THE WINNERS
Night Stories
A challenge focused on highlighting the significance of the narrative aspect in street photography. The night is a mysterious creature, leaving us to wonder about what we cannot see.
The purpose of this competition was to explore the mysterious essence of the night and its impact on how we perceive the hidden element. Using the medium of street photography, it aims to reveal the fascinating stories that emerge in urban landscapes at night, uncovering the concealed narratives that unfold in the darkness.
Natalia Suslova – FIRST PLACE
In the early 1970s, I discovered my love for photography when I first picked up a camera. As a self-taught photographer, I began with black-and-white film, developing and printing my photos in a darkroom at home with guidance from library books. Photography quickly became my passion, despite having no connection to my professional life as an engineer. As time passed, I transitioned from black-and-white film to color and from analog to digital cameras. I enjoy going out into the streets and capturing intriguing scenes as they unfold before my lens. The process is so captivating that I often marvel at the results on my computer, wondering how they came to be. My approach is instinctive, spontaneous, and free from the constraints of rules or formal techniques. Like this moment when I captured a photo of an airplane. It was a dark, rainy evening, and as I hurriedly climbed the boarding stairs with other passengers, I had no time to pause. However, I did stop for a second, pulled out my camera, took a couple of shots, and then continued on my way. Наталья Суслова
The image is flawless, capturing the anticipation of a journey that will span just one night. The subtle grey tones and impeccable composition draw the viewer in. The child's expression exudes wonder, mirroring our own feelings, and leaves us in awe of how the photographer managed to freeze this magical moment in time. It's as if she was perched on the aeroplane's wing, braving the wind to capture the perfect shot. (Batsceba Hardy)
That lone face in the window spoke to me of the excitement and expectancy of travel. (Keef Charles)
SECOND PLACES
SECOND PLACES
Stefanie Waiblinger a German photographer from Hamburg – Craig Whitehead a British photographer based in Cambridge, famous as the sixstreetunder.
Stefanie Waiblinger - Absolutely surreal. The photographer's work presents a unique perspective that challenges us to expand our understanding of the place and the situation depicted. I perceive it as a thought-provoking experiment, evoking a sense of positivity and benevolence. (Batsceba Hardy)
Craig Whitehead – Intrigue, mystery, and the word "LOST." (Kevin Lim) – The shadow creates the story, giving the impression that there are two people. How many times have we seen these back doors in movies? (Batsceba Hardy) – But for the shadow giving the story away, this could be interpreted in a number of ways. Great use of light. (Keef Charles)
THIRD PLACES
THIRD PLACES
Serra Kemmer Turkish photographer from Istanbul, Arturo Cañedo Peruvian photographer from Lima, Peter Kalnbach German photographer from Hamburg,
Rowell Timoteo Philippines photographer from the city of San Fernando, La Union, Catia Montagna Italian photographer based in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
Serra Kemmer - The transforming power of strobe light, a slice between fiction and reality. (Kevin Lim)
Arturo Cañedo – Great use of flash. Could be a still from a crime movie. (Keef Charles) Cañedo should receive an extra prize because many of his photos were placed in the Night competition, five in total. Additionally, two of his photos received more votes. The night is his battlefield (Batsceba Hardy)
Peter Kalnbach – The two white street lamps, casting their glow, seem to be walking alongside the mysterious figure in the hat, leading him towards an intriguing shadow. (Batsceba Hardy)
Rowell Timoteo - Her lone face in a sea of raincoats is imbued with solitude, isolation, and discomfort; it is layered and humanistic. (Kevin Lim)
Catia Montagna – With sumptuous b/w adding to the depth of the night and the dual storytelling, this is a superb image. (Keef Charles) – In the shadows, you can see a glimpse of mozzarella, which explains Totò's presence. This image also evokes a night filled with ghosts and peculiar encounters. (Batsceba Hardy)
FOURTH PLACES
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FOURTH PLACES 〰️
Catharina Lindgren, Vlad Liamzin, Sandor Rozsas, Roman Benovic, Lynne Kaplan, Guido Klumpe, Mikael Carlsson, Peter Dobozy
Vlad Liamzin: "Take care of your light" – The main symbol in this picture is the presence of light despite darkness; it seems like a battle between life and death. (Batsceba Hardy)
Sandor Rozsas - - Noir, solitude, and mystery. (Kevin Lim)
Roman Benovic - The scene may be innocuous enough but the light and colours lend a more ominous tone to the story. (Keef Charles)
Lynne Kaplan - Photos of street food vendors at night – not as easy as it looks. This one works. (Michael Kennedy)
Guido Klumpe – Only later do we realize that the only living being is the man walking below. A beautiful nighttime image of what I call our "fake world".
Catharina Lindgren - Imbued with intrigue and voyeurism. The ripped stocking is both implicit and explicit at the same time. (Kevin Lim) The use of an image featuring a sex worker in action may come across as cliched. Perhaps incorporating colour could make it more impactful. (Michael Kennedy)
Mikael Carlsson – The window is bridge between inside and outside, offering unexpected connections through the watching eye.
Peter Dobozy - Gothic, mysterious, and reminiscent of a Friedkin movie scene. (Kevin Lim) – When all others are sleeping, there’s a restless soul here. An evocative image. (Keef Charles)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
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HONORABLE MENTIONS 〰️
Donski, Edita Sabalionyte, Uwe Schröder, George Koulouridis, Jh Park, Magda Fulger, André Bogaert, Vasileios Karafotias, Eduardo Storch, Philippe Herge, Gianni Olivetti, John St, Avi Nahum, Csaba Kis, Martin Agius , Lola Minister, Swee Hoe Lim, Rajib Singha, Paolo Zucchini, Don Scott, Jose Valencia, Gwen Julia, Grace Ho, Daniel Kashi, Per Olov Alfredsson, Aurélien Bomy, Ubo Pakes, Paul Coudrier, Bruno Lavi, Juancho Domínguez, Leonardo Cortina, Ilhan Sen, Abhishek Maitra, Catharina Lindgren, Lukasz Palka, Pepe Alvarez-Rogel, Niklas Lindskog, Tom Edward Roman, Patty DeJuneas, Pascal Colin, Mary Crnkovic Pilas, Raffaele Maglione, Ania Wojciechowska, Kenneth Nederskov Petersen, Bruce Saille, Charles Lafrance (Here the names of the previously mentioned photographers are not repeated, even if their photographs are shown with their names.)
Donski – who will be the nocturnal character who inhabits this space?
Edita Sabalionyte – An object abandoned in an empty space is always able to tell a story. The light in this image is gorgeous.
Uwe Schroeder – This strong (and well done) image depicts the frenzy of large musical gatherings. What motivates these people to idolize the performers on stage? I'm not sure if I'm alone in this, but this image reminds me of the crowds at rallies in dictatorships, and it's a strange connection. (BH)
George Koulouridis – If you couldn't imagine cell phones, this image evokes the essence of the magical event.
Jh Park – The concept of the nighttime scene beautifully captured. Flawless. (BH)
Magda Fulger.
André Bogaert
Catharina Lindgren
Vasileios Karafotias
Lucasz Palka
Serra Kemmer
Stefanie Waiblinger - Excellent use of light, shapes and color. (Michael Kennedy)
Lynne Kaplan
Peter Kalnbach - Very beautiful; the balanced use of warm and cool light is impressive, as is the use of color. (Kevin Lim)
Eduardo Storch
Philippe Herge - With a nod to Hopper this is a beautiful gateway into someone’s nighttime world. (Keef Charles)
Gianni Olivetti
John St
Avi Nahum - A very beautiful photo with a lot of tension on the left side of the frame. (kevin Lim)
Csaba Kis
Martin Agius - An image with contrast and movement that is also abstract. (Kevin Lim)
Lola Minister – Perhaps nothing more than a young adult resting in an empty shopping mall, this strong image invites thoughts of a post apocalyptic world. (Keef Charles)
Swee Hoe Lim
Rajib Singha
Paolo Zucchini
Don Scott
Jose Valencia
Craig Whitehead
Gwen Julia - Sailors on a night out is suggestive without being explicit. (Kevin Lim)
Grace Ho
Daniel Kashi – A suggested story here with a little tension in the air. (Keef Charles)
Per Olov Alfredsson – Young lovers courting whilst the other protagonist does her best to remain engrossed in her digital world. A strong contrast. (Keef Charles)
Arturo Cañedo – This image leaves us with the question: what confession did the monster friar just hear? (Batsceba Hardy)
Arturo Cañedo
Arturo Cañedo - Juaquin Phoenix as The Joker? Si, or no? Good ambiguity. (Michael Kennedy)
Arturo Cañedo
Aurelien Bomy
Aurelien Bomy –
Ubo Pakes
Ubo Pakes
Ubo Pakes
Paul Coudrier – Attention drawn elsewhere, this is a wonderful suggestion that all may not be as it seems. (Keef Charles)
Paul Coudrier - The light. The angles. The ambiguity. (Michael Kennedy)
Paul Coudrier
Bruno Lavi
Bruno Lavi
Juancho Dominguez
Juancho Dominguez - A lone figure evokes feelings of solitude. (Kevin Lim)
Leonardo Cortina – The city at night through its shadows and lights undergoes a transformative change, as time seems to have stopped, creating a unique perception of life. (Batsceba Hardy)
Ilhan Sen
Ilhan Sen
Ilhan Sen
Swee Hoe Lim
Rowell Timoteo
Abhishek Maitra
Pepe Alvarez-Rogel – Congratulations on having so many photos among the finalists.
Pepe Alvarez-Rogel - Semana Santa by night; tough to pull off with a flash. Good image. (Michael Kennedy)
Pepe Alvarez-Rogel
Pepe Alvarez-Rogel - The photographer has created a graphic and impactful image!
Guido Klumpe - Excellent use of light, shapes and color. (Michael Kennedy)
Guido Klumpe
Niklas Lindskog - An image that is layered and humanistic, with a wonderful tilt on the left. (Kevin Lim)
Niklas Lindskog
Tom Edward Roman – Love the storytelling here. Struggling against the wind with a reluctant dog, a need to get a move on. (Keef Charles)
Tom Edward Roman - Slightly tighter crop from the left-side. (Michael Kennedy)
Patty DeJuneas - The scene may not be that unusual but the colours are so vibrant that you can almost hear the sound of the street. (Keef Charles)
Patty DeJuneas – Both comical and surreal, this is a witty catch. (Keef Charles)
Pascal Colin - Clever juxtaposition. (Michael Kennedy)
Mary Crnkovic Pilas
Mary Crnkovic Pilas
Mary Crnkovic Pilas
Mary Crnkovic Pilas – The moon's unreal light, the arm's movement, and the hyper-realistic figure in the center make this image truly unforgettable. (Batsceba Hardy)
Raffaele Maglione – Very cinematic, the sense of joy is palpable. (Keef Charles)
Raffaele Maglione
Raffaele Maglione
Ania Wojciechowska
Ania Wojciechowska
Kenneth Nederskov Petersen
Bruce Saille - A night road trip evokes mystery and a sense of being on the run. (Kevin Lim)
Bruce Saille - Has a film noir aesthetic. (kevin Lim)
Charles Lafrance – I like the blue color of this stormy night. I can smell the fresh air, which eliminates the scent of petrol as silence envelops me. (Batsceba Hardy)