In 1839, photography as "the medium was first made widely available to the public," hence the name of the 1839 Photography Awards. To honor great photographers who use it as an art form, the 1839 Awards have announced the winners of this year's competition in various categories.
Both professionals and non-professionals can participate, however, in the list down below, we shared the winners submitted only by the pros. Before an elite group of judges gives their verdict, people can vote for their favorite images as well, earning the photographers the People's Vote Award.
So, without further ado, we invite you to explore photography through the lens of art that can manifest in breathtaking landscapes, intimate portraits, captivating minimalism, and much more.
More info: Instagram | 1839awards.com
#1 "Eye On The Prize" By Vince Burton
Awards: 3rd Place, Overall Contest Winner and Silver, Nature. "A wild barn owl photographed as it focuses on its prey."
Image credits: VinceBurtonPhotography
Bored Panda reached out to Lily Fierman, Co-Founder and Director behind the 1839 Awards, and Alexandrena Parker, the 1st Place Overall Contest Winner with a photo series called “Unsupervised.”
First of all, we wanted to learn more about the origins of the 1839 Photography Awards and the inspiration behind its establishment.
Lily kindly answered: “The 1839 Awards were named after the year photography began to spread worldwide after its initial presentation to the public in Paris. The contest is designed to hold space for celebrating and honoring the art of photography, from fine art photography to those who get more conceptual and use photography as a starting point for their work. The 1839 Awards are one of three contests we offer. Additionally, we hold the Exposure One Awards for black and white photography and the reFocus Awards - our very first contest - which honors photography of all kinds.”
#2 "The Price Of Freedom" By Lenka Klicperová
Awards: Gold, Photojournalism. "Ukraine has been defending itself against Russian aggression for two years. Thousands of soldiers and civilians are paying a terrible price for their freedom. But they are still fighting."
Image credits: lenkaklicperova
#3 "Sky Blue" By Robyn Finlayson
Awards: Gold, Nature.
Image credits: fraserislandgallery
Lily also commented on criteria that are used to evaluate the submissions by judges.
“The judges' decision is based on the category and within the contest's framework. So, if the category is 'landscapes' in the 1839 Awards, there is a bit of creativity in the process and how they choose the landscapes that make it into the final round because the contest rewards those using photography as their medium of expression. For a contest like this that specifically looks for photographers exploring the art of the image, these definitions can become subjective in the best way possible. As for objectivity, we have judges from quite a few different backgrounds, so this provides a variety of opinions. We were very specific in who we asked, knowing that we needed different viewpoints to facilitate a contest that rewards all types of photography, subjects, and stories,” explained Lily.
#4 "Amazon - The Green's End" By Betina Samaia
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Conceptual and Honorable Mention, Conceptual. "In the early 2000s, I sought solace in the Amazon's depths, capturing its solitude and stark beauty. With an infrared camera, I unveiled hidden hues, a poetic denunciation of deforestation's toll. These photos, echo nature's plea for preservation."
Image credits: betinasamaia
#5 "Unreal Atmosphere" By Alexandre Bès
Awards: Bronze, Animals. "Lake “Magadi” which means “soda” in Swahili bears its name very well, since it contains a unique concentration of caustic soda, produced naturally by the transformation of sediments in contact with runoff water and molten lava under the lake."
Image credits: alexandreetchloebes
Regarding the People's Vote Award, we asked Lily to describe the impact of the competition and how it influences the judges' final decisions.
Lily wrote: “The People's Vote Awards are separate from the juried competition; they have no impact on one another. It's yet another way photographers can get their work out into the world. The PVA portion of the competition happens after the jury has chosen the winners.”
Lily also shared which images have been the most memorable or groundbreaking from this year's competition and what made them stand out to the judges.
“It's hard to play favorites here! Admittedly, however, one of the best parts of what we do is seeing the images that come in. Some that stood out to me, personally, were 'Tiger' by Sofia Lopez Mañan, 'Bows and Ruffles' by Irene Baque de Puig, 'Val's Braids' by Johel Pereira, and Astrid Reischwitz's series, 'Spin Club Tapestry'."
#6 "Sorrel And White ( The Horses Of Kurdistan )" By Armin Abdehou
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Animals. "Creating a color contrast in nature, with the empathy and love play of two enamored horses. On the heights of the SHIRIN mountains in the Barzan region of Kurdistan, during a cold winter, the warm meeting of these two horses brought spring back to nature."
Image credits: armin.abdehou
#7 "A Black Life Matters" By Ade Okelarin
Awards: Bronze, Storytelling and Honorable Mention, Conceptual. "The series ‘A Black Life Matters’ are a group of self-portraits made in response to the death of George Floyd and the racial tensions experienced by the black community in the summer of 2020."
Image credits: 1839awards.com
We were also curious to know how Lily sees the role of photography evolving in the next decade and how the 1839 Photography Awards plan to adapt to these changes.
“Photography is only becoming more and more important. As the world changes, for better or worse, those documenting these changes or telling stories with their cameras allow us to understand what's happening around us. There are so many places many of us will never get to go, and we experience them through the work of others. We can't appreciate or love what we don't understand, and taking a photo allows us to understand. While getting caught up in the doomsday spiral of AI and big tech is easy to do these days, photography's power will never be diminished because it helps us bear witness or understand something complex in ways that can't be replicated through an algorithm. The person behind the camera and what they bring to each image is as important as the final photograph; we can't forget that!” shared Lily.
#8 "Spaghetti Stylist" By Yuliy Vasilev
Awards: Gold, Still Life.
Image credits: yuliy.vasilev
#9 "Riders Of The Volcano" By Mahendra Bakle
Awards: Silver, Travel. ""The Horsemen of Bromo," epitomize a rich cultural legacy amidst Mount Bromo's breathtaking landscape. are custodians of tradition, they provide visitors an immersive journey, blending vibrant customs with deep-rooted rituals, offering rides and a profound encounter with the region's heritage."
Image credits: mahendrabakle
Lastly, Lily added: “If any of what we've said resonates with you, we'd love for you to join our community by entering your work. If you're not ready or don't want to enter a contest, we also have discounts on gear and other photo services for anyone who makes a profile, for free. However, if you are interested in entering a contest, we're about to open the 2024 Photographers of the Year Contest at the 1839 Awards and at Exposure One, and we currently have our 2024 Black & White Contest open at reFocus. We'd love to see your work!”
#10 "Insects The Little Strangers" By Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz
Awards: Silver, Animals. "Thanks to Macrophotography we can discover and appreciate details that are hidden from us. In the project that I show you "Insects the little strangers" I have photographed different insects giving them great prominence and showing their singular beauty."
Image credits: 1839awards
#11 "Tiger" By Sofia Lopez Mañan
Awards: 2nd Place, Overall Contest Winner and Gold, Animals.
"Tiger standing on a bed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This image is part of the project " The Book of Nature" that explores the concept of 'Nature' as a manmade construction."
Image credits: sofialopezmanan
Alexandrena’s photo series has won multiple awards besides being the Overall Winner. It has also been awarded as Gold winner in the category Storytelling, Gold winner in the category Conceptual, and Bronze winner in the category People.
Alexandrena told us more about her photos and what inspired her to capture them.
“Children at play, alone, without any adult supervision is something that is simply not seen anymore. Between 1936-1972, Life Magazine, the first ‘all photographic’ news publication, was saturated with images of children playing freely on the streets.
Throughout this body of work, I felt compelled to highlight the simplicity and importance of childhood play in a modern world that is so screen-obsessed.
Set in the streets of Broken Hill, outback NSW, the scenes explore the relationship between the landscape past and present. The ‘set-like’ shop fronts pay homage to the past, giving the children a stage to authentically play. Does this scene really exist or has it been lost forever?”
“I created this series during a period when I felt creatively stuck. To break free from this rut, I decided to travel to a brand-new destination for a couple of days and create some personal work. I chose Broken Hill, a remote rural mining town in outback NSW, Australia, surrounded by vibrant red dirt. This was my first visit to Broken Hill, and I hoped it would reignite my passion for photography.
Initially, I planned to capture scenes including the striking red dirt of Broken Hill, but my research led me in a different direction. I became fascinated by the town's buildings and classic signage, which gave it a timeless feel. Inspired by the nostalgic look of the town, I decided to focus on capturing the essence of its streets and storefronts.
My goal was to create a series that I could proudly hang on my wall. To achieve this, I chose to photograph children not as traditional portraits but as elements of urbanscapes. I aimed for these images to evoke a sense of timelessness, reminiscent of the children featured in Life magazine from the 1920s to the 1960s, who were often depicted playing marbles, skipping, or simply hanging out on the streets unsupervised.”
#12 "Monument Valley" By Linda Chaussee
Awards: Gold, Film/Analog. "This image explores the theme of duality using the window to separate the world as it is and the world that is created. Made with a Mamiya 7II and Portra 400 film."
Image credits: l.chaussee
#13 "Nations Of The Atlantic" By Kim Lang
Awards: Gold, Travel. "Nations of the Atlantic explores the ocean as a vessel to connect cultures, and focusses on the universal experience of places that rely on the sea for their everyday lives. It shifts the attention to small island nations, often overlooked in the greater discussion of climate change."
Image credits: kimlangstudio
“Upon arriving in Broken Hill, I connected with a local community member who helped put out a call on Facebook for children to participate. Sheridan Davey, a stylist, flew in from Sydney to bring the styling to life, and we sourced colorful outfits from local op shops. It was important to me that the images looked curated and considered, not documentary in style, which is why I emphasized vibrant colors.
Because I had never been to Broken Hill before, I didn't have specific photo locations planned until I arrived. The number of children who turned up at each location varied, resulting in some shots having more children than others. Despite these uncertainties, the series came together beautifully over the course of two days.”
#14 "Unsupervised" By Alexandrena Parker
Awards: 1st Place, Overall Contest Winner; Gold, Storytelling; Gold, Conceptual; Bronze, People. "The sight of children engaged in unsupervised play, left to their own devices in the streets, has become increasingly rare. Set in outback Australia, the scenes weave together the past and present, symbolising the relationship between the landscape and the timeless essence of childhood."
Image credits: alexandrenaparker
#15 "Destiny Church" By Matteo Redaelli
Awards: Bronze, Travel. "In this image is possible to appreciate this church, Destiny Church located in New Zealand, during midnight. The sky is into Dark Sky Reserve and it's possible to see the length of the galaxy from a complete extension. The church built in 1935 appears in Heritage New Zealand."
Image credits: matdock
We were wondering how Alexandrena approaches photography as an art form and what is her creative process when planning and capturing the shots.
The photographer shared: “I am primarily a commercial photographer by trade, but I regularly create personal photography work that has more of a conceptual, artistic approach. It is important for me to continuously create conceptual personal work to keep my love and passion for photography alive. When I embark on a personal art photography project I usually try to fulfill the following criteria:
1.To create work that ‘I’ would want to hang on my wall
2.To create something that is challenging, pushing me forward
3.To create something that says something about me, or comment on something that is important to me.
If I can achieve these three things when making personal work it feels like my own form of professional development.”
#16 "Saguaro Storm" By Erin Cahill
Awards: Silver, Landscapes. "A single exposure shot from a storm in the Saguaro desert."
Image credits: erinrose_cahill
#17 "Tiger Motel" By Paul Fuentes
Awards: Bronze, Conceptual. "With a fascination for wild animals, especially big cats, and classic cars, it all came together. Tiger Motel, is a joyful scene of a tiger on top of a classic car in front of a Californian motel."
Image credits: paulfuentes_photo
Alexandrena also shared what challenges she faced while capturing the winning photographs.
“I had never visited the location where I captured the series (Broken Hill) before, and it was about a 9-hour drive from where I live. Not knowing anyone there, I reached out to people through Facebook community pages to find children to participate in the photographs. Fortunately, I connected with a few locals who had contacts at the local primary school. I was never certain how many children would show up at each shoot location, which is why some photos have more children than others. I had only three full days in Broken Hill to scout locations, coordinate with the children, and capture the photos. The tight timeline was challenging but also forced me to stick to deadlines and make quick decisions,” wrote Alexandrena.
#18 "Kukeri" By Aron Klein
Awards: Bronze, Travel. "“Kukeri” is a portrait of Bulgaria’s ancient pagan rituals performed in the countries remote mountain regions. The annual arcane rituals intended to dispel the evil spirits which might otherwise bring ill fortune to their community."
Image credits: 1839awards
#19 "Cyanea Capillata" By Alexander Semenov
Awards: Silver, Nature.
Image credits: aquatilis_expedition
Winning such a prestigious award must be a significant milestone in any photographer’s career. Therefore, we asked Alexandrena to share how she plans to build on this achievement, and what we can expect to see from her in the future.
“Winning first place in the 1839 Awards was a tremendous honor, and I am deeply grateful to have my work recognized. My primary goal is to continue creating work that fulfills me and fuels my passion for photography. It gives me purpose, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have found such a meaningful pursuit in my life. I love producing photography that prompts people to question, think, or see things from a different perspective, and I will continue to create with this focus. Recently, I have also begun directing short films, which has significantly challenged and enhanced my storytelling abilities using this dynamic medium.”
#20 "Gitano" By Arianna Angelini
Awards: Gold, People. "I met him once, trying to find my way The solitude of the highlands was what I sought Unbidden, he sat beside me on a log one day As I was caught up with some restless thought"
Image credits: arianna_angelini
#21 "How To Train Your Dragon" By Leo Kwok
Awards: Gold, Event and People’s Vote Award, Event. "Showered by molten, firework-like sparks, people in Meizhou, China perform a fire dragon dance to celebrate the Lantern Festival on the first full moon of the Lunar Calendar. This celebration was performed over 200 years ago and was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in China in 2008."
Image credits: leokwokphoto
#22 "Frosted Fern" By John Lauritsen
Awards: Bronze, Minimalism.
Image credits: johnlauritsenphotography
#23 "Hindu Devotees Praying In Fasting Ceremony" By Shafayet Hossain Apollo
Awards: Silver, Event. "In the evening, Hindu devotees pray with especial butter-lamps and foods in the Baba Loknath temple during the fasting and lighting of lamps ceremony known as ‘Rakher Upobash’ in Samibag, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The fasters will break fasting by eating when all the lamps burn out."
Image credits: shafayet.apollo
#24 "Icelandic Aurora Color Dance" By Jan-Tore Oevrevik
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Nature and Honorable Mention, Nature. "Experience the mesmerizing beauty of the Icelandic skies through 'Icelandic Aurora Color Dance'. This series captures the Aurora Borealis in its full, vibrant glory, weaving a visual symphony of purples, greens, and reds across the Nordic heavens."
Image credits: jto_photography
#25 "Twenty Years After The Siege" By Alex Elena
Awards: Bronze, Landscapes. "For the first time since the war, I returned to Sarajevo. The fog was disappearing and it was bitter cold. Smoke was rising from the chimneys and the sun was hiding behind the clouds. A stunning view with many layers. The many layers that represent the soul of the city."
Image credits: alexelena007
#26 "A Different Kind Of Nebula" By Tamra M. Gentry
Awards: Bronze, Nature. "This image is part of the interior of a rock from Indonesia that measures 1.5 inches square. The stunning natural colors and ethereal, wispy mineral formations resemble nebulae in outer space."
Image credits: tamragentryphotography
#27 "Ferry Series" By Linda Chaussee
Awards: Gold, Film/Analog. "Made with Rolleiflex 2.9F and Portra 400."
Image credits: l.chaussee
#28 "Tous Saint" By Vladim Vilain
Awards: Silver, Conceptual. "Toussaint Louverture named himself after Papa Legba, an important figure in Haitian vodou culture. Toussaint aspired to enlightenment and paved the way for the Haitian revolution. All the representations of him that exist in the world have been imagined, and this image is one of them."
Image credits: vladimvilain
#29 "One, Two, Three" By Zili Zhang
Awards: Bronze, Minimalism and People’s Vote Award, Minimalism. "It looks like one canoe, but actually two; It looks like only two people, but don't miss a small dog is also on board. Lastly, there are three birds floating on the water."
Image credits: WindinSilence
#30 "Cloudscapes" By Daniel Agra
Awards: Silver, Other. "The stuff dreams are made of, they are the imaginary of the sky with its disfigured, tumultuous and scattered past, , a canvas to see more beyond a limitless horizon, and thus magic makes an eternity out of nothing, becoming the eye of the soul."
Image credits: daniel_agra_
#31 "Sewing The Fishing Net" By Ty Pham
Awards: Bronze, People. "The fishing women are sewing the net when their husband still fishing in the sea. Vinh Hy Bay, Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam."
Image credits: phamvty
#32 "Then He Forgot My Name" By Susan Copich
Awards: Bronze, Storytelling. "Ohio-raised, New York-based photographer Susan Copich has since 2010 been making highly staged and carefully crafted self-portraits that reflect on the dark sides of contemporary American femininity and the artist’s inner psychological dramas in ways that that are both alarming and relatable."
Image credits: susancopich
#33 "Far Above Dam" By Zili Zhang
Awards: Gold, Minimalism. "Glen Canyon Dam, which holds the 2nd largest reservoir in the U.S. Because of climate changes, the water level dropped to less than 40%. A worker operating on a bed of algae. Look how small a human is compared to the scale of the structure, yet observe the immense impact we made on our environment."
Image credits: WindinSilence
#34 "The Octopus" By Markus Erk
Awards: Bronze, Event. "A long time exposure captures the movements of the octopus carnival ride at the Central States Fair in Rapid City, South Dakota.'
Image credits: Markus_A_Erk
#35 "Miami Pool" By David Behar
Awards: Gold, Minimalism. "Leaning over the balcony of my aunt's Miami Beach apartment I noticed a woman in red going for a swim, so I went back for my camera."
Image credits: davidbehar
#36 "Spilt Milk" By Cara (Caroline) Hodge
Awards: Silver, People. "Child Portrait."
Image credits: BlackrockDublin4
#37 "Free" By Mohamed Mahdy
Awards: Silver, Photojournalism and Honorable Mention, Storytelling. "A boy jumping from the bridge into the canal of El-Max Fishing village, Alexandria, Egypt. Before demolition, every fisherman had his boat and equipment parked in front of his house. Residents used to call this canal the Middle East Venice, as it resembled the beauty and vibes of Italian Venice."
Image credits: mohamedmahdyph
#38 "Rilka Ann Out On The Fields" By Anne Helene Gjelstad
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Photojournalism and Honorable Mention, Photojournalism. "I saw her out on the fields on a cold Easter day. From her broken hands and her poor home, you can tell that Rilka Ann had a harsh, demanding life. She also had the softest cheeks. From my project ‘Big Heart, Strong Hands’, published in 2020 by Dewi Lewis Publishing."
Image credits: Anne Helene Gjelstad
#39 "India - Memories Of What I Have Never Seen" By Betina Samaia
Awards: Silver, Conceptual. "Childhood dreams of parental letters, filled with tales of distant lands, echoed in my journey to India. Amid serene pathways, my modified camera captured dreamlike scenes, mirroring Bhagavad Gita's illustrations. Divine encounters unfolded, blending magic with photography."
Image credits: betinasamaia
#40 "Francesca Pompei-Red Snake" By Francesca Pompei
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Architecture and Honorable Mention, Architecture. "Staircase in the Stadtcasino, Basel, Switzerland"
Image credits: fpompei_architecture_photos
#41 "Dark Beauty" By Robyn Finlayson
Awards: Gold, Landscapes. "In late 2020 a wildfire broke out on World Heritage listed K’gari, the world’s largest sand island. It swept through more than 87,000 hectares or almost half the island. It burned for more than 2 months. During this time I discovered an unexpected and alluring beauty amongst the devastation."
Image credits: fraserislandgallery
#42 "Domestic Witch (Self-Portrait)" By Henriette Van Gasteren
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Storytelling. "Domestic Witch (self-portrait) from the series: Domestic Goddess."
Image credits: hjimvangasteren
#43 "Big Heart, Strong Hands" By Anne Helene Gjelstad
Awards: Bronze, Photojournalism. "This is the story of the older women on Kihnu and Manija islands. Often viewed as Europe’s matriarchy, the women take care of almost everything. I have photographed their daily lives, their clothing, bedrooms and farmhouses and the surroundings. My book is published in 2020 by Dewi Lewis Publishing."
Image credits: Anne Helene Gjelstad
#44 "Diamond Dust" By Xuan-Hui Ng
Awards: Silver, Nature. "Diamond dust are ice crystals that form in the air when temperatures are extremely low. As global warming advances, we are seeing less of this magical phenomenon. I hope my images can prompt people to be kinder towards the environment so that they will not be a mere record of their once brilliance."
Image credits: xuanhui_ng
#45 "Foogy Morning In Sydney" By Franz Scheurer
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Landscapes. "Hasselblad X1d II + Carl Zeiss Tele Tessar f8/500mm"
Image credits: fscheurer
#46 "The Vessel" By Hannah Laycock
Awards: Silver, Conceptual. "Constructing self-portraits and documenting her environment, Laycock explores the experience of living in a human body. The artist, who lives with Multiple Sclerosis, uses visual strategies to communicate where the limitations of language fail. Reflecting experiences of transition, loss, and illness."
Image credits: pushthebutton82
#47 "Playfield" By Bragi Thor Josefsson
Awards: Gold, Architecture.
Image credits: 1839awards
#48 "Flora Arcana" By Mário Pires
Awards: Silver, Still Life. "Flowers communicate in a language that humans have long forgotten. We may one day be able to understand them and learn from them."
Image credits: retorta
#49 "Bows And Ruffles" By Irene Baque De Puig
Awards: Silver, Storytelling. "Three girls dressed in traditional Oaxacan dress in Teotitlán del Valle."
Image credits: irenebaque
#50 "Ppe Portraits- Luminosity, Colour, B&w" By Sarah Cusack
Awards: Gold, Other. "Digital photograms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Provides protection from infectious particles but not from varying psycho-emotional states over time. Light shines through PPE, a digital process allows an inverse of colour and luminosity while maintaining a likeness to medical imaging."
Image credits: scistudio
#51 "Untitled" By Robyn Finlayson
Awards: Gold, AI.
Image credits: fraserislandgallery
#52 "Mi Amiga Virginia" By Mariana Pacho Lopez
Awards: Bronze, Film/Analog. "Analog 35mm color photography."
Image credits: empalagarmedemar
#53 "Preparing For The Winter" By Thanos Palaskos
Awards: Silver, Film/Analog and People’s Vote Award, Film/Analog. "'Every year I have to renew the white paint, at some places I even have to paint twice. I am 82 years old now and have been doing this with my father since I was a child. My children have moved to the big cities and I'm afraid that no one will take care of it after I die', says Giorgos."
Image credits: thanospal
#54 "Banhô" By Bruno Kelly
Awards: Bronze, Photojournalism. "A couple is seen bathing in the waters of the Rio Negro, to cool off, during a very hot afternoon in the Brazilian Amazon near Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil."
Image credits: brunokelly_photo
#55 "Ponte Della Costituzione, Venice" By Jeroen Den Uijl
Awards: Bronze, Architecture. "A photo out a serie about Venice, this is Calatrava's bridge in Venice where old meets new."
Image credits: jeroendenuijl_fotografie
#56 "Dive In" By Nicky Ryan
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Travel.
Image credits: nickyryanphoto
#57 "Bondi Haze" By Nicky Ryan
Awards: People’s Vote Award, Other and Nominee, Other.
Image credits: nickyryanphoto
#58 "Blue" By Daniel Holfeld
Awards: Silver, Minimalism and Silver, Architecture. "This photo was taken at La Muralla Roja by architect Ricardo Bofill and was shot using natural daylight. Influenced by iconic blues like Picasso’s and Majorelle blue, the colours hold deep significance in the artist's palette, offering clarity and intense emotional impact."
Image credits: danielholfeld
#59 "Identity" By Elena Raceala
Awards: Bronze, Conceptual. "Ever since I discovered photography, I have been fascinated by surrealism, by the mystery beyond us and beyond the moment, by "nothing is what it seems". My project is inspired by the artworks of René Magritte. And the question that grinds me is "If I become like you, how will you ever know me?""
Image credits: touchmyvision
#60 "Wanderlust" By Steven Jackson
Awards: People’s Vote Award, People and Honorable Mention, People. "This work touches on our desire to explore and see the mysteries of the world. Not knowing where the road may take you but being open to all opportunities it may bring. (shot on media format Kodak film)"
Image credits: makeushutter
#61 "Art Of Glass" By Chantel King
Awards: Bronze, Other. "What makes us vulnerable? For me, it is showing your true self. We’re told showing vulnerability can be a sign of weakness, but I wanted to showcase that it's a sign of strength, we constantly hide behind a mask. I shot through the glass to give this illusion, yet the model’s pose is strong."
Image credits: chantelkingphoto
#62 "Reflection" By Benjamin Cole
Awards: Bronze, Still Life and People’s Vote Award, Still Life. "‘Reflection’ is a raw and emotive visual display of life, the events, outcomes, strength, and pull post The Pandemic. Through this series, I explored my experiences and life from 2020- 2023 documenting ideas abstractly through sculptural botanical creations using new and previous techniques."
Image credits: benjamincole_art
#63 "M" By Scarlett Coten
Awards: Gold, Storytelling. "M brings together three series that explore from the Mediterranean basin to Trump's America, and France, contemporary masculinities and the determination to express who one really is. The challenge is of introducing into the collective imagination these singular yet shared experiences."
Image credits: scarlett_coten
#64 "Neow" By Peter Nitsch
Awards: Silver, Other. "The photograph is part of the NEOW series of more than 60 photographs exploring loneliness in a large city - quiet, empty, unexplainably radiant, as if it‘s in the neon light that we have any hope of finding understanding."
Image credits: peternitsch.gram
#65 "Ossiuary, From The Series, French Fold" By Heather Mcdonough
Awards: Silver, Still Life. "French Folds is a project about accumulation. My work is about family & memory, and—here specifically—about how women fill their homes and lives with things."
Image credits: hevphoto
#66 "Knowledge" By Edie Fogel
Awards: Bronze, Other. "The Nature of Being Series."
Image credits: ediefogel
