EDITORS’ PICK
The Flame of Youth
YOUTH
Youth Editors’ Pick
Following Pipo Nguyen-Duy’s selection of winning images for our recent Youth 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: GEERT DE TAEYE
“The photographer has packed a lot into this image, staging a story of love – or heartache – on farmland, styled with a distinctive urban fashion look, illuminated by an iconic vintage car and set against the backdrop of night. The viewer could pull at many narrative threads that twist throughout the scene, which can both enhance and overcomplicate a photograph at times. It’s clear to see the photographer enjoys storytelling, layering and creating these visual narratives.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – In this image youngsters have an intimate, emotional experience. What happened or what is about to happen is up to the viewer to imagine. I get inspired by stories that are told by the inhabitants of these specific locations that I photograph. My interpretation of these stories are translated into narrative images.
DEBDATTA CHAKRABORTY
“A rich tapestry greets the viewer, awash with pinks and patterns and packed full of detail. However, as the image settles it allows the smiles of both mother and daughter to dominate the focus. The photograph is layered with meaning and symbology – the local culture, vibrant colors, female roles and maternal relationship – all displayed at once. The young girl appears beaming, proud to be with her mother, learning from her depth of knowledge and embracing her cultural traditions. ” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – I met this mother-daughter duo in the City of Shangri La, China, which is a popular tourist destination. They belong to the local Naxi( or Nakhi) tribe. The lady rents local dresses to tourists, but during breaks, she teaches her daughter a few steps of their traditional dance form. Song and dance are very important part of Naxi culture and for the children, as they attain the age of thirteen, the Coming Of Age ceremony is an important part of their culture.
MITCHELL BRENGHAUSE
“This is a peculiar and impactful image, as the photographer takes on this painful and weighted topic in an attempt to come to terms with an unbearable situation, that may or may not happen. The ‘Pin Art’ frame, an iconic item of many childhoods, moulds the child’s face as if pausing time and suspending them there, safe and secure. A profound portrait of the many complex emotions of parents. ” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Impression Left from the series Light of a Shadow. I have never lost a child, but this is my greatest fear. When someone close dies at an older age, people often take comfort in celebrating their life and knowing that death is part of the natural process of living. This experience is not the same when facing the sudden death of a child.
Instead of ignoring my trepidation and attempting to protect myself, I confronted it head on. This series explores the relationship between the anxiety of death and photography. It makes no sense for life to end at such a young age, and the loss cuts so deep it can suffocate. A photograph is an immortalized memento mori. You can never get back that moment captured because time will always keep moving forward. The departed is gone but not forgotten.
TIANQUITAO CHEN
“The young boy – a symbolic figure of generations of children in similar circumstances – wears an expression of both boredom and knowing, possibly knowing the significance of this portrait but also unimpressed with having to stand still. The photographer wisely takes on the view of the child in this project and highlights the deep-rooted unfairness of their situation. The world expects a lot from children, to understand complex situations, to adapt quickly and inherit the myriad of problems of generations before. A thought provoking portrait.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Zhang Ao: “Beijing is very good, just that the environment is too bad. I had a good time in hometown. Every year I went back there, I would collect corns and catch fish in rivers with my friends.”
Seen/Unseen: The Migrant Children centers on observing and documenting migrant workers and their children in Beijing – a highly marginalized and underrepresented community that temporarily comes to urban centers for better employment and education opportunities from less developed areas around China. Migrant workers have been the engine of China’s spectacular economic growth over the last three decades, but they remain marginalized and subject to institutionalized discrimination. Their children have limited access to education, healthcare, and social welfare.
This project was created during my voluntary service for a charity organization in two villages where migrant workers and their children resided in the suburb of Beijing. The portraits of the migrant children as a deadpan observation showcase their harsh living conditions. In addition, there are handwritten notes from the children indicating their experiences living in both Beijing and their hometowns.
With the fast and abrupt development of the economy of China, the migrant workers and their children may be beneficiaries in some ways but are also the victims. The displacement and alienation of the migrant people community result in their complicated social and living conditions and states of mind that bring them both dilemma and contentment simultaneously. Those aftermaths in different layers reflect the complexity of China’s current rapid urbanization.
IDAN ELEFANT
“The juxtaposition of a blissful sunset and barrier of barbed wire sets a pattern of conflict – of joy and pain, merged together to create a dramatic backdrop to this youthful silhouette. Is the photographer projecting their own lessons and foreboding on life through this framed portrait? Or simply showing the viewer a glimpse of a carefree moment? A beautiful balance of shadow and light helps to create this obscure, fleeting moment.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Barbed bliss.
SELENE DEMARTA
“Capturing creative poses of children can be a challenge, as the subject may not always be compliant or even understanding of the situation. This is a gorgeous image with a clever use of negative space to balance the image and intensify the smooth, plumpness of the baby’s skin. The way in which this image is captured and cropped removes the typical ‘studio portrait’ aspect and elevates the wonder, innocence and newness of such a young child.” – LIFE FRAMER
OLIVIER LAVENAC
“The juxtaposition of the smartphone and playground setting highlights the difficult transition young people experience, caught between innocence and responsibility. These transitions, especially as they navigate adolescents and puberty, can be quite isolating. A subtle portrait of growing pains, padded with the normality of everyday life.” – LIFE FRAMER
VITALY GOLOVATYUK
“From the caption we gather this image may be a self-portrait, but either way it depicts a fascinating feat of strength and nerve, and the photographer enjoys celebrating and documenting these unique moments and achievements. The photographer’s identity is masked but they align themselves with the theme ‘youth’ and possibly the benefits that it brings – mainly agility and adventure. ” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – The city is my playground. Early morning pretending to be model representing the city.
LUDOVIC VAUTHIER
“The black and white image appears like a print from an archive, however – due to the nature of the issues it raises – this photograph could be taken 30 minutes ago as easily as it could’ve been created 30 years ago. Here we see the human cost of fast fashion, children robbed of their childhood and exploited for the needs and wants of those willing to turn a blind-eye. It would be interesting to know how the photographer was able to document this scene and to understand their intention with this work as they document the sad reality of what they have witnessed.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Shot in a textile mill in Bangladesh. The sad reality of child labor.
LUCILA BLUMENCWEIG
“This photographer has an expert approach to light, seeing the scene as a potential for creativity and embracing the varying light sources to create this image. The child is engrossed in the screen as the sun sets and the world passes by outside. The viewer is left to consider the younger generations’ complex relationship with technology, how it will both benefit and distract them as they grow. ” – LIFE FRAMER
NACHELLE POWELL
“On first glance you might – like us – think that these children are sitting on the caterpillar tracks of a tank. That would give the image a sad poignancy, a reminder of both the suffering in the world and the hopefulness of life going on regardless. In actual fact, it’s some construction equipment, not a tank, and so a moment of fun, innocence and friendship, unspoilt by the world’s wider ‘adult’ problems. And that’s perhaps a nice definition for what childhood should be.” – LIFE FRAMER
NICK PRICE
“An electric scene of thrill seeking and bravado. To live by the sea brings with it an understanding and appreciation for its significance and power. Here we see a young person allow ego to take over as he dives head first into the stormy water – the draw to defy danger is powerful when trying to assert your identity in the adolescence hierarchy. This photograph eloquently illustrates the beauty of youth with all its – good and bad – carefree attributes. A strong and striking single image.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – A young kid dives from a dock during a squall. Placencia, Belize.
ANNIKA HAAS
“A powerful scene, as the viewer digests the topic and the reality that is being depicted. The photographer’s strong understanding of portraiture and staging narratives is clear as each detail comes into light. This is a well thought out and composed photograph with a mission that carries an intense amount of emotion and legacy.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Aasa and Liisa, 2021. The Greenhouse Effect series portrays a younger generation in Estonia facing the future challenges of over-consumption, waste and the senseless exploitation of the natural world. All the photographs were taken in a suburb of Tallinn, in a place that is now abandoned and derelict, but that was once home to gardens and greenhouses. In this seemingly apocalyptic setting, these young people, themselves still developing organisms, seem to be in a symbolic relationship with the abandoned greenhouses, symbolizing the current disequilibrium associated with the greenhouse effect. For four years Annika Haas captured on her photos young Estonians aged 12 to 21, and conducted interviews with them on environmental issues to learn about their attitude towards and awareness about consumption, nature conversation and personal contribution for minimizing their ecological footprint. The young people taking part of this project are deeply concerned about the future of planet Earth; they are trying to signal to the older generation that the current way of life based on binge-consuming culture and endless economic growth is not sustainable.
KENNON GUERRY
“A magical moment, the sparkler almost appears like the heart of this boy, radiating from the centre of this photograph. The photographer’s expert skills and knowledge of natural light are apparent as the shadows softly envelope the edges of the scene, leaving a muted glow across the smooth surface of bare skin. A poetic portrait.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Sparkler. I am a natural-light photographer who is drawn to low-light, black-and-white portraiture. My images bear witness to the beauty of small, everyday moments at home with my three children. Photography gives me the ability to capture and preserve the transience and constant properties of childhood and of light.
EDUARDO CHACON
“The photographer has truly captured the behaviour of young love – it’s not uncommon to see teenage couples, sitting in public spaces, relaxed in an intimate embrace and unaware of anyone else in their orbit – as if this love comes first before anything else, before social etiquette and self-awareness. The photograph leaves the viewer wondering at what point in life does this behaviour change – could one imagine a middle aged married couple in a similar position? Or, are these teenagers rebelling rather than experiencing love, rebelling the social norms and protesting with their body language? A thought provoking scene.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Young Bliss At The Piazza.
JESS WILLIAMS
“The simple contrast between the surrounding blue sky and vibrant orange towel, helps create this classic beach portrait. The young subject seems lost in thought as they look out across the ocean, twisting their face and squinting against the sun. The image fills the senses, inviting the viewer to feel the heat on their face, taste of salt on their lips, and see the water glistening before them. A sweet caption accompanies.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Marli looking out into the Gulf. A clean slate for imagination.
CHATREE LERTSINTANAKORN
“The photographer happens across this sweet scene of childhood – one that could easily be found in a clothing catalogue or an album of professional family portraits. There is joy in knowing that these moments don’t have to be staged, and that children find joy in simple surroundings at random points in time. This is a photograph that embraces these girls for who they are in this moment, and celebrates their innocence, warmth and delight.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – From the series of Manee and her Friends. While visiting a small village in Wanon Niwat, I saw the two little girls -Manee and Choojai- playing with their puppies in the outside their house after school. The children had fun playing, so much so that they forgot to eat their evening meal. I stopped to say hello to them – a little happiness in Sakon Nakho, Thailand.
ANTONIO FECI
“The subject’s casual demeanour – sitting relaxed, a wry smile on his face and a cigarette in hand – seems to conflict with the uniform he wears, as if a subtle acknowledgement to the complexity of identity and human nature. When the theme of ‘Youth’ is applied here, the viewer could consider the choices we make as we embark on adulthood and how the roles, jobs and vocations we seek and follow affect the rest of our lives. An interesting portrait that leaves viewers with more questions than answers.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – Young soldier posing in front of the National Monument in Ho-Chi-Minh City, Vietnam.
ALISON ANSELOT
“The idea of a safe space is vital in an age where young people’s mental health is more vulnerable than ever, constantly under attack from endless online information, unwanted opinions and global uncertainty. Using a fresh and soothing color palette the photographer frames the subject at an entrance, just before they cross the threshold, from the painful outside world into their comfort zone. The viewer almost becomes the welcoming parent, ready to relieve and reassure.” – LIFE FRAMER
Photographer statement – When I was a child, my parents’ house was my safe place. The place where I could find comfort, tenderness, and love whenever I needed it. This series is dedicated to those moments and to the feeling of relief once you push that door.
