1ST PRIZE: GEERT DE TAEYE

I really liked the carefully constructed composition of this camping scene. The colors, the children’s poses, and the lighting give it a surreal quality, as if it were an illustration from a children’s book. – SMITA SHARMA

The photograph captures the endless curiosity and preoccupations of childhood in a perfectly lit, perfectly composed cinematic scene. The campsite is buzzing with energy, with colorful toys shining through the grass, and the dark forest providing a comfortable, blanket-like background. One could not wish for a better shooting angle. The complex narrative is mesmerizing, leading the viewer from one plot to another in a whimsical and engaging manner. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Camping playground. In this photo series, I embark on a journey through inspiring locations that have the power to ignite the imagination. Guided by the virtual lens of Google Street View, I find myself wandering through the digital corridors of the world, embarking on endless virtual walks. Like a spy plane soaring above, I observe the landscape from different angles, seeking out wooded areas, specific architectural styles, and mysterious structures that exude a captivating atmosphere. These locations serve as the foundation upon which I build my narrative.

Through this approach, I hope to uncover the hidden narratives embedded within these captivating locations. The fusion of personal stories, carefully constructed staging, and the inherent magic of photography allows me to delve into the depths of youth experiencing adventures and create visual moments that resonate on multiple levels.

2ND PRIZE: MICHAEL PAPPAS

The portrait of the girl in traditional attire, set against the backdrop of a waterfall, is stunning. Sometimes, context becomes essential in a photograph to understand what the image is trying to convey. This portrait is part of the series Threaded in Time, which explores a generation rooted in memory yet reaching toward the future. – SMITA SHARMA

This environmental portrait may very well look like fine-art photography, but it is actually a very good documentary picture. The photographer found an exceptional way to visually convey the complicated relationship between youth and tradition, the contrast between the future and the past. The photograph is artfully curated, each element having the exact amount of visual weight and a precise role in the story. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Threaded in Time. In these portraits, youth meets tradition. Girls under 18 wear the traditional costumes of their heritage–not as museum pieces, but as living threads in a fabric that continues to evolve. Captured as part of the Mitos Project, these images reflect a quiet defiance: a generation rooted in memory, yet reaching forward.

There’s a tenderness in the way they carry the weight of culture with the lightness of youth. Between the folds of woven cloth lie stories passed down, rituals learned, identities forming. This is youth not just as a fleeting moment, but as a bridge–between past and possibility.

DOMINIQUE AGIUS

A breathtaking portrait, so vivid and dynamic that it makes you expect some movement at any moment. The face is undoubtedly the main focal point, and a strong one for that matter, but the airy texture of the hair adds depth and creates a very sensorial experience. The soft color palette complements the composition and enhances the overall fascination the picture exerts over its viewer. – LIFE FRAMER

FRANCESCA MAGNANI

Youth will always be a promoter of change, novelty and openness. Featuring a symmetric composition with leading lines guiding the viewer throughout the frame towards the main subject, the photograph tells a complicated story about cultures, traditions, and freedom of expression. It breaks all the barriers in a full-on infusion of graffiti, colors, and textures. The photograph is as vibrant and energetic as its subject. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – I met a group of young women during their discovery of one of NYC’s most iconic places: a park that, fully covered in graffiti, occupies the space between the arches and the colonnades of the Manhattan Bridge. The women, while skating, were wearing the pollera, a layered skirt traditionally worn by Indigenous women that represents a complex cultural heritage.

The design and color of the women’s outfits stood in stark contrast with the drawings on the walls. The presence of Imillas Skate in one of my favorite playgrounds happened like an apparition. To my eye, they arrived like “korai,” the youthful maidens of Greek mythology. Their surprise and enthusiasm for exploring the space reconnected me with my own wanderings in the city that began almost three decades ago. Their voices and laughter transported me back to my school days, when I translated book VI of the Odyssey, reading about Nausicaa and her companions playing near the banks of the river. On this summer day, close to the East River, my path crossed with theirs and the threads of our experience, memory and personal stories intertwined under the bright afternoon sun. The series is part of an ongoing series about the Manhattan Bridge, Il ponte blu.

In an email Eli later told me “Beyond the photos we would like to spread the message about empowering women and recognizing one’s roots, in addition to the value of skateboarding: no matter how many times we fall, the important thing is to get up.”

VICA ROSARIO BOGAERTS

Every moment is precious when you are a kid. There is always something to do, imagine or create. This candid shot captures not one but three hypostases of childhood: the mighty fighter, the dreamer, and the self-explorer. It has an unusual composition, which matches its collage of attitudes very well, showing that the photographer allowed the scene to reveal itself rather than intervening in the process. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Three Stories. Two boys wrestle at the end of a narrow lane. In the foreground, a girl puckers her lips in a private gesture, aimed just outside the frame. And in the mirror of a parked rickshaw, another girl appears, watching, but unseen. One moment, three planes.

TOBY BINDER

This dramatic photograph captures the challenges of youth that often come from the external environment. What happens in our society leaves its mark on the young generations. They may look tough, but they are hurting. And hurt people hurt people. So, this image is a strong statement that calls to action, one of art’s most important roles. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Leo walking past fire on wasteland at Roden Street. From the long-term documentary series Youth of Belfast.

MARIA REANEY

Youth means growth, and growth is never easy. This sensitive double portrait captures the effects of growth on both mother and child. Her hug is needed and appreciated, but it seems as if it’s not enough anymore. The photograph is simple yet profound, encompassing lots of feelings and raising a powerful emotional response. The memory of this tangled embrace will stay with the viewer for a long time. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Being 11. This image is from a body of work my son Billy, and I, are creating together.

As Billy grows I can see a beautiful, sometimes frustrated, transition into adolescence. He is a sensative soul who tries his best to be fair and kind. Navigating the top end of Primary school can be both empowering and challenging. As the boys in his class move into this next stage; I can on occasions almost feel the testosterone injections as they steam out of school and let loose.

I constantly talk to Billy about the importance of breathing and slowing down. I can see a palpable change in the way he relates to the world and occationally it can be a struggle to conform. Pushing boundaries and strong reactions are all part of the process. I’m a firm believer in simply talking; so we check in with each other most days to see how school and friendships are developing.

JOHN CHATHAM

Complex outfits and make-up don’t manage to hide the effervescence of youth. Loyal to their tradition and culture, the subjects pose proudly. The photographer gave them the entire frame, blurring the background and toning down the colors. The scene is theirs. But what strikes the viewer is their inner beauty, their honest, daring attitudes that make them princesses regardless of the costumes. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Photograph of sisters dressed as princesses during the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in India.

MURAT HARMANLIKLI

Layers. Different stages in life, different attitudes, different levels of clarity. The composition is complicated, deep, and far from regular. It is artistic and modern, skillfully put together yet naturally left to develop. The extraordinary focal point, the child’s eyes, finds its way to the viewer’s heart. The frame is full of stories… Well done! – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The girl in hand: Taken in Istanbul. Belongs to my ongoing book project: Istanbul, in the flux of an-all embracing moment.

SEB SZCZEPANOWSKI

Growing up in the city means you have to use the little space you have to the maximum. The railing becomes the sports hall at the Olympics. This anti-portrait captures the excitement of a fearless group of children, determined to have fun and challenge any environment. Their poses are impossible to control, and the photographer is wise not to even try to do so. Askew, tangled, tilted, awkward, everything goes when you are young. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The Beater Crew. Youth that’s time of joy and challenges.

NOEL ROJO

What a visual fiesta this photo is! Reflections, low angles, surprising elements, everything happens in the same frame, at a fast pace, and in vivid colors. The fact that the children ignore the photographer completely is proof that in childhood, we are the freest we’ll ever be. Social constraints, culturally imposed shaming, and everything else that makes us build walls around our hearts are still far away. The picture accurately documents youth. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Mexico City, Mexico.

VALENTINA VARESANO

Innocence is the true nature of youth. Their upbringing may involve ages of traditions and cultural customs, they may face adversities, and they may play their roles in the festivities. Regardless, children will be children and will find a way to play, joke, smile, and come up with screwy ideas. This candid shot beautifully captures everything youth is about. The low angle is very well-chosen because it fills the frame with joy and complicity. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Taken in Axum, Ethiopia, during the Timkat and Saint George’s festivities. North Ethiopia had a conflict between 2020 and 2022 and has recently reopened to tourism. Tensions are still ongoing.

LOGAN WHITE

The photographer denotes exceptional storytelling skills and manages to combine fine art and youth in an intriguing shot. The image is as surreal as a fairytale, but still emotional. It’s abstract and familiar at the same time. The angles and cuts are intriguing, while the floral vintage pattern of the tablecloth infuses the image with the security of grandma’s house. The image makes you curious to know more about these girls and their stories. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Youth: Hearts Content Road is a series of surreal and allegorical portraits taken in Upstate New York, exploring the dual nature of fantasy–a realm that provides both escape and excitement, yet harbors its own shadows of uncertainty. I employ staging, symbolism, and candid documentation to create a collaborative mythology of shared experiences, expressing the interior narratives of historically overlooked voices, specifically, teenage girls.

The setting evokes a sense of isolation and tension, reflecting the claustrophobic nature of being confined to a body and the struggle to define oneself under the scrutiny of society’s expectations. Taking place during the period of coming of age, in the vicinity of a forest, a palpable sense of longing is undeniable. Whether through performative gestures or enacting girlhood rituals, the stage is set for delving into the subconscious, uncovering hidden truths and forgotten mysteries.

In an era where feeling disconnected from the cultural moment of immediate and impersonal image-making is prevalent, working in this way creates an uncanny sisterhood and facilitates meaningful human connection.

NEIL BUCHAN GRANT

What a beautiful shot! The warm light is perfect and makes the little girl stand out. But what strikes the viewer is the instant, powerful connection between the photographer and the subject. Their gazes are welded through the lens. Dynamic and evocative, the image captures the serenity and intrinsic calmness of youth amidst the busy everyday life. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – I saw this girl riding on her mother’s motorbike in the busy streets of Delhi, she was illuminated by the sun bouncing off the wing mirrors. I literally ran 100 yards down the street to get the right shot (which is why they were all looking at me like I was some kind of madman!).

MARI SAXON

This artfistic chiaroscuro portrait with soft light and smooth contours conveys an overwhelming feeling of love and nostalgia. The young pair, melted and fused by love, comes together in a peaceful embrace and fill the frame graciously. They remind us of a version of ourselves we’ve hidden a long time ago, the version who fell in love completely and unnegotiably and couldn’t imagine life without love. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Young lovers.

ANITRA LAVANHAR

A picturesque shot that captures the joy and naturalness of childhood, the photograph is set against the most beautiful décor for a summer trip. The image is candid and minimalist, letting its subjects dance their way to the viewer’s heart. Sometimes, all you need to take a good photograph is to be in the right place at the right time and, most importantly, be aware that you are in the right place at the right time. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Summer evening in Vermont.

NICOLAS CASTERMANS

This photograph is the perfect example of how the shooting angle can make a subject stand out and enhance the meaning of the photo. The low angle shows us the world from the perspective of the young child, guarded by the loving gaze of the mother, but a bit worried about the future. The photographer, the stranger, is now part of the child’s reality. Similarly, the ancestral traditions face changes and must accommodate the modern reality. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – This image is part of a larger, long-term documentary project titled Breath of Modernity, which explores the transformations taking place within the Quechua communities in the highlands of the Cusco region, Peru. Through an intimate visual narrative, the project seeks to capture the tension between ancestral traditions and the accelerating currents of modern influence that are reshaping daily life in this remote Andean landscape.

JOZEF MACAK

For us, a back alley. For them, the playground. For us, life’s struggles. For them, secrets and fantasies. This photograph is an artful mix of highlights and shadows, interpretations, and attitudes. It makes the viewer put things in perspective and try to see the world, again, through a child’s eyes. The photographer’s mindful engagement transcends the pixels. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – The Alley of Secrets, Cairo, Egypt.

JESÚS UMBRÍA BRITO

Adolescence is a difficult topic. It intensifies emotions, frees inner monsters, sharpens comparison, and makes us more vulnerable and sensitive than ever. This image proves that something so intense can be captured in a single shot. It fills the frame, supporting the subject, focuses on mood and body language, and uses a soothing color palette. It makes everything right so that the viewer can engage with compassion and empathy on the path of adolescence. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement – Alba. Retaguardia is a photographic project that dwells in the edges of mass society, in the periphery of the normative, in its penumbra. Far removed from dogma and convention, it unfolds a portrait of post-pandemic youth identified with the counterculture surrounding punk music and aesthetics: a mosaic of faces and expressions that seek each other in the mirror of the past to shape their present.

KATELYN SLYER

The image is an accumulation of fascinating visual elements, such as the golden rule composition, the textured background, contrasting highlights and shadows, and a good use of negative space. All these technical aspects support the story and make the young subjects stand out. One can almost hear their whispers, the murmur of the music, and the rustling of their clothes. The photo allows the viewer to witness the intimate environment. – LIFE FRAMER