1ST PRIZE: Alain Mouton

“Truth is, given my background at LIFE and my own passions, I usually swing toward serious documentary photos—especially when it comes to black and white. But I could not stop staring at the backside of this flamingo. One thing I look for in pictures is surprise—I love being surprised—and this? This is a picture I’ve never seen before. It strikes me as elegant and, at the same time,slightly comical: What is this ball of feathers atop those spindly, bamboo legs? What I love about this image is what the photographer doesn’t show us. We do not see the flamingo’s head, wings, orfeet … and so we find ourselves taking an active role in the picture by unconsciously connecting the dots and turning it into a bird. Of course, it’s also just graphically gorgeous, the angle unexpected, the tones varied, the contrast striking. And the feathers: Well, I can almost feel them.”— Bill Shapiro

2ND PRIZE: Stefan Groepper

“The picture is titled “On my way” and it feels like the start of a story I’d love to watch unfold. What is this striking, corseted, half-naked woman doing walking ankle-deep in the sandy middle of nowhere? There’s so much here that I like: the subtly different shades of white (sand, sky, clothes, hair); the masterful use of negative space; the subtle yet distinct demarcation between sand and sky; the way light and sand play on her skin; the strong lines of her legs; how the angle of her long, strong neck precisely echoes that of her right leg; the thin shadow beneath her; those regal ruffles; the sense of strength and softness; the lack of any reference cues (the caption tells us we’re outside of Cape Town, but we could be on a different planet). Where has she been? Where is she going? I want to know”— Bill Shapiro 

3RD PRIZE: Luís Godinho

“A wonderful, intimate portrait that captures the joy of this young boy. Stripped of color, the photograph takes on a heightened emotional clarity: the contrast between his pale body and the inky shadows becomes more striking, amplifying the sense of vulnerability and resilience. Born with albinism—a condition that makes him especially visible in both body and social perception, and puts him at risk—here, his presence is rendered with tenderness and dignity, celebrated but not exoticized or objectified. It is a deeply human, unguarded moment: tender, dignified, and quietly heartwarming.”– The Independent Photographer Editors