Contact_Winners_Booklet_Digital_Copy

What
Lies Beneath
A Quest-based gallery,
curated by 500px
and Allison Morris for
CONTACT 2019.
Cover photo by Allison Morris
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What Lies Beneath
Comprised of captivating and conceptual images taken
by 500px photographers around the world, this 107-photo
installation piece is designed to show how one person’s
vision can inspire endless interpretations and spark
diverse works, all born from a single concept.
Inside is a collection of artist statements provided by the
participating photographers.
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1. Coming through
Svein Skjåk Nordrum, Norway
Person hidden by a thin veil, leaning into it.
Reaching out for another dimension—or trying to
contact you?
2. Dancing Soul
Kristina Ponomareva, Canada
The good and bad parts of us are always inside,
throughout our lives. If we don’t accept both sides,
we’ll never find a balance. If we’re fighting with our
nature—we’re imbalanced. If we don’t develop at all,
we lose ourselves.
This photo is a story about a strange kind of beauty.
It’s about finding balance inside: about thin line
between beauty and destructive power that we all
have. Don’t be afraid of everything that’s inside of
you. Explore it, enjoy it, play with it.
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3. Reaching Out
Tiina Weckman, Finland
I love the way that photography can tell us the
stories we need to hear. Everyone fills in the blanks,
and you can interpret them in the way that heals
you. You’re not bound by what the photographer
“meant.” They created the image in a way that was
healing for them. We are united in our humanity.
Maya Angelou said in a poem: “We are more alike,
my friends, than we are unalike.” This is how we can
share art and meaning, even if we see and feel them
in different ways.
4. Soul
Inna Mosina, Russia
About ephemeral, beyond time and space:
reflections of his own soul and where we came from.
The basis of my creativity is reflection. With the
help of photography, I look deep into myself. I am
inspired by the themes of the soul, consciousness,
acceptance, the place of man in our earth and
harmony. All these thoughts and reasoning are born
in my photographs.
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5. Time and Place
Andrew Curry, Japan
Devon and I were walking along the backstreets
of Asakusa, Tokyo, when we happened to come
upon this colorful box, the front of which only
contained a small clock and a long, narrow window.
Not knowing what was inside, Devon walked around
the back, disappeared for a brief second, and then
peered out through the window, telephone in hand.
I saw the perfect opportunity for a photo and asked
her to hold her pose, then snapped the photo you
see here.
6. Cigarette by the window
Edgaras Vaicikevicius, Lithuania
Every morning is a window to a new day. A day
where we can see many things—white and black.
There will be rays of hope and light, and shadows
of the past. A new day is another piece of life. One
small story.
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7. Julia
Dariane Sanche, Canada
External beauty attracts, inner beauty captivates.
As a fashion photographer, I love to conceptualize
my photo shoots by adding textures and craft creations.
My passion for sewing and textures led me to
create this huge skirt out of tulle.
I like my work to be different from others’ and to
distinguish my images with my artistic touch and the
grain of my photos.
8. Cardboard
Kirill Golovan, Canada
Many girls dream of wearing a beautiful lady’s dress.
Only a true-enough lady can show who she is with a
piece of cardboard. But what you will see behind it?
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9. the great below
Nicki Panou, Greece
“I can still feel you, even from so far away.”
To what lengths would you go to be able to talk
again to the one you miss the most?
10. Being Little Bono
Pritush Maharjan, United States
This juxtaposition is based on a routine visit to my
barber shop. I had the opportunity to shoot a few
portraits of kids waiting to get their hair done. As
luck would have it, this guy was waiting with the
Bono Rolling Stone cover. I also happened to have
my most favourite camera, Minolta Autocord, in my
hand. What more could I ask for?
I see a lot of kids that are drawn to different kinds
of music: beneath that is the zeal of being a rockstar—to
be popular, to have a famous name, and of
course, lots of bling.
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11. Elixir
Ante Badzim, Indonesia
More than half of the human body is made up of
water. It is the very reason that we naturally gravitate
towards it, responding to its fluidity and flow.
Water is an integral part of life, a source of energy
with the power to revitalize. It embodies calmness,
strength, and a sensual force that acts on us
physically and emotionally.
The water that lies beneath us, around us, and in
us is medicine for all ages, cultures, and the elixir
of life.
12. everything that kills
Tyler McAuley, United States
Also known as “the invisible man,” this shot shows a
man struggling with his identity.
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13. Our portrait of blue
Jey_X, China
Usually the mirror maps itself, but for this couple, the
other is their mirror. Love is not coincidence, but is
the process of rediscovering oneself on the other
side. The mirror in the photo has this meaning. At
the same time, the mirror gives people a feeling of
separation, so that the viewer can feel the feeling of
dissociation between the male and female protagonists
in the photo. The blue color in the photo is my
focus: the blue is the sky, but is also the sea. It is the
color of hope and the future, as well as mystery, all
in one.
It is like a painful emotion. It is obvious that the male
and female protagonists in the photo are facing an
emotional crisis: the other party in the mirror is no
longer as beautiful as the original, and the heroine
uses a mirror to cover herself, in fact, it is like a blind
eye. Continue to maintain an emotion, perhaps not
because you still like it, but because you are used to
this state of interdependence.
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14. Ignacio
Antoine Martin, United States
Shot in Allapattah, a district of Miami. This man was
one of my hosts there: a bit English, a bit Spanish. It
was very difficult to understand each other, so
it was all based on the look. This is what I wanted
to capture.
15. Ship to wreck
Alexandra Bochkareva, Russia
“Ship to wreck” is a portrait dedicated to our failures.
We all have mistakes we try to forget. This is
a crushing weight, but this is our power at the same
time. The ship always needs an open sea. The girl
sitting on the chair in the waters represents the human
with anchored mind, and the owl represents the
freedom of soul.
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16. I’m with a crowd
Giulia R., Italy
I hate that I’ve created so few images in recent
months. I hate it because I love to create, it relaxes
me, it allows me to speak, and to express myself.
But the need to share and let go still comes back
to me, sometimes.
My head is constantly working on stuff, trying to
learn and create. It’s really crowded inside my brain,
yet you can’t see all that mess. You could say that
from the outside, I look quite calm. Well, I’m just
good at hiding the disorder!
In the meantime, I hope that I’ll find some peace with
my photography.
17. Colour of People
Salman Rajon, Bangladesh
It is not right to consider a man’s entire character
during his bad times. He may have already overcome
so many obstacles—do not diminish him, respect
him. Try to understand him. Help him solve his
problem, stand beside him, improve his conditions.
He could just as easily be a good friend of yours.
It’s been 4 years since I captured this picture, but
many people in my life still do not support my photography,
including my family, because I have no
achievements to show them. That’s why I participated
in this challenge: to show my family that I have
the ability to create good photographs.
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18. French boy
Anastassia Volkova, Estonia
I consider this a brave portrait. Because not
every person can show this real, funny, true
side of themselves.
When we “look” at a person, we usually don’t try to
“see” the person, but there is always more to what
lies beneath every human. Only a few of us are
brave enough to show our true selves.
19. Rielle
Lisa-Marie McGinn, Canada
“Makeup is only a blessing when you can see the
beauty without it.”
This photo is from a beauty series showcasing
different emotions through the use of makeup
and pieces of paper, creating interesting shapes
to show different parts of the face and help
emphasize the makeup.
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20. Dark
Three Painters, China
If you’re in a dark abyss, you might as well reexamine
yourself in the dark and find your inner world.
This environment as a whole was dark, using line
pipes as props and encouraging models to express a
force that is tied.
21. Banana soul
Piotr Werner, Poland
The photo was taken in Studio Quadralite, Kraków,
Poland. I wanted to show a darker red and a brighter
yellow color in order to contrast and pay attention
to the model. The banana earring that’s hanging is a
key ring!
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22. Third Eye
Ben Adle, Sweden
We are living in a world full of filters, different perspectives,
and different views. Respect is a powerful
step towards a better future.
I set two soft lights here, one above the model
(Johanna), and one in front at a slight angle: the
focus is inside the triangle and everything else is
out of focus.
23. Vulnerability
Ari Erma, Belarus
This photo reminds me of who I used to be.
Vulnerable, weak, trusting in everything and everyone.
But now everything seems to be different, in a
better way. Don’t let people manage your life.
It’s only yours.
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Photo by Allison Morris
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24. Oblivion
Peyman Naderi, Kazakhstan
Oblivion is an image pointing to our memories. We
all have memories that at one point in life, we are
bound to forget. Natural light has been used in this
photo, and I tried to create an opposition between
the leaves and the smoke. There’s always a reason
for us to push our memories to a corner of our mind,
so that maybe one day, we’ll need them back to continue
down the road.
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25. Self Reflection
Elnaz Mansouri, Canada
I was born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to Canada
with my family in 2003. As a young girl on the verge
of becoming a teenager, I began facing an identity
crisis, due to the language barrier that I experienced
in my daily life, and struggled to find the meaning of
“home.” Being disconnected from my native culture
and unable to communicate socially, I started
looking for an alternative way to reconnect with my
surroundings. The best option was capturing the
Canadian landscape through photography. Nature
is a mirror to my identity, and I continuously build
upon my definition of “home” through observing and
reflecting on the landscape.
26. Varia
Saule Khaliullina, Russia
March 8, a special day for women, is not explicitly
accepted by both women and men. For me, this
date was always a day of respect for mothers,
grandmothers, love, and gratitude without political
or social overtones.
Now, the tendency to complicate everything in the
modern world gives some people an excuse to turn
this day into a negative perception of women’s freedom
and the struggle for women’s rights.
This photo reflects the imagery and emotional state
of a woman who is tense, waiting, scared, but hopeful.
Behind this photo is a big and important story.
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27. Minimal Mysterious Mood
Lalisa Doniho, Indonesia
The essence of simplicity, mystery, and minimalism,
which I like.
28. Hidden faces
Malo Malo, France
“Hidden faces” is a fashion photo series made for
the French fashion magazine Citizen K, which treats
the theme of hidden identities.
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29. Blurry mind
Estelle Couturier, France
“Blurry mind” represents the impact of drugs on a
schoolboy. His head is far away from his mind. His
head is trapped by plastic, which represents the
drugs. He is still standing, but this is only the stage
of addiction, he is not yet conscious of the danger.
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30. In captivity
Filipp Rabachev, Russia
We are captive to our fears. My parallel worlds.
Invisible to the eye. In captivity of disappointment,
thoughts, and hopes for the future.
31. You ain’t goin’ Nowhere
Petros Sofikitis, Greece
The dark side of a relationship. A binding one. Mostly
physical, overwhelmed by need. Utterly dangerous.
Where the other is not viewed as a separate
being who takes part and responds to a summons of
love, but is instead felt as if he or she is a functional
part of the subject’s soul and body. That is why he or
she should not go. For if they do, the subject’s own
existence would be at risk.
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32. Clearer than you see
Agnieszka Paśko, Poland
Part of “Agliophobia” photo series. Agliophobia is a
term which means a fear of emotional and physical
pain. This photograph is a self-portrait. It is captured
in a beautiful style, but it reveals some scratches and
scars, which shows past experiences.
33. Escape From Life
ting long, Singapore
This photo represents people in modern cities that
play multiple roles and make themselves stressed
and tired. Vacation is always the way they escape
from work and pressure, temporarily. The woman
in this photo is going on her vacation but still looks
uneasy, due to the suitcase she’s taking, which is full
of what makes her heavy: the responsibilities of her
job, her social relationships, and her anxieties for
the future. Sometimes we want to escape from real
life, but the reality of pressure is always there.
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34. Try to be blind
Wang Qiang, China
The girl in the photo is not conventionally beautiful:
she has ordinary features and has a bit of an
inferiority complex. Before taking this photo, she
kept saying, “Don’t be too ugly, don’t be too ugly.”
However, I think her slender white arms are as
beautiful as butterflies.
- In photography, close one eye and look with
your heart; try to be blind, maybe there will be
more beauty.
35. The blinded girl and her inner turbulence
Guida Shen, Tanzania
She’s blinded yet sensitive and observant, cautiously
tempting and exploring. The blurred view with a
blinder is unrealistically peaceful. She starts feeling
a pulse, a spark, which she’s struggling to understand.
The blinded girl found her vision, yet she
chooses to be blinded sometimes
- self portrait for path of self-growth.
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36. Going Up
Aaron Ricketts, United States
“Going Up” is one of ten images in a series titled,
“If It’s Heavy, Take a Break.” In each photo, there is
a feeling of an obstacle, either one that has put you
in a precarious position, or one that you see lying
ahead. This scene exemplifies exhaustion in the face
of a complex and relentless world. Rather than getting
on the elevator, this man simply lays down with
his head in the elevator doors, hoping to be swallowed
by it. And yet the walls overwhelm the scene
with a vibrant yellow, creating a contrast between
joy and dread.
37. Migratory Bird
Zhou Yibai Bai, China
“They said photography is beyond skill, full of affection,
the best, and then with the displacement.”
Humayi North Wind, Yue Bird’s Nest, South Branch
365 days a year, just want to eat 300 days of hot pot
I want to take a hometown that combines tradition
with fashion.
(This style of headwear is a spice in Sichuan hot
pot. The ground is a kimchi altar. It is also a kind of
Sichuan cuisine. Improved cheongsam worn on the
body. They are all things that integrate some of the
hometowns in Sichuan.
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Photo by Allison Morris
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38. Untitled (from Sunyata series)
Rafael Roncato, Brazil
Appropriates the concept of emptiness. Sunyata
(Sanskrit) is often translated as empty or, more precisely,
emptiness. Emptiness is a characteristic of the
phenomena: nothing has an independent existence,
an essential identity. Everything integrated in life
undresses an absolute identity, and is impermanent,
interrelated, and interdependent, so that nothing is
totally self-sufficient or detached from the whole. All
things are in a dynamic state of constant flux. What
is emptiness but an infinite potency?
39. Rainbow Project
Sokari. eu, United Kingdom
Part of a project I am working on, which explores
the relationship between sexuality, depression, and
loneliness. The rainbow-colored organza fabric is a
symbolic permanent veil over the subject, whom is
lost and alone in his own world.
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40. Traditional Peyattam Artis
Sarathi Thamodaran, India
Peyattam (Ghost Dance) is a supportive performance
for “Kaniyan Koothu,” which is also known as “Kaniyanaattam.”
Associated with the graveyard god
“Sudalaimadan” and popular in the southern districts
of Tamilnadu / India, Kaniyan Koothu is performed by
8-9 artists and is named after the tribes called Kaniyan,
which perform it for their clan deity.
A man wearing a fierce mask performs Peyattam
(Ghost Dance). He slits his hand and sprinkles his
blood on the food offered to god; it is reminiscent of
human sacrifice once popular in India.
Beneath the Peyattam mask still thrives the old, ritualistic
practices and nostalgia that are being transferred
from generation to generation.
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41. upside down
Shubhra Sharma, India
When the world tries to push you down,
Keep no worry and say it loud
So what if my world has turned upside down,
I know I’ll rise even when I fall down.
Life is an abstract reality of situations that comes
your way,
Make it your strength and act like you’re the winner
of this game!
42. POP
Violette Nell, France
This image is part of my series of photos called
“POP.” I wanted to revisit the artistic movement of
pop art, in my own way, by integrating objects that
are in turn ephemeral (like balloons) and plucked
from everyday life / consumer society (food, soda,
an ironing board) or popular culture (like a Batman
mask) with the desire to sublimate them and thus
give them an artistic and poetic dimension.
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43. The Eye in the Mirror
Art Weinberg, Austria
A glance at another person’s hand mirror can tell
you a secret. Here, it shows two different details of
his face: not enough to see the person, but enough
to look into his eye. To look into a human eye is like
a look into his soul. The other detail shows his lips.
What will he say? But the story behind the photo can
only be experienced by looking at that person’s face.
44. Time Dilation
Amelie Satzger, Germany
This photo is from my newest project,
“What is reality?”
This project is about the physical understanding of
reality. I read two books by Stephen Hawking, “The
Grand Design” and “A Brief History of Time,” then
extracted theses from the books and visualized them
into artful, surreal images. Every picture stands for
another thesis.
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45. Sweet overdose
Ilya Blinov, Russia
Everything you do has consequences.
The visual language of the picture is based on a
rhythm of repeated objects (candies and dots on
clothes). I got the idea when I saw my girlfriend drop
a bucket of popcorn. I was watching her on a floor
among many small pieces and it seemed very scenic.
The picture is shot in studio. Every candy was placed
on set manually.
46. Face
Daria Klepikova, Russia
Sometimes it’s hard to come to terms with what life
brings to us. At such moments, we start to think
about how to change everything...and we start to
change ourselves! This shoot is part of the project
“The Effects of Plastic Surgery,” where the end result
is never known.
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47. The Moon
Ksenia Thorn, Russia
She hides herself behind the wall
And never sees the light,
She seeks the future, but it’s cold
And Darkness by her side.
Tomorrow brings another day
And she will start again
To search the lighthouse on her way
Through neverending rain.
48. TO BE OR NOT TO BE
nima chaichi, United States
As a photographer with an architectural background,
I look at fashion as a form of architecture—a place
where we live and breathe, feeling ourselves in our
own space, in the context of the physical space
surrounding us. Our fashion is our second skin:
it can be rough and gritty, smooth and sleek, subtle
and modern, even magical and mesmerizing.
It can make a statement about society, it can simply
serve us in functionality, and help us feel safe, brave,
and beautiful.
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49. Identity
Ricardo Irimia, Spain
What is identity? Is it static, fixed, and permanent?
Identity is built based on layers of memories,
emotions, transformations, and becomings. The
deeper layers are inevitably degraded, so identity
is built on ruins.
50. White Flame
Jorge Miguel Blazquez, Spain
Sometimes we need to escape from our own lives,
break with the past, with our fears, or self-consciousness.
This photo represents both the flame that
burns all the bad and the chrysalis that represents all
the new to come.
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51. For the love of books
Steven Guzzardi, United States
I remember it was a Thursday. I was sitting at my
computer, killing time, when this idea just struck me.
I have always been an avid reader, and this image
just appeared to me in that moment. I knew then that
I had to create it right away. I immediately filled up
two large bags of books, all hardcovers, and headed
out. It only took about a half an hour to do, but
it remains one of my favorites. It truly expresses my
love—and sometimes overwhelming obsession—with
a good read.
52. Threesome
Harald Mühlhoff, Germany
Trying to meet the expectations of others to the
point of becoming a sexy household asset bound
to the point of immobility. My kind of photographic
humor...so you are warned.
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53. Sleeping fire
Edoardo Dusina, Italy
An abstract composition that depicts
a young boy holding an old bouquet
of sunflowers. The boy is lying
down (as if asleep) on burning coals.
It symbolizes a tormented soul that
finds comfort in nature. However, his
suffering ruins nature (sunflowers are
dry), creating a strong bond.
54. Darling, I wait for you home
Moník Molinet, Cuba
This is a self portrait with a mask of
my happy face on and dressed in
my husband’s clothes. It is part of a
self-portrait series called “A woman
who doesn’t fit.”
I question and explore the modern
circumstances of the human being,
immersed in a deep chaos, with the
belief of belonging to an orderly
world, alienated by the terrible need
to align socially.
Me cuestiono y exploro las circunstancias
modernas del ser humano,
inmerso en un profundo caos con la
creencia de pertenecer a un mundo
ordenado, enajenado por la terrible
necesidad de alinearse socialmente.
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55. Pain it snail
Julia Wimmerlin, China
What do you see—an abstract shape,
a quirky fashion, a sexy girl, or a
surreal scene of a snail-painter? The
true essence of perception lies in the
eyes of a beholder. We can assume
that a child or a dreamer will see a
fairy-tale of a painting snail, a fashionista
sees a fashion story, a female
body appreciator sees a sexy girl,
an artist sees a play on shapes and
complementary colors. But a philosopher
could detect a wanderer on a
life path and a human rights activist
might see a study of the clichés of
objectified female beauty and commercial
advertising values. You only
know what lies beneath if you trouble
yourself to look further.
56. Hot And Cold
Operuit Umbrosa, UAE
I wanted to illustrate the gulf that
exists between who we are—who
we know we are—and who the world
perceives us as being in a simple-yet-powerful
way. Being Arabic
and a Muslim, the one example that
comes to mind as soon as such
questions are raised is the abaya/hijab-clad
Muslim woman.
This picture was my attempt to drive
the point home in a simple-yet-powerful
way, and the look that Nastya
gives the camera here, reflected in
the mirror, says plenty without having
to show too much.
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57. Home-made Scars
Adeolu Osibodu, Nigeria
It’s been a week and a half since my
surgery. Where do I go from here?
What do I do with what is left of me?
How could a femur-fractured boy
come out victorious from this predicament,
all caused by a skateboard?
I have these scars on my face. I feel
less handsome. Would I even kiss
myself? Oh, what have I done?
58. Me and my TV
Petr Hricko, Czech Republic
I started to use the old TV in pictures
instead of my head and to simply
shoot it in the countryside. I wanted
to draw attention to the fact that
being outside is the best TV program
I know, and to indicate my attitude
towards TV broadcasting in general.
Over time, the TV totally fell apart, so
I’ll have to put it together and put in
on display somewhere. It’s a legend
for me.
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59. Industrial Aftermath
Benno Klier, Germany
This image stands as a symbol for
the rapidly-approaching age where
AI-driven machines and industrial
plants may have made us redundant
and where, at the end, only two
things remain: regret that we have
not opened our eyes in time and the
memory of what we have lost.
The apocalyptic scenery reflects
exactly this moment, a single human
with industrial plants in the distant
background, embedded in a
frosty atmosphere.
60. hidden thoughts
Miriana Pinna, Slovenia
My purpose here was to portray body
confidence and the fact that our mind
is the only true element that sometimes
still needs to hide from others’
gazes. The body shows a perfect
harmony with surroundings, without
feeling ashamed, in a totally relaxed
pose. Yet the head and its discomfort
at people’s opinions is what really
lies beneath.
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61. Same Deep Water As You
Kindra Nikole, United States
This image was inspired by The Cure’s song
“The Same Deep Water As You,” and is meant to
evoke the feeling of helplessness elicited by being
tangled in relationships that are harmful to us. The
figure grasps at her own throat, desperate for air,
as the watery depths pull her down. The vibrant
blindfold keeps her from seeing what is happening
to her and around her. And yet, she is capable of
saving herself—of removing the blindfold and
swimming to safety.
This image was shot during winter in a river in the
Pacific Northwest. The model, Alicia, was an
unbelievable champion, submerging herself almost
entirely in the frigid water to get this shot with me,
while I waded in waist-deep. Both she and I promptly
fell ill the next day for a week, and yet both of us felt
the struggle was worth what we captured: an image
that acts as a reminder of the hardships of intimate
relationships, and the power we as individuals
possess even when we feel at our most helpless
and hopeless.
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62. oral examination
Denise Kwong, Australia
What lies within? The entry into the
lesser-known and lesser-seen of the
human body.
63. Rose
Laura Ferreira, Trinidad And Tobago
This costume, titled “Rose,” was
designed by Keegan Simon for Lost
Tribe Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.
I asked the model to keep her body
still but throw the costume’s “tendrils”
outward, as Charlie the pug’s
owner pleaded with him to stay very,
very still.
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64. Feelings
Jovana Rikalo, Serbia
Do you know that feeling when you
hold your emotions inside and you
are suffering? Just be you and let
those emotions come out of you.
Meet wonderful people with the same
emotions that you have.
65. red dream
Yannis Ntarlas, Greece
When someone sees this photo, they
probably don’t know what it is about.
It is an imprisoned woman—is this
some kind of ritual? Well, no, it is
a woman masquerade for Carnival!
There is always more to what you see
and what lies beneath.
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66. perspective optical illusion
Da Mine, Georgia
The basket and the red color of the
spiral creates an optical illusion in
this linear, urban space. That’s why
I made the decision to take this photo.
I got lucky because the girl was
also dressed in minimalistic colors
and she became part of the landscape
easily.
67. My son
Ирина Хромова, Russia
My adult, and at the same time, little
eldest son.
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68. Pastel
William Trostel, United States
On this day, me and the model, Vasia,
met up to roam around the City of
Harrisburg, PA. After shooting for a
while and roaming around the city,
we decided to head up into a parking
garage. Being a sunny day, I figured
I’d use the harsh shadows, as well
as the architecture, to my advantage.
This is what we came up with
for composition. As far as editing, I
wanted something with big color and
obvious contrast. And that idea is
where this photo was born.
69. Yellow!
Alexander Zykov, Russia
I photographed Cate for three hours
in the studio. Then we decided to
continue shooting on the roof of a
tall building, which is located nearby.
Cate’s shoes rubbed her feet. She
took off her shoes and walked barefoot
all the way. All the people on the
street looked at us, and it made her
very joyful. A strong wind blew on the
roof. Cate had a yellow ribbon, like
her dress. The ribbon flew beautifully
through the air. Cate jumped and
swung the ribbon from side to side.
I took a thousand pictures. In each
picture she smiles, laughs, and looks
absolutely happy.
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70. Yearn
Eric, China
A long life, up and down, a search.
The longing for a sincere life in my
heart is like the longing for myself to
be a fish in my works.
71. FCUK ...
Picha tu, Kenya
Life is hard and so you’ve got to
harden yourself. Be strong and face
the turbulence of life.
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Photo by Allison Morris
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72. Stronger
milos nejezchleb, Czech Republic
Photo from my long-term photo series “Stronger,”
in which I take photos of ordinary people who have
been through something extraordinarily difficult,
which has made them stronger. The heroine of this
story is Katka (Cathy), a victim of domestic violence.
Katka was 18 years old when her mother died
tragically, and she had to take care of her younger
brother. Her then-husband, father of her son, was
supposed to support her.
Instead, he turned out to be a rapist, and Katka was
forced to flee with her son. Her husband found her,
and one January afternoon, he fired two shots at her.
After that, he turned the gun on himself.
Having undergone several operations, Katka survived.
Gradually, she began to live a new life with
her new partner, who became her second husband
later. She was getting rid of fear and gaining
self-confidence. Many years later, though, the marriage
broke up and they got divorced. A couple of
months later, her ex-husband committed suicide by
shooting himself. Ironically, he killed himself with the
weapon he had once bought to protect Katka.
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73. Nightmare
Carlos Gonzalez Vera, Mexico
What I wanted to show in this picture
is how sometimes you feel trapped,
persecuted, in a very dark place inside
of you, almost as if demons were
trying to suffocate you. Fortunately,
I found a way to get out of that. Only
Jesus Christ.
74. Alone in nature
Adi Perets, Israel
I always wanted to be free, body and
mind as one.
To explore, to meet new peoples.
That’s the meaning of traveling. Join
my journey.
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75. Her country
Marta Syrko, Ukraine
She is staring at herself in the mirror.
Outside is an old city. It is cold.
She is scared.
I was shooting at the studio of my
friend. She is an artist. When I was
taking photos, I thought that it is
very important for an artist to speak
about her or his fears. To verbalize
loneliness and sadness. While doing
it, rely on the environment. Sometimes
old windows with views on old
cities can describe yourself more
than you ever would.
76. And a fish
Marie Dashkova, Russia
What lies beneath
It is hard to tell
There is a fight
There is a play
She is Scorpio
She loves fishes
The story beneath
Is about secret wishes
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77. Abandoned Village
Khaled Bakkora, UAE
The “Abandoned Village” is an
interesting place between the city
and the desert, where we can see
the power and the beauty of nature
at the same time.
78. Awaiting
Leonard Loh, United Kingdom
The climb is hard but the view is
great. When you hit a wall in your
path, it’s not the end. Take a breather
and enjoy the moment. When the
time comes, you will find a door that
will lead you to a new venture.
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79. The escape
Sofia Ugrik, Spain
Most people live in their comfort
zone for years and don’t want to see
its limitations. A man is used to it.
He’d rather submit to the inconvenience
than to start something new.
But there are the ones who don’t
agree with it. They already knew that
happiness was outside of their comfort
zone. A child inside of them is
trying to break free. Out of the limits.
To find the way to harmony. The deck
chairs and clouds are the symbols of
comfort, but the puddle is the opposite.
The white wall is the boundary.
The main character is the child who
sleeps inside of us, more and more
with every year.
80. The Cult
Maria Kinosian, Russia
It’s a melancholic and a little-bit-naive
portrait series which I call “The Cult.”
Once a year in Russia, on the night
before the Christmas, young women
used to get together to do rituals to
look into the future. I wanted to show
the mysterious and sacral ritual of
fortune-telling.
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81. Bending
Yaniv Berman, Israel
Before going onstage, before
the audience rushes in, the singer
bends her body and stretches her
vocal cords.
82. can you hear me talking on my
own
Renat Renee-Ell, Russia
Human as a thing in itself.
There is a concept in philosophy. It
says that it is impossible for a person
to find out what things are as defined
by their existence, beyond our concept
of them.
This photo is about searching and
self-determination, immersion
through established ideas, and stereotypes
to the point. Human personality
is like a box of traits formed
through social and cultural communication,
at the bottom of which lies the
true beginning.
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83. Play the Game
Raceala Elena, Romania
Street photography in black and
white. From the 13th floor of a hotel
in Mamaia, a resort on the Black
sea coast, in Romania. I saw this boy
playing football on the beach and I
took this picture. I wanted to send a
message through the title. So, light or
shadow, both are essential to “Play
the Game.”
84. Cocoon
Olga Melnikova, Russia
The photo was taken with the
message that there are times
when a person needs to be alone.
Turn to the world, naked on its back,
and trust him.
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85. Artbortion
Lis DH Magnus, Norway
I try to create from a place where innovative ideas
and images flourish.
I know from experience that music, books, nature,
movies, etc. can be great sources of inspiration. The
closest I’ve come to channeling weird images/ideas
are dreams, or the state of conscious dreaming. You
know—the place you’re in just before you wake up
in the morning. My challenge is to pull these images
over to the awakened state. Sometimes I do succeed,
though.
Three weeks ago, I had another weird image being
pulled from my subconscious.
I saw our green garage door open just a tad. There
were three bird boxes hanging on the garage door
in a certain pattern. I’ve stopped trying to interpret
these images; every answered question only seems
to spiral off into new ones. I guess I started accepting
what “is,” instead.
This time around, I used the image from my dream
as a background, and spun off to see what would
come out of it. Eggs were natural elements with
which to play, in relation to the birds’ boxes.
I finished the image but still had no clue as to what
it was all about, until I asked my husband. He interpreted
it as the issue of twin abortions. In Norway,
we have had politicians arguing about women’s
rights when it comes to twin abortions. The image is
a crossover between a physical message (twin abortion),
and an intuitive one (the image in my dream,
the background), so I chose to call it “artbortion.”
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86. spring is coming
Dima Minakin, Russia
This photo speaks to the approach of
spring. You can walk until night, shoot
not just indoors, and enjoy nature.
87. Mourning Ceremony
Emrah Karakoç, Turkey
This photo was shortlisted for the
2017 Sony World Photography
Awards Exhibition and was awarded
the National Award for Turkey.
Mourning ceremonies are held each
year for Iranian people. My friend
and I decided to go to the event.
We were in the city of Erdebil, which
has great activity, and waited for the
meeting time.
It was necessary to find a suitable
spot for photography in front of an
impressive crowd. As a result of the
long interviews, I had the chance to
get to the top of a building and I had
the opportunity to catch an impressive
photo, right from the traditional
story of the crowd.
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88. The window on the courtyard
Angela Ravaioli, Italy
The windows in front, with two men
who look like the same man. The
case of both appearing from the window
of the house. The same man or
two different men?
89. Horace
Ian Ross Pettigrew, Canada
Horace was part of a project photographing
aging veterans. Horace was
an American vet that served in WWII
and helped to liberate Italy. He was
92 when this photo was taken.
The project started because all of
these veterans—both in the USA and
in Canada—are aging and not having
their stories told. This is especially
true of veterans from WWII and
Vietnam. So far, Horace is one of 13
people who have sat for the project.
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90. Maroon
Angel Torres, Spain
In the search for our identity and our
place in the world, sometimes we
feel the need to belong to something
bigger than us, the need to fit like a
piece of the puzzle.
91. Contrast
Laureen Burton, Canada
Black, white, black, white...I like
stripes and stripes. It’s almost utopia;
it allows the harmonious cohabitation
of a thing and its opposite!
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Photo by Allison Morris
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92. Of Me & The World
Henry Soon, China
So much of our fashion choices are a reflection of
broader societal trends. And so beneath this facade,
do we have a self that is unique to us, a style that
speaks only of us?
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93. Untitled 2/∞
Daniel Marquez, United States
We only share with the world the
things we want people to know.
Rarely do we go around sharing our
thoughts or expressing how we truly
feel. This image is part of a series in
which I wanted to capture how it feels
to never truly reveal who we are to
the world.
94. black abstract
Ekta Shukla, India
Indian girl in her cultural outfit,
dancing in happiness.
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95. Get Away
Van Ding, China
Photography is a dreaming process
for me. Through the lens, I think
through my own eyes and express it
in some way—create a heart scene
with surreal images, and convey my
own thoughts and emotions. They
are beyond reality, but it is a realistic
portrayal of reality.
96. The future
jkoo, China
I fear that even breathing freely in the
future will be a luxury and I will not
see you close by.
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97. camouflaging
marzia debiase, Italy
The promise to be there forever.
Also to support a table.
98. Streets of Lucknow.
Moh Mandhyan, India
A face with a story.
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Photo by Allison Morris
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99. Life positioning
Estislav Ploshtakov, Bulgaria
“Life positioning” generally refers to the specific behavior
towards others that an individual learns based
on certain assumptions made in life. As I waited in
the shopping center, I looked up and saw the steps
of the people walking across the semi-transparent
path above me. Then I thought that in this life, when
one looks up, there is always someone above him
who is walking around his head. Is the choice to be
top or bottom our own? And is this a determining
factor in our sense of happiness, and a fulfilling life?
The title of the picture came from herself at this moment,
and I shot the man above me.
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100. Lucas Scirocce
Denzel Condo, Mozambique
A person’s eyes can tell millions of
stories. It allows us to get an idea of
who they are and what they’ve been
through. From happiness and contentment
to pain and suffering—the
eyes, they never lie.
101. Transparencia Cero
Walter Gómez Urrego, Colombia
Portrait on glass full of water. This image
aims to represent the purity and
the transition of the virtuous through
the knowledge of itself.
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102. Ghost note
Etienne Plumer, Belgium
This is an attempt to capture an
unseen face and an unheard sound.
Imagination is loud and huge.
You decide!
103. Borders#2
photoborodina, Sweden
After I moved from Russia to
Sweden, I found myself going down
the rabbit hole. I faced a need to
rediscover myself.
For a spectator: “I am” = my borders.
Humbly starting from the borders of
the body, advancing into the social
framework. Well, not always so
“humbly,” I must say…sometimes
to find the border, I have to step
over the edge.
You’ll find some of those borders
instantly recognizable and some are
such that you have to work on ‘em
for a while. Those pictures are an
attempt to convey what it is to try
to find my own boundaries in this
new environment.
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104. The Reader
Chenjin, China
There are a thousand Hamlets in a
thousand people’s eyes. People all
have their own understanding of the
same thing. We need to keep reading
over and over again to search
out what we were missing, and keep
reading over and over again to
explore what is unknown.
105. Gaze
hugoweii, China
The delicate sunshine penetrates and
refracts on the ground from the outer
layer of the shutters. At this moment,
I gaze at this spring space, green
and gentle, and enjoy the peace that
belongs to me.
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106. What Lies Beneath
Amanda Carlson, United States
There are so many different levels
to life, so many layers, so many new
things to discover. This photo represents
a woman who is looking up to
the sky, looking into a new plane, a
new perspective. Yet our perspective
of her is slightly skewed. You can see
she is a beautiful woman, but the water
in front of her skews her features
to look different. We all have different
perspectives: there are always
more layers to what you see, there is
always more that lies beneath.
107. T
Davide Adamo, Italy
When a love story ends, memories
can’t go away. They stay there inside
your mind, slowly fading from your
heart. Crying is sometimes the only
thing you feel you can do, but then
you will be stronger.
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Who We Are
500px is the leading online network for aspiring and
practicing photographers with over 15 million members
worldwide. Photographers come to 500px to discover
and share incredible photos, gain meaningful exposure
in a community that truly cares about photography,
and gain opportunities to get paid for their work and
skills. You won’t find any memes on 500px—just really
great photography.
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Back cover photo by Allison Morris
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