The AOP Photography Awards, often called the “Oscars of the photography world,” have once again spotlighted the best of the best in creative image-making. Now in its 40th year, this prestigious event by the Association of Photographers (AOP) celebrates the artistry, vision, and technical mastery of professionals who continue to redefine what modern photography can be.
Each year, the AOP Awards bring together the industry’s top talents — from rising stars to established masters — offering a platform that honors creativity, innovation, and professional excellence. It’s not just about stunning visuals; it’s about storytelling, emotion, and the human connection that makes an image unforgettable.
This year’s winners and finalists were announced across 10 diverse subject categories, showcasing breathtaking work from around the world. Additional honors were given for Best Commissioned Work, Best Personal Project, and Best Moving Image, reflecting the evolving landscape of photography where still and motion now blend seamlessly.
From conceptual masterpieces to powerful documentary visuals, every winning image tells a story of skill, heart, and imagination. The Awards also recognize the evolving craft of photographers who push boundaries — using light, composition, and creativity to shape how we see the world.
For professionals, being recognized at the AOP Awards isn’t just an accolade — it’s a career-defining moment. It’s the ultimate stamp of respect from peers, editors, and creative directors who shape the visual industry today.
After four decades of honoring visionaries, the AOP Photography Awards 2025 continue to stand as a beacon for artistic excellence and innovation — proving that photography, at its finest, is more than an image; it’s a timeless form of creative expression.
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#1. Environment – Gold Winner: "Patterns in a Floodzone" by Sean Breithaupt
"These images look at coastal regions in Ireland that are under threat from rising sea levels. Photographed from a high altitude, the images capture the strange, shifting patterns shaped by the relentless movement of the tides, offering an abstract reflection of the complex and unpredictable challenges these landscapes face."
#2. Portrait – Silver Winner: "In Her Own Time" by Hugh Fox
#3. Documentary – Gold Winner: "The Yard" by Jack Margerison
"The Yard is a short documentary film that tells the story of Woottens Boatyard, a family-run boatyard on the River Thames in Marlow, where five generations of the Wootten family have built and restored wooden boats for nearly 120 years. The project captures the delicate balance between tradition and adaptation, as the Woottens work to preserve their heritage in a changing world."
#4. Lifestyle – Silver Winner: "Six Senses" by Simon Winnall
#5. Food & Drink – Silver Winner: "Chinatown Windows" by Henrik Knudsen
#6. AOP Discovery Award: "Liturgy of the Unseen" by Ruben Davies
#7. Portrait – Gold Winner: "Buzkashi – Abdulqadir" by Todd Antony
"Buzkashi, ‘goat pulling’ in Persian, is the wild, brutal sport of Tajikistan and its neighbouring ‘Stans’. Rooted in nomadic cultures of Central Asia and played for hundreds of years, riders battle for control of the goat while dodging rivals. Abdulqadir, 4, during a quiet hilltop moment with a match thundering away in the narrow valley below us. We were setting up our equipment and taking portraits of riders from his group of family and friends, when he strolled into our makeshift hilltop studio on his biblically large horse."
#8. AOP Emerging Talent Award: "Gangster Granny" by Jack Currie
"Margaret is Jack’s own granny, and ‘quite possibly the most gangster granny to ever live’"
#9. Project – Gold Winner: "America: Capturing America’s Gun Paradox Through a Lens" by David Clerihew
"Seeking to paint a picture of modern America – one where the right to bear arms is fiercely defended, even as bullets rip through America’s social fabric, the portraits were the project’s starting point. Clerihew offered each subject $5. ‘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”"
#10. Environment – Silver Winner: "Ratcliffe on Soar" by Greg Funnell
"A house sits in close proximity to the cooling towers of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal power station located in in Nottinghamshire, UK. The power station was decommissioned in late 2024. Shot for the Sunday Times Magazine."
#11. Spaces – Gold Winner: "Japanese Knife Forges" by Yuki Sugiura
"Knife Templates at a knife workshop in Echizen, Japan. Shot for the book Anatomy of a Knife."
#12. Still Life and Object – Silver Winner: "Breathable Bullet" by Jonathan Knowles
"Macro shot of a tiny lead bullet with a logo printed on it that says ‘The Breathable Bullet’, symbolising the toxic amount of lead found in illegal disposable vapes. The campaign was a collaboration with Publicis London."
#13. Documentary – Finalist: "Balloon Seller, Central Pier, Blackpool by Simon Hill"
"Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach, established in 1896 by William George Bean, is a historical amusement park on its South Shore. Spanning 42 acres, it remains family owned and features 38 rides, including 10 roller coasters and five water rides, and is renowned for its blend of classical and modern attractions. Marking the 60th anniversary of the Sunday Times Magazine 1965 Issue on The North, Arts Council England provided the major funding for this year-long project, which builds on the work of John Bulmer."
#14. Environment – Finalist: "Surfer, Venice Beach" by Henrik Knudsen
"One of a series of images made on Venice Beach in California."
#15. Portrait – Finalist: "Margo in Margate" by Alun Callender
"The artist Margo McDaid, photographed at her Margate gallery."
#16. Documentary – Finalist: "El Jadida – City of the Horse" by Nick David
"Portrait of a Moroccan horse rider on the Atlantic coastline."
#17. Project – Finalist: "The North Revisited" by Simon Hill
"Since the closure of Horden Colliery in 1987, the village in County Durham has struggled with unemployment, depopulation, and deteriorating housing. Efforts to mask decline included installing fake doors and windows on abandoned terraces. Yet, amid hardship, community spirit endures – often centred on shared traditions such as pet ownership, especially dogs. Greyhounds, once a common sight due to local racing culture, remain popular pets, symbolising resilience and companionship in many households."
#18. Fashion & Beauty – Finalist: "Ghost Gear" by Wendy Carrig
Abandoned waste from the fishing industry, known as Ghost Gear, lies derelict on our beaches and pollutes our oceans. It continues for decades to entangle and potentially kill marine life and smother natural habitat. “All the items used here were found by me, washed up on my local beach”
#19. Open Category (Sponsored by Fujifilm UK) – Finalist: "Escaramuza Girls of Jurupa Valley" by Owen Harvey
"Escaramuza is translated to ‘skirmish’ in English. Soldadas (female soldiers), would ride with the men acting as decoys on the battlefield, performing intricate skills on horseback. Before training, the escaramuza girls take time to have fun, doing dance routines and spinning in their traditional dresses. Jurupa Valley, California"
#20. Open Category (Sponsored by Fujifilm UK) – Finalist: "Easter Sunday" by Brendan Duffy
"One of a series of images depicting the Procession de Santa Semana on Easter Sunday in the town of Santa Eulalia in Ibiza. Local women wear lace head dresses and accompany the statues of Jesus and Mary to the local church, a tradition dating back centuries."