1ST PRIZE: Somenath Mukhopadhyay

“I loved “Little Gods, an easy, first choice for me. Soft shades of blue frame the girls and provide a filter and backdrop for their colorful costumes and beautiful, expressive faces, especially their eyes. The embroidered cloth works as a compositional element and adds texture. The hands are perfectly placed and timed (love that one finger in the air!), and the hands applying makeup are captured for a perfect moment. The red hairband and thread complete the picture, grabbing my attention and drawing me into it. Congratulations!” — Michael Yamashita

2ND PRIZE: Stuart Chape

“The aerial of Lake Cakora blew me away at first sight. I looked twice just to figure out what I was looking at; the green broccoli and beach on the bottom corners gave it away. I then read the caption and had to look up the word “Dendritic,” which means “having a form resembling a tree.” Yes, but I’ve never seen one quite like this in shades of brown and white, looking like a nervous system. Also, the gradation of earthy colors along the edges and ghostly shapes between the “branches” add to the mystery. A discovery moment graphically captured. Bravo!” — Michael Yamashita

3RD PRIZE: Laurin Strele

“A beautifully composed image. The angle draws the eye from left to right, from the first monk stretching, to the second seemingly walking above his younger colleagues, and the third, almost hidden at the end of the frame. Rich in texture and tone, from the wall, its red paint worn by countless feet, to the patterned stone roof and green trees beyond, and the striking yellow of the monks’ robes, creating a wonderful painterly effect. A beautiful moment of life, perfectly immortalized by the photographer.” – The Independent Photographer Editors