The Eyeshot Photography Open Call 2025 has once again proven why it stands as one of the most respected showcases of contemporary street and documentary photography. These incredible award-winning photos featured this year capture the pulse of human life — raw, emotional, and deeply thought-provoking. From the crowded alleys of Tokyo to the silent corners of Havana, each frame speaks volumes about the stories we pass by every day but rarely stop to see.
Selected by an international panel of top photographers, editors, and curators, these winning images highlight the perfect mix of technical mastery and emotional depth. What makes them truly stand out is their honesty — unfiltered glimpses into real moments that hold both beauty and chaos. Whether it’s a fleeting expression, a cinematic play of light, or a perfectly framed geometry of city life, every photo tells a story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve seen it.
These artists don’t just take pictures; they translate life into visual poetry. Their work reminds us of photography’s true essence — to observe, question, and connect. The 2025 edition of Eyeshot celebrates not only artistic excellence but also diversity, inviting voices from every corner of the world to share their perspective.
So, dive into this stunning visual journey and experience 20 award-winning photos that define the streets, the people, and the fleeting emotions that make our world endlessly fascinating.
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Single Image Winners
#1. 1st Place: "Horse & Canadair" by Simona Bonanno, Italy
"During the summer of 2017, 131 fires broke out with intensity for days in the area of Messina, Sicily, devastating thousands of hectares of Mediterranean vegetation, cork woods, and maritime pines. The stables of the University Sport Campus were evacuated, horses were brought to the soccer field, waiting for the Canadairs to douse the flames."
#2. 2nd Place: "Moan" by Jozef Macak, Slovakia
"Photographed on an ordinary street in Cebu (Philippines), this frame gathers everyday, intersecting stories. The photographer was drawn to how these small, ordinary moments overlap to form a single, vivid narrative."
#3. 3rd Place: "Manhood" by Mohsen Hadj, Algeria
"At a time when social concepts of masculinity are changing, the meaning of manhood varies across cultures. In Algeria, specifically in the Beida region, the Fantasia Festival—known locally as Tbourida—remains a living symbol of traditional masculinity. This event is organized by local men who are seen as pillars of strength, leadership, and heritage. From an early age, boys learn horse riding and the values of equestrianism, and they grow up aspiring to one day participate in the Fantasia Festival. Their participation is not just a sport; it is a rite of passage—an expression of courage and a source of pride for families and the community as a whole. This image captures the presence and stance of those who uphold this tradition, reflecting a sense of strength, dignity, and a deep connection to their horses as symbols of identity."
Series Image Winners
#4. 1st Place: "Mesitzo, 1996-2021" by Michael Robinson Chavez, USA
"Mestizo is a personal, decades-long journey through Peru’s mixed heritage, seen through the eyes of a son of a Peruvian mother and American father. Shot in black and white, the series captures everyday life in villages, markets, and backstreets — moments of resilience, pride, and struggle. It reflects the cultural fusion shaping Peru today, while exploring identity, memory, and belonging. These images are both portraits of others and mirrors of the photographer’s own search for self."
#5. 2nd Place: "Out of Time" by Taras Bychko, Ukraine
"While working on this project, Taras Bychko traveled throughout Ukraine and tried to show the viewer the time that seemed to have stopped in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Mostly, these places are the legacy of the Soviet regime, which seems to have taken root on a subconscious level and continues its life, despite the economic, cultural and social changes around it. “Out of Time” is a project about the “past” that should be erased by the present."
#6. 3rd Place: "When the Pavement Breathes" by Margarita Mavromichalis, Greece
"A vivid exploration of the unnoticed moments that transform the mundane into the extraodinary. Through spontaneous and candid captures, this series reveals unexpected juxtapositions, fleeting expressions, and subtle details that disrupt routine perceptions. It invites viewers to rediscover wonder in the familiar, highlighting how the rhythm of daily life holds surprises just beneath the surface, moments of humor, irony, beauty or oddity that turn the ordinary streets into a gallery of the unexpected."
Honorable Mentions
#7. "The Land of Tammorra" by Eleni Albarosa, Greece
"We are at Zii Riccardo’s estate during the celebration of “Sabato dei Fuochi” ( that happens the first Saturday after Easter) and in the picture we find a moment of rest while the party goes on with dancing, playing music and eating."
#8. "Love" by Aniruddha Guha Sarkar, India
"Interaction between a horse (used in Hindu wedding) and its caretaker."
#9. "Braving the Waves" by Dimitri Mellos, Greece
"Havana, Cuba, 2008."
#10. "Deep Dream" by Lisandra Alvarez, Iran
"This series is set along Havana’s malecón, this series captures the sea as a liminal space — where faith, longing, and imagination flow between the physical and the spiritual."
#11. "Rest" by Janusz Jurek, Poland
"Taken in Greece, this photograph began as a simple seascape — until a turn of 180 degrees revealed something more striking. A massive factory juts into the sea, claiming space meant for rest and leisure. What appears to be an ordinary scene becomes symbolic: industry slowly pushes people off the land, encroaching further with each passing moment."
Finalists
#12. "Where the Sahods Play" by Andrei Furnea, Romania
"Photographed at dawn in Kathmandu, this image captures a quiet moment of prayer at the Boudhanath Stupa. The contrast between the vast stillness of the sacred site and the small, devout figure creates a sense of reverence. Bathed in soft light and framed by shadows, prayer flags, and garlands, the scene becomes a meditation on faith, form, and silence."
#13. "The Illusion of Freedom" by Chiara Pavanati, Italy
"Near Bologna Airport, the photographer captured a plane behind barbed wire using a smartphone — a spontaneous image that felt symbolic. What seemed like a moment of freedom revealed hidden constraints, echoing how we often feel free, yet remain confined by unseen barriers."
#14. "Lonely Train" by Chris Yan, China
"On a rainy day, a mother and her son sat on a small train. The train slowly moved forward. All around was quiet, with only the sound of raindrops to be heard. The train’s lonely journey felt like a time traveler bound for a fairytale world."
#15. "The Colors of Heritage" by Daniel Antonio Garzon Moreno, Colombia
"In the labyrinthine blue alleys of Jodhpur, this portrait becomes a living tableau of Rajasthani identity. Dressed in vivid red and adorned with traditional jewelry, the woman sits poised on the stairs, her expression calm yet resolute—an embodiment of grace and strength. Opposite her, the men, marked by elaborate mustaches and ceremonial attire, stand as guardians of cultural legacy. Each figure, positioned in quiet harmony within the striking blue architecture, reflects the layered stories of gender, tradition, and generational pride. This image captures more than color and composition—it evokes the dignity of a people whose heritage lives not just in monuments, but in their posture, fabric, and gaze."
#16. "Holy Mission" by Federico Borobio, Argentia
#17. "The Flying Monk" by Laurin Strele, Austria
"The Flying Monk was photographed at the Shaolin Monastery in China, where martial arts and spirituality are deeply intertwined. The image captures a monk suspended mid-air during an acrobatic movement, embodying discipline, devotion, and the pursuit of transcendence. I wanted to frame not only the physical mastery but also the symbolic weight of a tradition that balances body, mind, and spirit."
#18. "Harbour of Hustle" by Marika Poquet, France
"Nothing quite compares to the sensory chaos of Sassoon Docks in Mumbai. From the deafening noise to the overpowering smell of fish, the place is alive with constant motion. At the center of it all are the Koli fisherwomen, whose vibrant presence and swift movements animate the dock each day. Navigating through the crowd feels like an exercise in alertness — a dance between carts, people, and puddles. Visually, it’s a riot of color: from the boats and crates to the clothing of those who work there."
#19. "The Elephant in the Street" by Sankar Sridhar, India
#20. "Untitled" by Suresh Naganathan, Switzerland
