The prestigious 1839 Awards have unveiled the visionary artists named 2025 Photographers of the Year, showcasing a truly global collection of image-makers from 79 countries. Named after the year photography itself was introduced, these awards spotlight not just history, but the evolving future of visual storytelling, challenging perceptions, and inspiring connection across diverse narratives.
The world of photography is constantly evolving, with new perspectives and technical innovations pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Few events capture this dynamic spirit better than the annual 1839 Awards for Fine Art Photography. This year, the awards have once again celebrated a remarkable roster of talent, revealing the winners of their 2025 Photographers of the Year contest, a remarkable feat detailed in reports from the 1839 Awards official website and by PetaPixel.
The significance of the 1839 Awards lies in its dedication to honoring photography’s rich history, dating back to its namesake year when the medium first became widely available. Yet, its focus remains firmly on the future, identifying and celebrating artists who are shaping contemporary visual culture.
A Global Tapestry of Talent
This year’s contest truly lived up to its international reputation, drawing thousands of entries from 79 countries—making it their most global contest yet. The sheer diversity of submissions, spanning intimate explorations of personal identity to expansive takes on social and environmental narratives, underscores photography’s universal power.
The winning works were meticulously chosen by a world-class panel of judges, comprising experts from highly respected institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, Phaidon, Vanity Fair, Artsy, and Christie’s. These judges recognized the photographers’ exceptional artistic vision, technical mastery, and emotional depth.
International Photographers of the Year
Leading the pack, two photographers received the top honors, representing the pinnacle of professional and emerging talent:
International Photographer of the Year:Jaime Travezan for “Dream,” a stunning promotion for fashion designer Ade Bakare.
International Discovery of the Year:Li Tung for “Embodied Syntax,” a thought-provoking composition of nude figures that blurs the lines between human and construct, exploring the body as a language.
Gold In Wildlife Category (Non-Professional): “Family Photo” By Chao Feng. “This bear family in Alaska gave me only a few seconds to take a family photo for them. And they never told me where to send the photo to, nor did I dare to ask.”
Highlighting Gold Winners: Professional and Discovery Categories
The 1839 Awards distinguish between seasoned professionals and emerging talents in their “Discovery of the Year” categories, ensuring that both established and fresh voices are celebrated. Here are some of the remarkable gold winners from various categories:
Professional Gold Winners
Abstract:Christiaan Van Heijst – “Starfighter,” depicting a lone aircraft in a surreal desert, merging ambition with isolation.
Aerial:Yevhen Kostiuk – “Photography of Overhead Liner’s Symmetry” (P.O.O.L.S.), offering a unique top-down view of cruise ships.
Architecture:Svetlana Fadeeva – “Details,” highlighting dynamic curves and bold colors at the Qatar National Museum.
Conceptual:Nora Hegedus – “Objects of Desire,” a series inspired by surrealist painters Salvador Dalí and René Magritte.
Domestic Animals:Hiroshi Kutomi – “Beyond The Echo Of Their Gallop,” reviving the splendor of retired racehorses.
Event:Natalya Pyrogova – “Curvy,” capturing the immense waves and surfers of Nazaré.
Film/Analog:Philip Coburn – “Contactsheet, aftermath genocide Rwanda Goma,” from his first foreign assignment covering the Rwandan genocide.
Landscapes:Michael Mihaljevich – “An Arizona Moonrise,” featuring saguaro cacti against a post-sunset pastel sky.
Macro:Panagiotis Dalagiorgos – “Mushroom Madness,” a close-up backlit photo of an Ameles heldreichi nymph on a pine cone.
Minimalism:Kent Flora – “San Francisco De Asis,” showcasing the iconic mission in Rancho de Taos, New Mexico.
Nature:Alexander Tasho – “Blue Hour Guardian,” a striking image of a cheetah at sunrise.
People:Trevor Cole – “Transcendence,” exploring the connection between pastoralists, their livestock, and the environment.
Still Life:Liz Obert – “American Bodegónes,” reflecting on mortality and materialism through food imagery.
Storytelling:Mauro De Bettio – “Venice of Africa,” documenting the resilience of Makoko, a floating slum in Lagos.
Street:Alexandru Măciucă – “Oath to a Dream,” a collection of candid diptychs creating deeper visual narratives.
Travel:Steve Sorensen – “Working the Salt Mines,” capturing a lone worker in the colorful salt mines of Peru.
Underwater:Brooke Pyke – “Our Ocean.”
Wildlife:Risto Raunio – “Emperor Family,” showing emperor parents feeding their chick in Antarctica.
Gold In Aerial Category (Non-Professional): “Fairytale City” By Oleg Ilyin.
Discovery Gold Winners (Non-Professional)
These awards highlight incredible talent from non-professional photographers, proving that passion and fresh perspective can often transcend extensive experience:
Film/Analog:David Dranoff – “A Chance To Cool Off,” showing a neighborhood cooling off in Paris.
Landscapes:Rolandas Urbonavicius – “Le Mont – Saint – Michel. Foggy Morning,” capturing the ethereal beauty of the landmark.
Macro:Fabi Fregonesi – “Open-Mouthed.”
Minimalism:Jodi Frediani – “Heads Or Tails,” a rare sight of northern right whale dolphins bow-riding.
Nature:Felix Larcher – “The Family.”
People & Portrait:Zewen Lai – “Malleable Souls,” exploring fragile states of identity in transition.
Photojournalism:Christian Moorman – “The Sigh Of History,” part of a series on Guyana’s sugar cane cutters.
Still Life:Turid Martinsen – “My Garden,” a pandemic-era exploration of flowers as individuals.
Storytelling:Carlos F. Gomez Llavero – “The Day You Left Me,” exploring death and its symbolism in various cultures.
Street:J Immanuel Yap – “Best Of Luck.”
Travel:Jo Martindale – “Cormorant Fishing,” depicting a traditional Chinese fisherman on the River Li.
Underwater:Daniel Halmi – “Unexpected Voyager,” capturing a juvenile paper nautilus on a box jellyfish.
Wildlife:Chao Feng – “Family Photo,” a rare moment with a bear family in Alaska.
Gold In Storytelling Category: “Venice Of Africa” By Mauro De Bettio. “Makoko, a floating slum in Lagos with over 300,000 residents, lacks infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Despite poverty and no official recognition, its people show resilience and unity, turning hardship into strength and fostering a deep sense of community.”
The Enduring Power of Photography
The 1839 Awards consistently remind us that photography is far more than mere documentation; it is a powerful language of expression. The winning images this year, whether a fleeting moment of raw emotion or a meticulously constructed visual narrative, tell stories worth remembering.
For enthusiasts and aspiring photographers alike, these awards serve as a beacon, illustrating that with vision, skill, and a unique perspective, anyone can create art that moves hearts and inspires change. The diverse range of genres—from fine art and documentary to nature, travel, and architecture—highlights the boundless possibilities within the medium. The 1839 Awards continues to connect us all through light, emotion, and imagination, cementing its place as a crucial platform for the future of photography.
Gold In Wildlife Category: “Emperor Family” By Risto Raunio. “Emperor parents are feeding their chick on the ice of Antarctica.”Gold In Underwater Category (Non-Professional): “Unexpected Voyager” By Daniel Halmi. “I captured this image on my third blackwater dive in the Gulf of Thailand. A rare close encounter with a juvenile female paper nautilus hitching a ride on a box jellyfish. This is believed to be the first photo evidence of a living Paper Nautilus in the Gulf of Thailand.”Gold In Macro Category (Non-Professional): “Open-Mouthed” By Fabi Fregonesi.Gold In Underwater Category: “Our Ocean” By Brooke Pyke.Gold In Domestic Animals Category: “Beyond The Echo Of Their Gallop” By Hiroshi Kutomi. “Beyond the Echo of Their Gallop revives the splendor of retired racehorses and cinematic horses. Through adornment and portraiture, their resilience and beauty transcend time, reminding us that glory need not fade—it simply waits to shine again.”Gold In Landscapes Category: “An Arizona Moonrise” By Michael Mihaljevich. “Arizona’s iconic saguaro cacti stand tall against a backdrop of post-sunset pastels. The monthly full moon lays watch over the serene Sonoran desert on a calm and colorful moment of dusk.”Gold In Storytelling Category (Non-Professional): “The Day You Left Me” By Carlos F. Gomez Llavero. “In some cultures, when a loved one dies at home, their portrait is turned upside down to guide them to heaven and prevent their return as a ghost. Personal items may be placed nearby. This image is part of a series exploring death and its symbolism.”Gold In Nature Category (Non-Professional): “The Family” By Felix Larcher.Gold In Domestic Animals Category (Non-Professional): “Cow Lick” By Jennifer Newitt.Gold In Travel Category (Non-Professional): “Cormorant Fishing” By Jo Martindale. “This photo was taken of a traditional Chinese cormorant fisherman on the River Li in China.”Gold In Macro Category: “Mushroom Madness” By Panagiotis Dalagiorgos. “A close-up backlit photo of an Ameles heldreichi nymph. I took this photo in December 2024 on a mountain near Athens, Greece. I found a pine cone with a mushroom growing on it, picked it up, and placedit in front of my lens, framing it with the sun in the background.”Gold In Travel Category: “Working The Salt Mines” By Steve Sorensen. “A lone soul working the salt mines of Peru. Having a human immersed in this level of color caught my eye.”Gold In Event Category (Non-Professional): “Round The Barrel” By Christopher Baker. “Barrel racing at the Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo in Athens, AL, USA.”Gold In Street Category (Non-Professional): “Best Of Luck” By J Immanuel Yap.Gold In Event Category: “Curvy” By Natalya Pyrogova. “Nazaré Winter session. Big waves for surfing. Due to the unique landscape and weather conditions from November to March, we can see the phenomenon of the gigantic waves. Surfers from all over the world come to the special camp to try their hand at crossing the ocean. The surfer in the photograph is Jose Carlos.”Gold In Conceptual Category (Non-Professional): “Moon Game” By Adrian Limani. “This is my blend of creativity and surrealism, which invites you to dream beyond boundaries.”Gold In Minimalism Category (Non-Professional): “Heads Or Tails” By Jodi Frediani. “Rare, flat, calm seas, 3 sleek northern right whale dolphins bow-riding our whale watch vessel, and the generosity of a stranger who insisted I take her spot at the crowded rail, enabled me to capture this atypical image. Shot in color, black and white adds to the surreal simplicity of the moment.”Gold In Landscapes Category (Non-Professional): “Le Mont – Saint – Michel. Foggy Morning” By Rolandas Urbonavicius. “I aimed to capture Mont Saint Michel shrouded in morning mist and create a photograph that reflects its ethereal beauty. Using various filters, I added a surreal touch to the image, showing the subtleties of an early summer morning.”Gold In Still Life Category (Non-Professional): “My Garden” By Turid Martinsen. “During the months of the pandemic, my garden became a source of photography. I pictured the flowers next to each other like individuals waiting for a group portrait, replacing the contact we missed. Many insects are also enjoying my garden during a time when insect-dead is a danger to nature.”International Photographer Of The Year: “Dream” By Jaime Travezan. “Promotion for fashion designer Ade Bakare.”Gold In Still Life Category: “American Bodegónes” By Liz Obert. “This body of work reflects on mortality, the human condition, and our culture’s obsession with materialism. Through imagery inspired by Dutch and Spanish paintings, it expresses the transience of our existence by exploring our shared relationship with food.”Gold In People Category: “Transcendence” By Trevor Cole. “These people are inextricably connected to their livestock and are all pastoralists. They are inextricably connected to their environment, and the subsistence farming systems have a small ecological footprint. The images are taken in Central Equatoria and the Omo Valley of Ethiopia.”Gold In Architecture Category (Non-Professional): “Toy City” By Woohyun Jung. “In Seoul, skyscrapers once felt suffocating, like walls enclosing me. Through photography, I reimagined them—flattened into playful, geometric patterns. What once oppressed me became light and rhythmic. This work reflects my search to face urban reality not with fear, but with freedom and joy.”Gold In Abstract Category (Non-Professional): “IKEA Deconstructed” By Keith Gerard Bovair.Gold In People & Portrait Category (Non-Professional): “Malleable Souls” By Zewen Lai. “Malleable Souls explores the fragile states of identity in transition, drawing from psychology and photography. Inspired by Jung’s word-association experiments, the portraits depict teenagers by the sea — a symbolic threshold — tracing subtle shifts where the unconscious quietly shapes who we are.”Gold In Minimalism Category: “San Francisco De Asis” By Kent Flora. “Mission in Rancho de Taos, New Mexico.”Gold In Architecture Category: “Details” By Svetlana Fadeeva. “This photo was taken in the early morning on the grounds of the Qatar National Museum. I wanted to highlight the dynamic curves and bold colors to emphasize the architectural design’s movement and vibrancy.”Gold In Photojournalism Category (Non-Professional): “The Sigh Of History” By Christian Moorman. “Part of a series exploring the lives and work of Guyana’s sugar cane cutters on the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, where my grandfather worked for over 10 years. Cane cutters are paid very little for their hard, dangerous work, approximately 7 USD per ton of cane.”Gold In Fashion & Beauty Category (Non-Professional): “Carbon Copy” By Claudia Zeien. “Vintage Dior dresses.”Gold In Film/Analog Category (Non-Professional): “A Chance To Cool Off” By David Dranoff. “A hot day in Paris brings together the entire neighborhood to find a refuge from the sweltering conditions.”Gold In Abstract Category: “Starfighter” By Christiaan Van Heijst. “A lone Starfighter rests in a surreal salt desert, its polished fuselage echoing a time when speed and altitude defined the edge of possibility. Set against a stark, alien-like horizon, the image merges past ambition with timeless isolation.”Gold In Street Category: “Oath To A Dream” By Alexandru Măciucă. “‘Oath to a Dream’ is my Collection of Diptychs I’ve created over the years. Every Shot is Candid, Capturing Raw, Authentic Moments. I love pairing images that elevate and enhance one another, creating a deeper visual narrative. And sometimes just for the pure visual aspect of it.”Gold In Aerial Category: “Photography Of Overhead Liner’s Symmetry” By Yevhen Kostiuk. “P.O.O.L.S. – Photography of Overhead Liner’s Symmetry – offers a rare top-down view of cruise ships, highlighting their symmetry, clean geometry, and tiny bow pools. It’s not glossy marketing, but a visual study of design, structure, and detail often missed by passengers.”Gold In Conceptual Category: “Objects Of Desire” By Nora Hegedus. “Objects of Desire is a series dedicated to objects in the work of two major painters of the Surrealist movement, Salvador Dalí and René Magritte. It is an attempt to capture what struck me in their works and a declaration of love for the everyday objects I have always felt compelled to transform.”International Discovery Of The Year: “Embodied Syntax” By Li Tung. “Three nude figures interlock in silent cohesion, their headless forms blurring the boundary between human and construct. This composition invites a meditation on the body as language through consciousness, emotion, and memory persist.”
