstract as if not of this world. An arresting photograph, embedded in skill and experience. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – “Groovy Galactic Geology” – In 2018 I found this little nook and knew it was special. I figured out that the Milky Way lined up with it, but I was too early in the season to capture it. Fast forward to 2023, my buddy Joseph Roybal and I led a workshop here and I was stoked to revisit this little spot prior to and during the trip.

MUHAMMAD AMDAD HOSSAIN

It’s not clear what we’re witnessing here – is it a scene of homeless people, or people otherwise waiting for an event to come? The photographer focuses on the amount of people in this location, as opposed to taking a portrait of one individual, leaving the straight forward street shot to directly deliver the poignancy of the overall situation rather than the plight of an individual. – LIFE FRAMER

KENNON GUERRY

A simple scene immortalised by the photographer’s camera. The lamp and its reflection in the surrounding windows appear to almost symbolise the ‘what was’ and ‘what is to come’ concept the photographer sees when observing their child. The jumping cat shatters the silence of this still moment, a reminder of reality and life going on. A stunning yet simple depiction of youth – from the known and unknown. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The impulse to create photographs springs from my near desperate drive to capture the details of the changing seasons of childhood. Anticipatory grief for what will be lost to growth and change has been one of many emotional experiences of motherhood for me. I feel the bi-directional pull of wanting my children to stay the same and to grow. I grieve and celebrate every milestone, every centimeter added. Photography is my balm and consolation; it lets me freeze my children in this moment and it lets me release them with joy and gratitude into the next. Black and white photography creates for me a revelatory experience of seeing my children and light in elemental form.

VALENTINA VARESANO

The aftermath of these momentous cultural festivals are not as documented as the events themselves, a realization that dawns on the viewer as the temple – now devoid of people and festive accessories – seems cheerless but not uninviting. The temple, although still in this post party-state, remains a place of still and calmness as the multiple sources of light fall softly amongst the draped materials, leaving all sorts of areas of textural interest to absorb. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – During the Durga Puja celebrations in Varanasi, nightlife is enriched of colour. People gather near temples or follow the parades and streets are left emptied, When the celebration ends temporary temples are dismantled and return to their original use.

ANDREA BETTANCINI

A sharp, minimal image with a deep message on the human psyche and our relationship with the surrounding physical environment. Small elements of the scene stand out as indicators of their own stories – the blurred tail lights of a passing car en route, the lonesome flowers tied to the street light in memory of some fateful incident – depicting how a scene devoid of any people can still be full of human existence and history. A thought-provoking photograph. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Shipwrecked in the night.

The German philosopher Edmund Husserl, one of the founding fathers of phenomenology, emphasized the importance of awareness and subjective experience. In my nighttime photographs, I aim to capture not only the physical darkness but also the darkness of the human soul. Each shot is an exploration of our personal perception of the night and its effects on our mood. Objects and portions of the landscape are brought to life by a flash or artificial light, creating an isolation that invites contemplation, revealing the hidden poetry in the ordinary. Light serves as both a guide and an enigma, sculpting forms in the darkness. Through this interplay, I delve into the duality of presence and absence, seeking a sense of mystery and introspection.

NATALYA SAPRUNOVA

The photographer has cleverly balanced the scene with a perspective that allows the viewer to observe both the inside and outside worlds simultaneously. The silhouetted figures continue with their evening tasks – as if performing in a play, seemingly unaware of their actions being documented by watching eyes. A delicate depiction of a significant cultural role, full of legacy and responsibility. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Evenki reindeer herders spend the night under a tent in the taiga of southern Yakutia.

SAVVAS KOIS

An exquisitely composed portrait, using an existing overlooked space as a theatrical backdrop. The flowers fill the space behind the subject in abundance, as if gathering to celebrate the nurse at the center of the scene, quietly echoing the color of her uniform. The photographer’s use of the surrounding area adds to the photograph without being distracting or overwhelming. A well considered night portrait. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Shhhhh… please be quiet!!!

This work is about time and its relativity, during the night in a hospital, whether it concerns patients, attendants, or workers in it.
Although the reason for its creation was the rebuke of a superior, the real reasons were personal experiences and experiences.

Was the lead nurse who made a second observation.
Actually, there were a lot of visitors in the hospital corridor making
a lot of annoying hum.
After all, it was late and the visiting time was over, we had to leave…

And then, they are the same corridors that change the view, the lights
are dimming and the silence is almost deathly.
Only nurses appear momentarily to disappear at the same time in a
patient room as if they have teleportation abilities.

It’s when the building looks like it has only one entrance and only
one exit. Once you enter, time takes on another dimension, rolling
more slowly or faster depending on human endurance, both for
patients and working staff.

The theory of relativity in a small spacetime universe, trapped within
the boundaries of the building, which is the exit often lead.

JENNY KIRCHNER

An inferno awaits the viewers attention, the intensity of the scene almost unbearable. The viewer is left to consider how these firefighters navigate the burning landscape and what methods they employ to begin quelling the flames – not an envious task on any level, but especially at night. An unnerving scene that is worryingly becoming more common across our planet. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – In the midst of a Southern California wildfire, the U.S. Forest Service implemented backburning strategies in the middle of the night when weather conditions were more controllable.

JAMIE ZIMMERMAN

The slow aperture and patterns of glowing moving light gives this scene its character and atmosphere. The photographer’s chosen perspective treats the viewer to the views of both the water and road highways, immense and infamous in their own right. A peaceful and calming scene from a busy part of the world. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Vehicle and ship traffic along the Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon. This shot was taken looking south from Cape Perpetua

JUKKA MALE

A timeless photograph of celebration and togetherness, like a lost image from an old family album. Familiarity and joy flows from the scene although each member of the photograph appears to wear their expression of it differently. The most unusual aspect of the photograph is how the light falls mainly on the background, leaving the foreground and its subjects in shadowy patches. A scene full of life. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The night is the Earth’s shadow, lack of natural light. Good night, as we wish to each other. Oh, that scary good night.