The Association of Photographers (AOP) has announced the winners of its 40th annual awards. The competition recognized exceptional work across ten subject categories, along with special honors for commissioned, personal, and moving image projects. The winning images feature diverse themes, from Mongolian contortionists to coastal landscapes threatened by rising sea levels.
This year's awards highlight both technical skill and innovative storytelling. Photographers captured unique perspectives on culture, environment, and human experience. The winners were revealed on October 10, 2025.
Key Takeaways
- The AOP Awards marked their 40th anniversary in 2025.
- Awards were given in 10 categories, plus three special honors.
- Winning works explored themes such as artistic bending, climate change, and traditional craftsmanship.
- The competition showcased both established and emerging photographic talent.
Highlighting Top Photography Works
The AOP Awards are a significant event in the photography world. They recognize photographers who push creative boundaries and tell compelling stories through their lenses. The 2025 winners represent a broad spectrum of photographic genres and approaches.
Best in Show: Personal Non-Commissioned Work
The top honor for personal non-commissioned work went to Tom Parker for his image, 'Shape Shifting the Steppes'. This photograph features 35-year-old Tsetseglen Odgerel, a renowned contortionist from Mongolia. Her skill is known as Uran Nugaralt, meaning 'artistic bending'.
"Her physical strength is reflected in her mental fearlessness. Tsetseglen and I wanted to capture her in her home city, but not in a typical performance environment," Parker stated about his subject.
The image captures Odgerel's remarkable flexibility and strength outside a traditional performance setting, offering a personal glimpse into her artistry.
Fact: Uran Nugaralt
Uran Nugaralt, or 'artistic bending', is a traditional Mongolian contortionist skill. It combines extreme flexibility with artistic expression, often performed in elaborate costumes.
Environmental and Social Commentary
Many winning entries addressed important global issues, including environmental concerns and social narratives. These photographs serve as visual commentaries on the world's challenges and traditions.
Gold Winner: Environment Category
Sean Breithaupt received the Gold award in the Environment category for 'Patterns in a Floodzone'. These images document coastal regions in Ireland that face threats from rising sea levels. Photographed from a high altitude, the series reveals abstract, shifting patterns created by the constant movement of tides.
Breithaupt's work provides an artistic reflection on the complex and unpredictable nature of these landscapes. It highlights the impact of climate change on vulnerable coastlines.
Documenting Tradition: Moving Image Work
Jack Margerison's 'The Yard' won in the Documentary category for moving image work. This short film tells the story of Woottens Boatyard, a family-run business on the River Thames in Marlow. Five generations of the Wootten family have built and restored wooden boats there for nearly 120 years.
The film explores the balance between preserving heritage and adapting to a changing world. It captures the dedication and craftsmanship involved in maintaining traditional boat-building skills.
Background: Woottens Boatyard
Woottens Boatyard has operated for almost 120 years. It is a testament to enduring family craftsmanship in the face of modern changes, specializing in wooden boat construction and restoration.
Exploring Identity and Culture
Other notable works delved into themes of identity, culture, and community traditions. These photographs offer insights into diverse human experiences.
Best in Moving Category: Shrovetide
Lewis Khan's 'Shrovetide' earned the specific award for inspirational moving work. This mixed-media project uses the historic Atherstone Ball Game as a lens. It examines male identity, vulnerability, and self-worth within this annual tradition.
Gold Winner: Portrait Category
Todd Antony won Gold in the Portrait category for 'Buzkashi – Abdulqadir'. Buzkashi, meaning 'goat pulling' in Persian, is a sport played in Tajikistan and neighboring Central Asian countries. Riders compete for control of a goat carcass.
Antony captured a quiet moment with Abdulqadir, a four-year-old, on a hilltop. A match was ongoing in the valley below. The image shows the boy on his large horse, stepping into a makeshift studio during a break from the intense sport.
Sport: Buzkashi
Buzkashi is a traditional Central Asian equestrian sport. Teams or individual riders compete to gain possession of a goat carcass and carry it to a designated scoring area.
Recognizing Emerging and Established Talent
The AOP Awards also celebrated new talent and specialized technical skills. This reflects the dynamic nature of contemporary photography.
Gold Winner: AOP Emerging Talent Award
Jack Currie received the Gold award for Emerging Talent for 'Gangster Granny'. The subject, Margaret, is Currie's own grandmother. He describes her as "quite possibly the most gangster granny to ever live," highlighting a personal and humorous approach to portraiture.
Martin Evening Excellence in Digital Retouching Award
Kai Bastard at Bad Star Studios Ltd won the Martin Evening award for excellence in digital retouching. His work, 'Rivoli Ballroom, After', was based on a photograph by Julia Fullerton-Batten. This award acknowledges the critical role of post-production in achieving a final photographic vision.
Diverse Photographic Narratives
The awards showcased a wide range of subjects, from global social issues to intimate personal projects. Each winning image tells a unique story.
Gold Winner: Project Category
David Clerihew's 'America: Capturing America’s Gun Paradox Through a Lens' won Gold in the Project category. This series aims to depict modern America, where gun rights are strongly defended despite pervasive gun violence. Clerihew offered each subject $5, which often served as an icebreaker.
"I found this transaction served as the perfect icebreaker, met with a mix of confusion, surprise, and amusement. Through over a hundred portraits taken against plain backdrops, I endeavoured to give representation to the rich tapestry of American society," Clerihew explained.
His project features over a hundred portraits against simple backdrops. It seeks to represent the diverse perspectives within American society regarding firearms.
Finalist: Documentary Category
Simon Hill's 'Balloon Seller, Central Pier, Blackpool' was a finalist in the Documentary category. This image captures a scene at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach, an amusement park established in 1896. The project received major funding from Arts Council England and marked the 60th anniversary of the Sunday Times Magazine's 1965 issue on The North.
Historic Landmark: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, founded in 1896, is a 42-acre amusement park on England's South Shore. It remains family-owned and features 38 rides, including 10 roller coasters and 5 water rides, blending classic and modern attractions.
Innovative Approaches and Technical Mastery
The AOP Awards also recognized innovation in visual storytelling and technical execution across various commercial and artistic fields.
Gold Winner: Spaces Category
Yuki Sugiura won Gold in the Spaces category for 'Japanese Knife Forges'. This photograph captures knife templates at a workshop in Echizen, Japan. It was shot for the book 'Anatomy of a Knife'. The image highlights the precise and traditional craftsmanship involved in Japanese knife making.
Silver Winner: Still Life and Object Category
Jonathan Knowles' 'Breathable Bullet' received Silver in the Still Life and Object category. This macro shot depicts a tiny lead bullet with a logo reading 'The Breathable Bullet'. It symbolizes the toxic lead content found in illegal disposable vapes. The campaign was a collaboration with Publicis London, raising awareness about public health issues.
Finalist: Fashion & Beauty Category
Wendy Carrig's 'Ghost Gear' was a finalist in the Fashion & Beauty category. This project addresses the issue of abandoned fishing industry waste, known as Ghost Gear, polluting beaches and oceans. The items used in the photograph were found by Carrig on her local beach, highlighting the environmental impact on marine life.
Environmental Threat: Ghost Gear
Ghost Gear refers to discarded fishing equipment that continues to entangle marine life and damage ocean habitats for decades. It represents a significant form of ocean pollution.
Global Perspectives and Local Stories
The awards featured works from various locations, from urban landscapes to remote cultural settings, reflecting a global scope with local depth.
Finalist: Open Category
Owen Harvey's 'Escaramuza Girls of Jurupa Valley' was a finalist in the Open category, sponsored by Fujifilm UK. Escaramuza, meaning 'skirmish', involves female riders performing intricate skills on horseback. Before training, these girls enjoy dance routines and spinning in their traditional dresses in Jurupa Valley, California. The image captures a moment of joy and cultural pride.
Finalist: Open Category
Brendan Duffy's 'Easter Sunday' was also a finalist in the Open category. This series depicts the Procession de Santa Semana on Easter Sunday in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza. Local women wear traditional lace head dresses and accompany statues of Jesus and Mary to the local church. This centuries-old tradition is a deeply rooted cultural event.
The 2025 AOP Awards showcased the power of photography to document, interpret, and inspire. The winning images and finalists demonstrate a high level of artistic vision and technical expertise.