All About Photo Awards 2026: Winners Selected by Steve McCurry

As we unveil the winners of the 2026 All About Photo Awards – The Mind’s Eye, I find myself reflecting not only on the extraordinary images selected this year, but also on the remarkable collective effort behind them.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Steve McCurry. As the sole juror for this 11th edition, a master of photography whose work has shaped the visual language of our time, he generously set aside precious time from an exceptionally demanding schedule to review hundreds of submissions from photographers around the world. His expertise and extraordinary visual sensitivity are evident in every aspect of his selection process.

To engage so attentively with each image—to truly see it, to understand its intent, its emotional weight, and its narrative depth—requires not only experience, but rare discipline and respect for the medium. His commitment went far beyond the act of selection; it reflects a profound regard for photography itself, and an equally profound respect for every photographer who entrusted us with their work.

As a photographer myself, I know how much it means to share your work—to put a piece of your vision into the world and hope it resonates. That is what makes this international photography competition so meaningful. Each year, All About Photo Awards becomes a space where photographers from across the globe come together, not only to gain exposure, but to be seen, understood, and part of something larger than themselves.

This year’s final selection—representing 15 countries across 4 continents—offers a powerful glimpse into the diversity of contemporary photography. From documentary to conceptual and fine art practices, the winning images reflect a wide range of approaches, stories, and sensibilities. Together, they form a visual dialogue that transcends borders and languages, reminding us of photography’s unique ability to connect us through shared human experience.

I would like to sincerely thank all the photographers who participated. Every submission is an act of trust and generosity. Whether selected or not, each image contributes to this global conversation and to the continued evolution of photographic storytelling. We are also proud to highlight the presence of three women among the top five winners—an important reflection of the diverse voices shaping photography today.

Open to photographers worldwide, the All About Photo Awards continue to celebrate the transformative power of a single image. Through this global photography competition, we remain committed to supporting photographers at every stage of their journey, offering not only cash prizes but also meaningful international exposure and recognition.

Congratulations to all the winners!

The Winner and Photographer of the Year 2026 is Matt McClain (United States)

Intern, Megan Day, 20, works in Margaret Hunter’s Millnery Shop at Colonial Williamsburg on Tuesday July 15, 2025 in Williamsburg, VA. This image was part of a story looking at the life of founding father, Thomas Jefferson. He was a resident of Williamsburg in different periods of his life. Jefferson was the principle writer of the Declaration of Independence. As the 250th anniversary of the United States approaches, his legacy still echoes throughout the places he once lived.

This photo was taken as part of series on Thomas Jefferson. I travelled to many sites and locations tied to the life of the former U.S. President and founding father. I spent two days exploring Williamsburg, VA, which played an integral part in Jefferson's life. I came across the scene with the misty window which was caused by the outside heat and humidity. I worked the situation for sometime before I felt like I got the photo.
www.matthewmcclainphoto.com
@mattmcclainphoto


The Second Place Winner is Brooke Shaden (United States)

Obscura looks at the nature of social sharing through the lens of a self-portrait artist, questioning the ways we alter, obscure, and share ourselves so willingly in today's culture. I have been a self-portrait artist for seventeen years, curating my sense of self and public persona very intentionally. But what about those who share themselves without understanding of how their personhood and future could be effected by those actions?
brookeshaden.com
@brookeshaden
All About Brooke Shaden


The Third Place Winner is France Leclerc (United States)

From a previous trip to West Africa, I was familiar with the Celestial Church, the white attire, and the hat women devotees wear when they attend church service. On a random walk near the Benin/Togo border, I noticed these women resting and chatting, presumably after attending a service, sitting in front of a gray wall where white circles had been painted. I was amazed by the juxtaposition of the hats and the circles.
www.franceleclerc.com
@franceleclerc
All About France Leclerc


The Fourth Place Winner is Javier Arcenillas (Spain)

TUNISIA -Train sleeping in Cartago
The photograph is part of a larger photographic project that took me to Tunisia. The image belongs to what we call street photography. It's a spontaneous picture of a woman sleeping peacefully in a train car traveling from Carthage to the Tunisian capital. There's no intention behind it other than to capture a beautiful moment stolen from time.
www.javierarcenillas.com
@javierarcenillas
All About Javier Arcenillas


The Fith Place Winner is Beamie Young (United States)

On a trip to Cuba I visited Casablanca, a ward of Havana. I saw two boys maybe brothers walking home carrying caged birds. The cages, likely handmade from wood or wicker, hold small songbirds commonly kept in Cuban households.
Keeping wild birds in cages is a long-standing and widespread tradition in Cuba, dating back to Spanish colonial times. These birds are typically kept for their singing and are often seen on balconies, porches, and in urban neighborhoods like Havana. The practice remains a common part of everyday life, valued for the sense of beauty and familiarity it brings to the home.
beamie.smugmug.com
@beamie2
All About Beamie Young


Merit Award Winners
Presented in No Particular Order

Tittu Shaji Thomas (India)

This image was taken at the Yamuna Ghat near Jama Masjid in Delhi. A man comes here regularly as part of his daily ritual to feed migrating birds along the riverbank. In the middle of the city’s constant movement, this quiet act becomes a moment of stillness. As the birds gather and rise into the sky, his presence blends into a rhythm of faith, routine, and care. His dog stays close beside him, adding a sense of companionship to the scene. It reflects a simple yet powerful connection between humans, animals, and nature.
www.tittushajithomas.com
@tittu.photo


Wahyu Budiyanto (Indonesia)

In Menilo Village, Tuban, Indonesia, a morning scene is captured in the reflection of dew clinging to the roadside grass. Using macro photography, the tiny reflection reveals the silhouette of a cyclist passing through the still-quiet village road. The soft morning sunlight refracts through the dew, creating a simple silhouette of the tropical landscape and the daily activities of villagers at sunrise.
@wahyutoa


Buck Holzemer (United States)

An image of a frayed and torn American flag flying at half-mast beneath a brooding, stormy sky.
This image raises a poignant question: is it a commentary on our country’s present condition, or does it serve as a reminder that we have endured dark days before and that despite these challenges, the people have always come together for decency, humanity, and democracy.
And the flag still stands.
@buck4.9
All About Buck Holzemer


Cheng Zhu (China)

This photograph was captured in the summer of 2025 in Amdo County, Nagqu, Tibet, during the magnificent annual Horse Racing Festival. On the vast grasslands, tens of thousands gathered in ceremonial attire for this grand ethnic celebration, a time of year most anticipated by the local children. Walking along the river bank, I encountered this young Tibetan boy. With his favorite slingshot in hand, he seemed to express a determined spirit of freedom. I was able to record this powerful, beautiful moment.
@maxchuart
All About Cheng Zhu


Thaddäus Biberauer (Austria)

In Kerala near Munnar we eagerly attended a Kathakali show and were captivated by the intricate costumes and mesmerizing performances. Inspired by the performers' movements I aimed to capture a long exposure portrait. The poor seating and unpredictable motions made it difficult to get the perfect shot. Undeterred I kept shooting and hoped to catch at least one fleeting moment of beauty. In the chaos I found solace in the possibility that I had captured the essence of the spectacle.
hozzography.com
@hozzography
All About Thaddäus Biberauer


Florian Wurzinger (Austria)

Midwives at work: measuring a premature baby immediately after birth. Midwives accompany the final moments in the womb as well as the first moments of life. Their work moves between medical precision and deep humanity. An often overlooked effort that shapes the very beginning of a life.
@florianwurzinger


Khaichuin Sim (Malaysia)

The clouds were moving swiftly across the Dolomites, painting the valley in shifting light and shadow. I waited patiently for the moment when the sun would break through and touch the lonely Church of San Giovanni in Ranui, leaving its surroundings in darkness. When that beam of light finally arrived, it transformed the quiet chapel into a glowing sanctuary beneath the towering peaks, a fleeting reminder that nature’s most magical moments reveal themselves only to those who wait.
khaichuinsim.com
@khaichuin_sim


Jordi Cohen (Spain)

The Spanish bullfighter Marco Polope (from the bullfighting school of Valencia), preparing to go out to fight in the Final of the I Contest Valencian Bullfighting Federation in Sueca (Valencia)
@jordicohen
All About Jordi Cohen


Shrikanth Poojari (India)

A boy swims in a pond at Banganga Tank, Mumbai. Oceans and seas have always fascinated Me as so much still remains to be explored and discovered. The boy in the picture represents the unknown. It's haunting at the same time.
@seeccoo25


Gavin Libotte (United Kingdom/Australia)

I was shooting at Barangaroo in the Sydney CBD. I noticed a woman with a fan creating a wonderful shadow on her face. I quickly ran towards her and took the shot. The lighting was just right creating a traditional story in a modern urban setting.
www.gavinlibottephotography.com
@gavinlibottestreets
All About Gavin Libotte


Chris Yan (China)

This photo was taken at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China. The Temple of Heaven was where ancient emperors offered sacrifices to Heaven, and it has a history of 600 years. Today, it still preserves its ancient imperial architecture. When the setting sun shines on these buildings, the yellow walls and red doors exude a unique charm. The golden lion-head door knockers are illuminated by the sunlight, ancient and majestic. A girl wearing a classical headdress is passing by, the backlight creates a silhouette, subtle and mysterious. This moment perfectly embodies the traditional Chinese aesthetics in my heart.
www.chrisyanyan.com
@chrisyan1981
All About Chris Yan


Zhang Lintao (China)

A short text describing the background or story behind the image: This is the day three of the World Aquatics Artistic Swimming World Cup Super Final. I observed the shooting angle and pressed the shutter button at the moment when the athlete flew out of the water to record this exciting moment.
@lintao_zhang
Getty Images


Thibault Gerbaldi (France/United States)

In a rudimentary coastal shelter, fishermen wait as winds intensify in the hours before Cyclone Ditwah reaches the shore. The storm would later devastate parts of Southeast Asia and claim hundreds of lives in Sri Lanka alone. For coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on the sea, such moments reflect both the growing unpredictability of weather patterns and the front-line exposure of vulnerable families to a changing climate.
www.tgcrossroads.com
@tg_crossroads
All About Thibault Gerbaldi


Tommi Viitala (Finland)

On our way home, my Fiancee Lia noticed the frosty bus stop window glowing with nature’s own filters. We couldn’t resist taking a few portraits, and just then, the northern lights started dancing above us. Helsinki, Finland, 2025.
tommiviitala.com
@tommiviitala
All About Tommi Viitala


Jiri Kostal (Czech Republic)

Description: Riding on a magical night. In reality, I'm lying on a frozen pond with my bike, trying to look like I can ride on my back wheel. Drone view.
m.skypixel.com


Takeshi Yamamoto (Japan)

This photograph marks a fusion between the artist and the work he created through physical endurance and sustained devotion. As long as his strength allowed, he continued to shape the piece by giving of himself. Because Ishida is also a Buddhist monk, the circular form in the image can be understood as a sphere that gives material presence to a Buddhist sense of continuity and return. At the same time, he was working as a teacher, watching over and nurturing the growth of his students. By entering his own work and becoming part of the photograph, he made visible the accumulated force of time, labor, belief, and guidance, allowing a deeper approach to the truth he has pursued.
@t_yama0420
All About Takeshi Yamamoto


Andrew Newey (United Kingdom)

After a busy day of prayers, study and doing the daily chores, the young monks of Phugtal Gompa love nothing more than to relax by playing football. Phugtal is an ancient Buddhist monastery perched on a sheer cliff in the southeast corner of the Zanskar Valley in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, Northern India. Nestled around a natural cave, its secluded location provides an ideal sanctuary for monks seeking peace and solitude for meditation. During the winter, when deep snow makes roads impassable, the frozen rivers in the Zanskar region are used to transport vital supplies to the remote monasteries.
www.andrewnewey.com
@andrewnewey


Khaichuin Sim (Malaysia)

In the vast blue of the open ocean, a free diver shares a quiet moment with a group of curious Sperm Whales. Moving gracefully through the water, the diver appears almost to dance as the giants glide past, their immense forms contrasting with the delicate human silhouette above them. Encounters like this reveal the calm intelligence and curiosity of these ocean giants, reminding us how small we are within their world and how privileged we are to witness it.
khaichuinsim.com
@khaichuin_sim


Md Tanveer Rohan (United States)

This photograph, taken in Dhamrai, Bangladesh, captures a striking moment that reveals the staggering physical demands placed on brick field workers. Cloaked in a storm of dust, the laborer carries an enormous stack of bricks on their head an everyday task in an industry built on unseen, unacknowledged effort. The image underscores a quiet but profound power: the endurance of those who, without machinery or recognition, hold up the foundations of development. It’s a stark reminder of the human cost behind every brick laid.
rohantanveer.photoshelter.com
@tanveer.rohan
All About Md Tanveer Rohan


Eric Seidner (United States)

A costumed deity pushes through a wall of smoke during a village temple Youshen parade in Fujian, China. Villagers ignite hand-held flares only inches from his painted face.
@eseidner
All About Eric Seidner


Marco Di Marco (Italy)

Fresh lava spread in branching channels during the opening phase of an eruption at Sundhnúkagígar in the Svartsengi volcanic system on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. At peak onset, the eruption discharged lava at an estimated rate of about 1,500 cubic meters per second, feeding the glowing rivers of molten rock visible in the foreground. I made this image during the onset of the eruption, when lava output was exceptionally high and the landscape was changing minute by minute. What drew me to the scene was the contrast between violence and structure: molten rock spreading with immense force, yet briefly organizing itself into bright, branching channels before cooling and merging into a wider flow field. I wanted to show the power of the opening phase while also revealing the intricate surface patterns created in those first moments.
marcodimarco.photo
@marco.d.marco
All About Marco Di Marco


Prescott Lassman (United States)

esist is an ongoing photographic series that seeks to document the growing backlash against the current U.S. administration. These photographs highlight individual and collective acts of resistance by ordinary people peacefully protesting the creeping and increasingly violent authoritarianism overtaking their country. Although the current political and cultural situation seems bleak, these brave acts of defiance can have a profound effect on our collective future. After all, a single grain of sand may seem insignificant, but a million grains of sand can grind the gears of tyranny to a halt. “Resist” is thus a celebration of the nascent resistance and a call to action, asking viewers to ponder the question: What are you willing to do or risk to resist?
www.lassmanlenswork.com
@lassman_lenswork
All About Prescott Lassman


Gabi Steiner (Austria)

I found this spot in the labyrinth of narrow alleys in Harar, Ethiopia, where time seems to linger between the silent walls. I waited patiently, trusting that someone would come walking down the narrow alley. It wasn’t long before a young girl appeared. Her steps were quick and determined. And just as quickly as she had come, she was gone again, leaving behind only the echo of her movement.
www.gabisteiner.at
@gabisteinerphoto
All About Gabi Steiner


France Leclerc (United States)

The Buraidha market, located in central Saudi Arabia, is the largest and oldest camel market in the world. The sheer number of animals and the chaotic atmosphere is no doubt overwhelming. But what particularly caught my eye was the unique method used to transport some of the camels. For me, this image reflects the fusion of the past and present in Saudi Arabia.
www.franceleclerc.com
@franceleclerc
All About France Leclerc


Shrikanth Poojari (India)

I was waiting for the bus to start and saw the golden light in the passage of the bus. A beautiful sunset was happening in front of the bus. A car passed besides the bus and it's red tail light gave the red tones to the picture making it look magical. The moment was for a very seconds and I got this picture. This bus is the local bus that runs in Mumbai called the B.E.S.T. bus. Lot of people commute with it daily and people have lots of memories attached to this bus. Some bus numbers stay with people for a whole lifetime.
@seeccoo25


Cesare Simioni (Italy)

The Lambe-Sujo e Caboclinhos is one of the most fascinating popular street theaters in Brazil, deeply rooted in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. This cultural manifestation is a living and epic representation of a painful piece of history, yet one of great resistance: the escape of enslaved people and the formation of the quilombos (maroon communities).
On one side are the Lambe-Sujos (painted black with a mixture of sugarcane molasses and charcoal), representing the Black quilombolas in search of freedom. On the other side are the Caboclinhos (painted red with urucum and wearing headdresses), who represent the Indigenous people hired by plantation owners to recapture the fugitives.
@cesaresimioni


Asako Naruto (Japan)

A talking shadow, shifting through subtle metamorphoses. An incomplete presence, suspended between existence and absence. The 'someone' we perceive is a phantom formed at the intersection of movement and light.
asakonaruto.myportfolio.com
@asako_fotografa
All About Asako Naruto


Javier Arcenillas (Spain)

Girl with a feathered spear in the Amazon
www.javierarcenillas.com
@javierarcenillas
All About Javier Arcenillas


Kerry Faulkner (Australia)

This image is taken in 2024 at the Santovenia Home for the Aged in Havana, Cuba run by the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly.
I was with well-known Cuban documentary photographer Raul Canibano and we had unlimited access to the Home. When I walked past this laundry I saw the potential in this scene immediately – the light, the elements of the setting like the pressed plain nighties hanging neatly, the nun quietly ironing. It was then a matter of carefully framing it to tell the story, without disturbing any of those elements that made it special.
kerryfaulkner.com
@kerryfaulk


Gavin Libotte (United Kingdom/Australia)

The Indiana Tea House at Cottesloe Perth Western Australia is a wonderful building made of arches and interesting designs. When the sun goes down shadows are cast on the walls. I wait with my camera for the perfect alignment of figures and shadows to create a great composition.
www.gavinlibottephotography.com
@gavinlibottestreets
All About Gavin Libotte


Jiri Kostal (Czech Republic)

Bored driver and emty parking lot. Drone view.
m.skypixel.com


Archie Cludven (China)

Three years ago, I visited some relatives in a remote village and spent the entire day chatting with my grandparents’ friends and neighbors. Most of them were either young children or old people left at home as the youth went out to the big cities for work. I can no longer recall the specific words exchanged, but one thing caught my attention: the look of that serene contentment in their eyes as they sat by their doorsteps, eating watermelon and watching the sunset. On my way home, traveling along the national highway, I saw fishermen returning from their catch, bathed in the sunset. I rolled down my window and captured the scene depicted in this photograph. I am not good with descriptive words to narrate a story, for the truths are often distorted by the conflict between abstract memory and linguistic logic, resulting in an expression that fails to convey the precise message. Therefore, I wish to use prose—or perhaps just fleeting fragments of thoughts from sudden inspirations—to record the ideas I seek to convey through this image.
With every passing day and night, the arc of life sweeps quietly around us, floating away like water. Millions of sparks of fire fall into darkness, and from the dirt in the sand, a civilization blooms. While fortune rises, fate descends.
We go trrough our days of solitude, yet flicker now and then with sudden light. There will be family, and friends; there will be joy, and betrayal. There will be fervor, and there will be decline…Within this immeasurable world, no one is truly alone—yet each soul stands apart. We hold onto the little tiny bit of time, to wait for the stars like a fisherman waits by the lakeside, watching the sun being devoured by darkness, inch by inch, till eventually we find our sparks.
For many, the blood of youth courses through storm-flooded torrents, ground and scattered by furious tides. When asleep, the shadows of dreams howl. With the delirium and indifference of love, comes the desire for an unsaturated universe. Lamenting—hearts that cannot wake from ten thousand agonies; trembling—eyes struck mute beneath the shuddering blaze of stars. To grow old is to wear the creases time leaves upon our garments; to awaken is to return, as all must, to the lakes and the seas.
If the world is set aflame with a thousand, or ten thousands of small hopes, then we will no longer be ourselves when we look to the sky. If every morning is lit with such fire, if every dawn could rouse the hidden islands within the heart—calling, yearning, seeking, embracing, weeping in exultation—until tears and sweat and blood are cast across the vast stage of life, then perhaps—just perhaps—all of it would be worth it.
archiecludven.com


Fenqiang Liu (United States)

For years, I have sought to photograph Florida birds in their natural habitats, using the surrounding elements to create poetic compositions. One spring morning at Kraft Azalea Garden in Winter Park, Florida, a Great Egret flew past a natural frame I had long imagined capturing with a bird—a moment that immediately caught my attention. Hoping it might return, I positioned myself in the right spot, camera ready, and waited in quiet anticipation. Eventually, the egret passed by once more, the morning sun filtering through its elegant wings, completing a scene I had long envisioned.
www.fenqiangliu.com
@fenqiangliu
All About Fenqiang Liu


Robert Lie (Indonesia)

A nun is walking around the wall with full of Popes mural painting in Lourdes. We can see Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedictus inside the mural giving blessing. The picture shows look like that nun has been blessing by the Popes himself.
@robertlie


Hervé Boutrouille (France)

My goal in photography is to tell the story of people's lives in an urban environment as graphic and minimalist as possible, by relying on modern architecture. During a city photo trip in Berlin, I was in awe of this amazing building with the big circle window of a library. I was waiting to see an interesting story born in front of this architecture, where some pedestrians, runners … were passing The small wheels of this bike near the big wheel of the library caught my attention.
www.flickr.com


Andrew Newey (United Kingdom)

High in the Himalayan foothills of central Nepal Gurung honey hunters gather twice a year, risking their lives to harvest the honey from the world’s largest honeybee. For hundreds of years, the skills required to practise this ancient and sacred tradition have been passed down through the generations, but now both the number of bees and traditional honey hunters are in rapid decline as a result of increased commercial interests and climate change. Nepal’s fast growing tourism industry has started attracting tourists wanting to experience honey hunting in the foothills of Himalayas. This influx of tourists trekking the world famous Annapurna circuit has also stimulated interest among trekking agencies in organising ‘staged’ honey hunting events. The Himalayan cliff bee is essential for the pollination of high altitude plants and their rapidly decreasing population puts these ecosystems in jeopardy, threatening the food base for the entire region.
www.andrewnewey.com
@andrewnewey


Tommi Viitala (Finland)

As a street photographer, I love extreme weather. Although people often play the main roles in street photography, the surrounding nature plays a very important part in creating the atmosphere for the photos. This photo was taken through the wet and foggy glass in Mannerheimintie, Helsinki, Finland.
tommiviitala.com
@tommiviitala
All About Tommi Viitala


Marie Kent (France)

As I explored along the Thu Bon River in Hoi An, it was the vibrant blue of the fishing net that stayed with me long after witnessing this scene. A local woman was patiently mending a huge net by hand, and beyond the striking colour, it was a tradition living through her meticulous craft. In a rapidly changing world, her hand gesture captured in this photograph serves as a link to the generations of fishers who have come before her.
www.mariekent.com
@mariekentphoto


Seppo Tuomaala (Finland)

Captured in the heart of the city, this image portrays a quiet moment inside a traditional shoeshiner’s booth; a space that feels both intimate and timeless. The worn textures, layered reflections, and subtle play of light reveal a fragment of everyday life, where routine and atmosphere merge into something almost cinematic.
www.seppotuomaala.com
@seppot_photography


Tebani Slade (Australia)

I was walking the streets in London with my Leica in hand, looking for images to best capture the essence of this vibrant, bustling city. This commercial building caught my eye, with it’s colourful lights and the building opposite reflecting in it’s windows, creating a surreal, layered reality. The empty office spaces with it’s chairs, tables and white boards seem to be waiting for someone to occupy them. Then a passerby on his phone completes the story, symbolising the environment of a major urban centre.
www.tebani.com.au
@tebaniphotography
All About Tebani Slade