1ST PRIZE: Kelly-Ann Bobb

“I love the sensuality of this portrait, which feels like a mix of reality and the spiritual. The contrast in textures and tones is appealing, as is the privacy of the subject’s thoughts and feelings. I imagined a craftsman caught between past and present histories with the sea acting as a metaphor for both.” – Caroline Hunter

2ND PRIZE: Khanh Bui Phu

“I was drawn to the intense colours of this image. A simple act of the traditional craft of fishing is transformed into a spectacular cinematic scene by the morning light and brilliant hues. The fisherman to the right of the frame appears very small in comparison, as if dominated by nature.” – Caroline Hunter

3RD PRIZE: Natalya Saprunova

“Natalya Saprunova’s portrait is a brilliant example of the storytelling capacities of the medium. Seemingly unsophisticated, the photographer chose a simple yet perfectly fitting backdrop to create a deep visual connexion between her subject and his story: the bond that exists between the Saami of Russia (who lost their nomadic autonomy with the rise of Soviet power in the 1920s) and their natural habitat. All with subtle elements once we take the time to dive into the frame: a large poster representing the wild, hanging on a worn-out wall of concrete, where the fading pink wall paint makes way for the previous nature-like green color. Our subject wearing the once forbidden traditional Saami costume; The relation between past and present?” – The Independent Photographer Editors