2025 National & Regional Awards Winners & Shortlist

Silent Guardian

Photographing a black rhino on a misty morning, in such an atmospheric setting, emphasises its beauty and majesty. The mist adds a dreamlike quality to the scene.

Paddy Straw

A group of workers unloads paddy straw from a truck. The rice straw is a by-product of farming that is used for a variety of purposes, including as cattle feed and fuel.

I Can Fly

Historically women have not had the same rights and freedoms as men. This image shows a woman practicing her skills at Phare Ponleu Selpak, demonstrating talents that are often associated with masculinity. She is free to soar, displaying both her confidence and ability.

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The Abu Al-Fasad bird is known for its elegance and graceful movements. This small bird holds a special place in the Egyptian environment, symbolising vibrant nature and beauty. Photographed at Dahab Island, Giza, this image reveals the intricate details of the bird in flight against a natural backdrop. The photographer waited for four hours in the direct sun, to capture this moment.

Mulagljufur Canyon

This image captures the essence of Icelandic natural landscapes: green and brown moss, water cascading down a canyon and a mountain covered in snow and fog.

Phantom Bloom

Amidst a vast abandoned waste marble dumping yard in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, a lone tree reaches towards the sky, its bare branches a testament to its resilience. Hanging from the branch, the vivid burst of colour of the two bags introduces a touch of humanity. In this image, the photographer reflects on the delicate balance between nature and human presence in an unforgiving landscape.

Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi is a highly active volcano in Indonesia; lava is still flowing from it today.

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This 29-year-old girl has a rare condition known as ‘phantom bone disease’ (Gorham-Stout syndrome) and must carry an oxygen system with her wherever she goes. Despite her challenges she hasn’t lost her sense of humour and still loves life. For this portrait, the photographer decorated the oxygen system with small flowers to symbolise the flow of life.

Spider-Verse

In this photograph, a group of freedivers skilfully defy gravity, suspended upside down beneath a boat in clear water. Their silhouettes create a mesmerising scene that is reminiscent of the ‘Spider-Verse’; their forms seem to dance in harmony with the underwater world, blending the artistry of human movement with the fluidity of aquatic life.

Family Breakfast at the paddy filed

A local farmer's family have their breakfast after their early morning work at the paddy filed in the Old Bagan, Myanmar.

Juol Mouy!

In a rundown karaoke bar – popularly known as a KTV – a young waitress waits for customers. Away from the tourist hubs of Siem Reap, Cambodia, these local KTVs echo with the shouts of ‘juol mouy!’ (Khmer for ‘cheers!’). These lively spots attract men from all walks of life seeking food, music and conversation with the young waitresses. VIP boxes offer private karaoke for an extra fee, with the girls welcoming patrons late into the night.

Eternal Passengers

This image is part of a series that captures the intimate journey of a couple navigating the complexities of love and life together. The series explores themes of connection, vulnerability and the enduring power of companionship. Each frame reflects the delicate balance of individuality and unity, as the couple weave their shared narrative against the backdrop of time and circumstance.

Sparkler

Burning together, these sparklers created a mesmerising image.

Basketball Swish

This photograph was taken during a campus sports festival in the Philippines. The photographer carefully adjusted their shutter speed to freeze the moment the ball hit the rim.

La Femme Fever

An electrifying concert by the French band La Femme, who were performing in Warsaw, Poland. The atmosphere at the event was truly mesmerising, as psychedelic rock and an infectious energy swept through the crowd. This unforgettable moment was captured when one of the musicians spontaneously leapt into the audience.

Biowoolness

This is the photographer’s favourite image from his ‘Biowoolness’ fashion shoot for Hungarian fashion studio Pinkponilo.

Toji Train Station

Toji train station in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The station is bustling with people returning from jama’ah prayer, reflecting community and faith.

Curved Stream

During a solo hike in Wenhai, China, the photographer came across a serene, narrow stream meandering through dark grasslands, flowing towards a vast, still lake in the distance. The image was edited with muted tones and high contrast to evoke the look of a pencil sketch, capturing the solitude and tranquillity of the journey.

Crash Landing

Baily Head, in Antarctica, is home to around 100,000 pairs of chinstrap penguins. The photographer watched a conveyor belt of penguins coming and going from the beach, keeping his focus on a single spot and waiting for them to return to the beach as the surf was breaking.

Soaring Flames

The world-famous Coming True Fire Group put on a free performance of their Firemosa tour for a group of local children. This decisive moment was captured during their Fire Fall dance, which lit up the eyes of the audience.

Into the Bay

An aerial shot follows a boat as it cruises into Thailand's beautiful Phang Nga Bay.

Pensioners Table Tennis Club

A club in Hanoi, Vietnam, where retired soldiers play table tennis and card games.

A Timeless Tradition

This photograph captures a moment as an Emirati woman stands by the Corniche seaside in Abu Dhabi, with an old fisherman’s boat in the foreground, gazing thoughtfully at the horizon. Dressed in traditional attire, she exudes a sense of pride and strength. The photographer notes that she ‘embodies the rich heritage of Arab culture.’ The tranquil sea in front of her symbolises a deep connection to the land and the traditions that shape Emirati identity.

Full of Empty Hearts

A young passerby walks through the secluded streets of Tashkent, his hands busy carrying the weight of empty hearts on a gloomy summer morning.

Join Us for Fun

A swing set in a rose garden provides the ideal setting for playful Hmong children. Their mother is right there with them, not just watching but joining in. In the cool mountain air of Son La province in Northern Vietnam they find warmth through familial love and connection.

Uhwajeong Pavilion In Winter

This is a breathtaking winter view of Uhwajeong Pavilion, in Naejangsan National Park, South Korea. The snow-covered landscape transforms the scene into a tranquil masterpiece reminiscent of a traditional Korean ink wash painting, created using shades of ink without adding colours. The hills and the serene lake create a harmonious balance, showing the beauty of Korea’s natural wonders.

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Korea’s hidden cave. This photograph was taken in an underwater cave on the South Korean island of Ulleungdo.

The end of the journey

This year's winds have blown the sand from the Sahara also to the French Alps. There was amazing and rare colored snow at high altitudes above 3,000 meters above sea level in the summer of 2024. The combination of fresh white snow and an orange-colored sand layer was absolutely stunning, especially on the glaciers around Mont Blanc.

Misfit

Misfit captures the quiet rebellion of a lone cabbage among rows of identical plastic bottles. Its vibrant, organic green colour clashes with the muted, artificial hues of the bottles, amplifying its isolation. Encased in synthetic plastic, the scene underscores the tension between nature and industry – a small, unapologetic act of defiance that breaks the monotony of uniformity.

The Fighters

A portrait of two children after the revival of oil wrestling matches on Hill ‘Chilia’ at the border between Greece and Bulgaria. Oil wrestling is a tradition that dates back thousands of years.

Fooling Around

Photographed at Kolovare beach in Zadar, Croatia, this black-and-white image shows the silhouettes of men jumping from the diving platform into the sea.

Forest Fairy

In this fantasy photo shoot, the photographer wanted to bring out the inner world of the model.

Audience

A freestyle skier is captured in mid-air, while an audience watches from the chairlift above. The black-and-white tones emphasise the contrast between the crisp snow and the dynamic skier.

Moonrise in Tuscany

This image was taken in Montepulciano, Italy.

(In)visible Path

When the first snow of the year falls it reveals the intricate path of this mountain stream. Later in the winter, the stream freezes and becomes completely invisible against the white field. Legend has it that the stream was created by the movement of an ancient snake-like beast.

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This image captures various lives in the Dubrovnik diary.

Karanfili Peak

The Prokletije are a mountain range in eastern Montenegro, Kosovo, and northern Albania. The Karanfili peaks can be seen on the horizon. The photo was taken from the Trojan ridge, which is on the border between Montenegro and Albania.

Symmetry

This photograph was taken during rowing practice and shows the abstract symmetry created by the movement of the single-seat skiff and the athlete.

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A lone figure stands beside a white chair, next to a dramatically windswept tree on a cliff edge, gazing out over the sea. The black-and-white image conveys a sense of solitude and contemplation.

Sunny

Sunflower fields in the Republic of North Macedonia, photographed at sunset under the last direct light of the day.

Weekend Adventures

Mother and daughter escape to nature for a weekend of adventures.

Wedding in Maramures

A traditional wedding in Maramures, Romania. Family and friends dress in traditional clothes and celebrate the young newlywed couple.

Windsock

This windsock was spotted while the photographer was taking pictures at an air show at a local airport. It became one of his favourite minimalist images.

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A young goat next to its mother.

Launch

‘The moment the rocket launched into the sky, our hearts flew.’

Children in the Mountains

This image depicts the carefree life of children in the mountains.

A Comet Hits the Earth

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) over the Badain Jaran Desert in Inner Mongolia, China.

El Norte (The North)

El Norte is a fashion editorial set in Tamaulipas, Mexico, and was produced in collaboration with stylist Dina Elizabeth. It reflects urban identities through upcycled outfits that are inspired by sustainable fashion trends. The artist, whose family has worked in the market area since her birth, explores how this environment shapes identity and everyday narratives in public spaces.

Vortex

The fascinating tail of a chameleon – a master of camouflage – reflects the complexity and beauty found in every corner of nature.

Winged Synchrony

The Araucanía Region of Chile has large forests of araucaria (monkey puzzle) trees that are essential for the maintenance of the ecosystem and the various species that inhabit it. The photographer noticed this group of Austral parakeets landing synchronously on one of the branches of a large araucaria tree and took a lot of shots –this is the one he liked the most.

Playing with Time

This photograph is part of a project that focuses on portraying senior citizens alongside objects or activities that connect them with their childhood or past.

Brass Pendant

A macro lens was used to capture the details in this brass pendant, which was made by a young artist who works with the lost-wax process.

Loneliness

This image is part of a personal series about mental health and overcoming issues without losing ourselves in the process. It was taken at Malvin Beach in Montevideo, Uruguay, using RGB tube lights.

Tender Look

This baby Balinese monkey resting on its mother’s lap was photographed in Ubud, Bali. The moment of tranquillity and tenderness invites us to reflect on how similar humans and animals are when we get close enough to see beyond their gaze.

National & Regional Awards 2025 Winners & Shortlist