Derry Ainsworth wins 1st Place award at the 2025 Life Framer "Cities" Competition

Derry Ainsworth won 1st Prize in the Life Framer Cities competition with a remarkable image of a container ship framed in the ‘dragon’s gate’ of a Hong Kong skyscraper. It’s an image is emblematic of his broader approach – finding moments of beauty amongst the chaos and scale of this vibrant city he’s called home since 2014.

About the competition: Life Framer is a platform for discovering, sharing and exhibiting contemporary photography. We run monthly calls for entries, each with a different theme and judge – renowned photographers, curators, editors and gallerists – and at the end of every 12 months we exhibit the winners in gallery settings around the world.

'Containment' (2020) by Derry Ainsworth. Hong Kong. 1st Place - Life Framer "Cities" Award.

About the image: Title: Containment Caption: A lone container ship passes by the front of a residential building in Hong Kong. The ship can be seen through the building's 'dragon gate' - a feng shui design feature said to allow dragons to pass through from the mountains to the sea.

Words from the judges: 1ST PLACE AWARD: DERRY AINSWORTH

This is an intriguing photo that instantly made me look twice. It’s an image that raises more questions than it answers. The precise composition and timing, combined with a sense of ambiguity and mystery, made it a clear winner in my eyes. – JESSE MARLOW

A surprising view beyond the walls, this image takes us to the heart of the city. Although we see the marks of industrialization and globalization, we also see old traditions and the imprint of local culture. The dragon’s gate, a subtle Feng Shui reference, is nothing but mesmerizing. It makes the viewer want to know more, which is always an omen of good photography. It’s an exquisite composition, making for a masterful capture of the decisive moment. – LIFE FRAMER

Photographer statement –  Unique perspectives of the city of Hong Kong from above.

Containment, 2020. A lone container ship passes by a dense residential building in Hong Kong. Seen through the building’s ‘dragon gate’ an architectural feature based on Feng Shui principles, that is said to allow dragons to pass through the building from the mountains to the sea. Life Framer Interview with Derry Ainsworth available here: https://www.life-framer.com/derry-ainsworth/ #lifeframer #hongkong #award #derryainsworth #cities #drone #aerial #architecture #competition