With the rapid progress of urbanization, a large number of young and middle-aged rural workers have moved to cities in search of better opportunities. However, this process has brought an important social issue—the plight of left-behind elderly in rural areas. These seniors live alone in villages as their children work far from home, facing challenges in daily care, emotional support, and healthcare. This photo series captures the lives of 10 left-behind elderly individuals in the mountain villages of Lishui. Through visual storytelling, it aims to raise awareness and prompt reflection across all sectors of society.
The World Wide Fund for Nature has reported in its latest study that 60% of wildlife populations have declined since 1970 due to rapid human exploitation of natural resources. These resources constitute our 'green infrastructure'—encompassing water, land, plants, and other living organisms. Iran is no exception to this global trend, despite its abundant natural wealth, including the Hyrcanian forests, mountains, plains, seas, diverse plant and animal species, and fertile agricultural land. In recent years, much of this natural heritage has been lost, primarily due to inadequate environmental management and insufficient public awareness about the sustainable resource use. Humanity has always sought life—even before it had a word to name it—treading an endless path: building homes, hunting, sowing seeds, sewing clothes, ever innovating to meet its needs. With each advance, we leave traces behind—abandoned houses, empty chairs, scattered buttons—like a light we keep burning to say, 'One day, I was alive here.' We continue to question, create, fulfill our needs, and pursue our desires along this eternal journey.
Svalbard is the epicentre of global warming. The 'Stars of Polar Night' project is based at the international science station in Ny-Ålesund, where the entire village is dedicated to climate research with one goal: to understand the changes taking place in the Arctic. Part of the project is a series of portraits of local women in the polar night, with their research or professional tools, in a place to which they feel connected. The photos are accompanied by quotes and information about their work or their dreams. They all have one thing in common: care, concern, and love for the planet's most fragile environment.
The beauty of Venice is known throughout the world, but few are aware that the waters of its canals have magical powers—capable of transfiguring objects and historical monuments into something humorous and bizarre, or even strange and mysterious. The subjects of this series are maritime traffic signals, marine weather stations, small abandoned piers, and the city cemetery. The photographs were taken in the Venetian lagoon last December using a long exposure technique, with exposure times ranging from 80 to 264 seconds.
Miles from the main roads in rural Uganda, soccer flourishes in unexpected places. Children play on arid, weedy, or sandy patches—any relatively flat ground will do. Goalposts are made from rocks or branches. Some feet are bare, others wear worn-out shoes or rubber sandals. They chase handmade, lopsided balls with remarkable skill and joy. Called 'odilo lawiny' in Acholi, these balls are crafted from plastic bags, bark, rags—whatever is available. Entirely recycled, each ball reflects Africa’s deep love for football, as well as the creativity, resilience, and spirit of its people.
Once a borderland between France and Germany, Alsace now stands as a symbol of fraternity between the two countries. In the series 'Lux Memoris,' the author delves into history and brings the ghosts of war back to life. Through his photographic compositions, he witnesses the slow healing of the land and the inexorable oblivion of bodies forced by war. Light animates the vestiges of WWI, evoking the memory of wasted and stolen lives. 'Lux Memoris' is a personal interpretation of the duty of remembrance, where the glimmers of memory confront the material remains of war.
In this series of architectural photos, Ursula shows excerpts from extraordinary buildings designed by renowned architects: 1) Zaha Hadid's fire station on the Vitra campus; 2) an office building by Herzog & de Meuron in Basel; 3) the Umicore Hoboken by Conix Architects in Antwerp; 4) Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao; 5) the Wave by Henning Larsen in Denmark; 6) the theatre in Düsseldorf designed by Bernhard Pfau; 7) a hotel in Amsterdam created by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA); 8) the crane-shaped buildings by Hadi Teherani and Alfons Linster in Cologne.
In 1992, I was almost 7 years old when a catastrophic flood devastated Pakistan and India, claiming over 2,000 lives, destroying villages, and displacing millions. Although my village in Punjab was spared, the fear and chaos left a deep mark on me. I have fragmented memories of that time—vivid flashes of people saying it was the end of the world and of families fleeing to nearby hills. The trauma of that event followed me for years, leaving me with a fear of water and haunting dreams of floods, abandoned homes, and rising waters.
Beijing is a city with a history of more than 3,000 years and one of the cities with the richest cultural heritage in the world. At the same time, as the capital of China, it is a modern city with a population of over 20 million. Walking through the city, you often witness the collision of tradition and modernity, creating the illusion of traveling through both history and the future. Chris often imagines himself as a poet, using his lens to find the most beautiful words, with light and shadow as rhythm.
In Gangapur, Rajasthan, water scarcity and failing crops have given rise to a new economy—ice cream trucks. Each winter, mini trucks are transformed into mobile vendors stocked with handmade ice cream. From November to February, they prepare for nationwide sales, offering former farmers a lucrative alternative. Many earn more than they ever did farming, securing year-round income. This trade has sparked local industries—workshops, repair shops, and suppliers—creating jobs. Gangapur's shift symbolizes resilience, turning a drought-stricken town into a hub of opportunity and adaptation.
This series of photographs is loosely inspired by David Lynch’s TV series 'Twin Peaks', with the intention of combining some of the show's typical symbolism with elements of my own personality, set in an environment that recalls the 'Black Lodge' from the series. No artificial intelligence insertions were used, and the set was handcrafted in the studio. The project involved stylist Angela Pailan, makeup artist Simona Saulli, and model Anna Sara Napoli.
'Lumine' portrays women with an ethereal presence—they glow, yet carry the marks of life. Their faces tell stories, and their gazes hold both light and shadow. This series explores the balance between vulnerability and strength—not as opposites, but as parts of the same whole. The women in these portraits move between dream and reality, between clarity and blur. They reveal that true beauty is not found in perfection, but in the traces life leaves behind. Drawings are combined with photography, and no artificial intelligence was used.
The concept of 'Habitat' is a continuous dialogue between human beings and the space that surrounds them, a profound conversation in which both shape and transform each other. Since time immemorial, human beings have sought in their environment a place to root their existence—a refuge amidst the vast and often unforgiving natural landscape. This search has given rise to one of humanity's most fundamental expressions: the creation of 'home.' By building a home, human beings not only modify the landscape but also reinterpret it, turning it into a reflection of their interiority. But this transformative act is not one-sided; the habitat, in turn, influences human behavior, emotions, and identity, creating an inseparable bond between person and place.
'MIS[S]UNDERSTOOD' explores the pivotal role of women in the Irish Traveller community, highlighting their voices to express that they are the cornerstone of family life. In this close-knit, culturally rich community, these women not only uphold traditions but also navigate the challenges of preserving their way of life in a radically changing world. In Ireland, they face discrimination both socially and politically. Michele's work humanizes a group often denied opportunities due to prejudice and misconceptions. She approaches photography as a fellow human, willing to listen and engage.