San Francisco Zoo. © Gwen Coyne. Selected by Marina Sersale, member of Hikari Creative. Marina wrote, "A brilliant, clever and completely magical photo that takes you straight into a child's world, where nothing needs to make sense. Somewhere in between a dream and reality, the juxtaposition of a child's body and the shadows on the ground turns this photo into an abstract work of art that I absolutely love."
The Village's Pride And Joy © Bernadette Maccabe. Selected by Eric Mencher, member of Hikari Creative. Eric wrote, "This picture is beautifully infused with joy as the essence of life, framed in an exquisitely textured composition. The back story is important, too: these Reil dancers from South Africa, many of whom had never before been in a car, were performing just before boarding a 747 jet bound for Los Angeles, where they were to take home a gold medal. How full of life! I so much want to be there, too, and meet these exquisite dancers and share in their joy."
A group of Somali ladies who were born and raised in Dadaab refugee camp, the world's largest, created more than 20 years ago. © Matilde Gattoni. Selected by Adriana Zebrauskas, member of Hikari Creative. Adriana wrote, "These pictures all have a slightly out of this world feel about them. At first sight it makes you wonder if it is really a photograph or a painting. I'm looking for images that intrigue me, grab me, make some stop and look at them closer."
So I'll keep my light in my window... © Jonas Berggren. Selected by Adriana Zebrauskas, member of Hikari Creative
North Road © Buckner Sutter. Selected by Adriana Zebrauskas, member of Hikari Creative. Adriana wrote, "I'm looking for images that combine those fleeting moments of beauty and a photographer’s intention on how to show it. I like images that take me on a journey, outward or inward. There are no rules in this space for me."
Rosenthaler Platz © Alina Rudya. Selected by Adriana Zebrauskas, member of Hikari Creative
Water Man. There are no cars in Burano, an island of Venice. To solve the problem of transporting heavy bricks of water bottles, this man walks around the neighborhood and asks each person which water they would like. He writes everything down in a notebook. He then collects all the orders and loads up the crates of water and goes around to all his customers delivering the goods. © Mirko Saviane. Selected by Marina Sersale, member of Hikari Creative. Marina wrote, "A beautiful and striking photo that transforms a famous tourist destination into a colourful Neverland, where a giant man walks the streets selling water. I really like the interaction between the colours, the geometry and the big black shadow on the wall and I find the whole composition surprising and pleasing at the same time."
About Castella. Pamplona. Spain © José Luis Ollo. Selected by Eric Mencher, member of Hikari Creative. Eric wrote, "For me, this picture evokes some simple but descriptive words, all followed by an exclamation point. Wow! Beautiful! Amazing! Incredible! I can't stop looking at this image. Particularly knowing that the elegance expressed by this composition could easily fall apart, torn by the conflict about to face the subjects. A quiet moment that speaks loudly."
Rain, Brooklyn. © Julia Xanthos. Selected by Q. Sakamaki, member of Hikari Creative. Q. wrote, "The location of this photo is an iconic tourist area in New York. In other words, it becomes harder and harder to create an impressive image there. But by capturing the combined, decisive moment of rain, silhouette, reflected lights and a person with a hat, the photographer transformed an ordinary place into a very poetic, magical world."
Thousands of Afghan, Syrian and Iraqi refugees are transported on a ship to Athens, Greece. © Mojtaba Jalali. Selected by Ako Salemi, member of Hikari Creative. Ako wrote, "When a refugee starts his long journey from Iran to Europe and use his iPhone to document his story, absolutely the result will be amazing and so strange for us. Mojtaba took this picture in September 2015 in Greece where a big ship transfers approximately 2,500 refugees from Mytilene to Athens."
Children of Pskov. © Dmitry Markov. Selected by Q. Sakamaki, member of Hikari Creative. Q. wrote, "This is just a great example that photography is not technical, but it should come from something soulful or something raw that comes from the photographer oneself."
Life in Rasht, the most populated city on the south Caspian sea in Iran. © Khashayar Javanmardi. Selected by Ako Salemi, member of Hikari Creative
I came looking for love | We came looking for food. © JJ Bonny Lang-Lenton. Selected by Marina Sersale, member of Hikari Creative. Marina wrote, "Apart from the perfect composition and the fact that I love the cats, what touches me most in this photo is the tender intimacy of the moment and the melancholic loneliness of the old man, both treated with utmost discretion. I feel drawn to look at it again and again, seduced by the cats and the man every single time."
Every doorway, every intersection has a story. © Kass Mencher. Selected by Eric Mencher, member of Hikari Creative. Eric wrote, "This photo is imbued with humor, ambiguity, beauty, and mystery—all the components that shape a memorable image. This picture so artfully speaks to life, with its delicate balance and textured layers. And just where is he taking this horse? And why are there three X's (XXX) on the wall that almost mimic the man's outstretched fingers? A picture with more questions than answers and therein lies its majesty."
Where I will rest my head for the next few days in Haiti. © Neal Santos. Selected by Eric Mencher, member of Hikari Creative. Eric wrote, "This photo is simply beautiful. And beauty is so important to me and (I believe) to life. Plus, it goes deeper than beauty. The photo speaks to hardship, conflict between man and nature, and, perhaps, solitude."
A frog in Aomori, Japan. © Katsura Fukuda. Selected by Q. Sakamaki, member of Hikari Creative. Q. wrote, "This is a very simple image photographed in rural north Japan. But it's impressive that with only a tiny frog and a clothespin, it can create a sense of lovely coexistence between humans and nature."
© John Crawford. Selected by Eric Mencher, member of Hikari Creative. Eric wrote, "This photo is from a powerful ongoing portrait series of the homeless in Auckland, New Zealand. The overall feel, the face (in profile), and the technique drew me in. His hair, his coat, his face all contribute mightily to a potent and powerful image. The photographer is able to capture a quiet, albeit unsure, dignity. And that dignity speaks volumes to me."
Coney Island. © Mike Kobal. Selected by Q. Sakamaki, member of Hikari Creative. Q. wrote, "This is not only dramatic but also becomes more fashionable and sexy than nearly any of the set-up fashion photos. This is despite the fact that the image was shot in a rathe ordinary situation — after the annual Mermaid Parade on New York's Coney Island."
We Shall See © Ian Willms. Selected by Marina Sersale, member of Hikari Creative. Marina wrote, "A photographic diary that Ian Willms kept following his father's motorcycle accident, which paralyzed him and eventually caused his death. In the photo, Ian and his sister are waiting for news at the hospital where Ian's father is in intensive care. A beautiful image that touches upon so many aspects of hospital life and family relationships, as embodied between the two waiting figures."
To Belfast from Dublin. © Elif Gulen. Selected by Marina Sersale, member of Hikari Creative. Marina wrote, "Some of my favorite elements are all in this photo: negative space, a beautiful light, framing, emotion and movement. Everything perfectly balanced in a sparse but lovely image that says more than any words could. The woman's eyes are closed and I find myself transported into her mind, as if the rain-swept window were a visualisation of her thoughts or dreams. It's a spiritual, intimate and somehow cleansing, all at once."
