IN THE FRAME: THE YOUNG, RISING PHOTOGRAPHERS who won Levison Wood's Instagram contest

Participants were invited to share their best shot aligned with the challenge: offering an original perspective on "The Luxury of Space," Emerald Stay’s brand theme. Community engagement played a key role, as the most-liked submissions advanced to the final selection. From these, Levison personally chose a grand winner and a runner-up—Harrison Carter (@wild_harrison) and Tom Hanner (@thomasthenaturalist), respectively.

Beyond aesthetics, the contest ended up celebrating perspective. Both photographers presented thought-provoking interpretations of space as physical and emotional, vast and intimate. As Harrison embarks on his mentorship with Levison and Tom continues to refine his craft, one thing is clear: they are ones to watch. Their work tells powerful stories, sparks conversations, and inspires action. And in a world where space, both literal and figurative, is increasingly under threat, their work has never been more relevant.

Harrison Carter: A visionary perspective on coexistence

At 29, Harrison Carter (@wild_harrison) is an interdisciplinary conservation scientist at the University of Oxford, working at the intersection of nature finance and conservation impact. With a background in investment management and consulting, he aims to bridge private markets and conservation science to accelerate nature recovery. His photography serves as both artistic expression and scientific documentation. “Photography is my first data point,” he explains. “It helps ground my perspective on conservation interventions, reminding me that you can’t build a house on bad foundations and that human behaviour is largely a function of the environment. Living alongside wildlife is often not easy, but deeply challenging. My understanding of the local political and ecological context underpins the quality of my work. Let’s call it functional artistry!”

His photographic journey started with an emphasis on equipment, but he soon realised that moments matter more. “Whatever you have in your hand is the best device for that moment. It’s better to capture something on an iPhone than to miss it with a mirrorless camera.”

Inspired by the interplay between humans and wildlife, Harrison's work explores socio-ecological systems. “I always used to take my camera to look for wildlife—snakes in particular! I wanted to be Steve Irwin, and in many ways, I still do. But over time, I realised my stories weren’t just about wildlife, but about the people living alongside them. I firmly believe that humans are part of the natural world, and enjoy taking photos that provide a one-stop window into the ever-changing landscape of coexistence at one moment in time”.  

Currently, Harrison is involved in a sustainable finance project in East Africa, helping pastoralists generate revenue by coexisting with dangerous yet vital wildlife. His work with conservationists, nature finance gurus, and local communities aims to reduce conflict costs, enhance financial benefits, and foster tolerance toward nature. “I think building a rocket ship might be easier,” he jokes. “But I’ve never needed my camera more—it documents the landscape, stakeholder perspectives, and the wildlife itself. The images will be beautiful, but more importantly, they will tell a story of change.” 

Harrison’s dream project? A documentary-style series, My Reptile Family, to reshape public perception of reptiles and amphibians. “Steve Irwin always said people only protect what they love. The problem is—no one loves snakes. I want to change that.” The twist would be doing this project in collaboration with a range of local conservation NGOs, both in the UK and across the tropics, highlighting amazing conservation work that often goes unnoticed. 

For the contest, Harrison submitted two images: a vast mountainous Swiss landscape highlighting a hiker’s solitude, and a shot from Kenya’s Kakamega Rainforest where a single ray of light pierced the dense undergrowth. “I wanted to show that the luxury of space can exist even in crowded places. That ray of light—life itself—is the luxury of space.” 

Winning the contest secured Harrison a mentorship with Levison Wood, a photographer and explorer he has long admired. "I am a slow reader, but I read his Walking the Nile book in five straight days! I now have no particular expectations—just a list of topics and a big smile when I think of the sessions ahead.”

Tom Hanner: Documenting the fragile beauty of life

Runner-up Tom Hanner (@thomasthenaturalist) is a wildlife and documentary photographer-filmmaker, based in London and Bristol. Passionate about underappreciated subjects, he seeks to give a voice to the unnoticed. “Beetles have been a recent itch. Most people don’t even know that ladybirds are beetles, they’re vital to our planet, yet few of us pay them attention.” But he also finds humans fascinating, particularly when they’re intimately tied to the places they inhabit. 

Curiosity drives Tom’s storytelling. Having a fascination with the subject and doing the necessary research to know it well is crucial, even though he recognises that surprises often yield the best images. Unexpected encounters have led to some of his favourite shots.

He admires photographers like Emmett Sparling and Henley Spiers–“they’re producing work at an aspirational level, presenting it in a new way that truly highlights the stories they tell“–but he aims at being a photojournalist for National Geographic. Thomas Peschak, Lynn Johnson, and Steve Winter are his real heroes, with a clear influence on his art. However, his strongest inspiration is home. “I’ve grown attached to my local reserves. One of my photos from the River Lea even made it into the final round of judging for Wildlife Photographer of the Year.”

Tom constantly plans new journeys. There are a few major ones coming up this year, like Mexico for the Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a long-time dream. "It’s really great to finally embark on adventures I’ve envisioned since I was young – last year I walked the Camino de Santiago for instance. The culture and the food are huge draws to this ancient pilgrimage route, but it was the people and their stories that made the trip unforgettable.” 

For the contest, he selected an image of a sandy UK reef along the Jurassic Coast, "a fossil hunting paradise". His first instinct was to read into the prompt literally meaning vast vistas, but he recalled that in London, even tiny spaces can be luxury. "It’s not a huge set of structures, but when you look closely you see thousands of these intricately-made, beautifully fragile alcoves that give a huge sense of scale, and the amazing ways nature occupies space when given a chance".

Tom favours bold colours, particularly in portraits and landscapes. “It helps to keep things simple and draws attention to the subject.” His favourite images—like puffin portraits or shots from Wistman’s Wood during the pandemic—hold special significance, marking different stages of his evolving career.