The Refocus 2025 Color Photography Awards celebrates today’s most exceptional color images, showcasing the dynamic possibilities of modern visual storytelling. From vivid portraits to breathtaking landscapes, this year’s winners pushed the creative boundaries of color photography across various categories—ranging from nature and architecture to street and conceptual art.
Photo by: Maddison Woollard
At the heart of the competition, the 1st place honor was awarded to Liam Man for his stunning photo titled “Ring of Fire and Ice.” This arresting image fuses the raw forces of nature with masterful color composition, capturing a surreal harmony between the elements. The photograph’s visual drama and symbolic contrast left a lasting impression on the jury.
The top 25 winning entries span multiple genres and geographical perspectives, each photo narrating a unique story through vibrant hues and refined framing. From neon-lit urban streets to quiet sunlit countrysides, each composition exemplifies how color can elevate an image from beautiful to unforgettable.
Judges praised not only the technical excellence of these photographs but also their emotional depth and originality. The winners demonstrated exceptional use of light, contrast, and color harmony, transforming ordinary scenes into powerful visual experiences.
What sets the Refocus 2025 Color Photography Awards apart is its commitment to diversity—both in subject matter and in global representation. These 25 remarkable winning photos are more than just visually stunning; they reflect our world in all its colorful complexity.
Whether you’re a photography enthusiast or simply a lover of striking imagery, this curated selection of award-winning color photographs offers inspiration, beauty, and a renewed appreciation for the power of color in capturing the human experience.
Scroll down and inspire yourself. You can check their website for more information.
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#1. 1st Place: "Ring of Fire, and Ice" by Liam Man
"A “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse reaches annularity as two intrepid ice climbers summit the mighty Glacier Leones. A drone illuminates the ice’s textures and colours, battling fierce winds that whip up plumes of snow that burn in the sun’s rays."
#2. 2nd Place: "The Lake" by Masoud Mirzaei
#3. 3rd Place: "Where Water Once Was" by Octavio Campos Salles
#4. Abstract: Gold – "Liquid Soul n°7712 Extinctions" by Gaëtan Changeur
#5. Aerial: Silver – "After the meal" by Pål Hermansen
#6. Architecture: Gold – "Tempelhof" by Jonathan Ducrest
#7. Conceptual: Gold – "Iranian girl" by Kristina Makeeva
#8. Domestic Animals: Gold – "In the Light" by Daniela Schnabel-Sahm
#9. Event: Silver – "Pe’ahi Canonball" by Aaron Lynton
#10. Fashion & Beauty: Gold – "Luceatanima" by Daniil Slomakin
#11. Film/Analog: Gold – "Blue Swallow" by William Mark Sommer
#12. Fine Art: Silver – "Mysterious reflection" by Quentin Doussaud
#13. Landscapes: Gold – "A quiet moment" by Manuela Palmberger
#14. Minimalism: Gold – "Nowhere" by Alessandro Tagliapietra
#15. Nature: Gold – "Earth’s Galaxy" by Navaneeth Unnikrishnan
#16. People: Gold – "Chile pepper workers" by Serkan Dogus
#17. Photojournalism: Gold – "Nowhere is Safe for them" by Veronique De Viguerie
#18. Portrait: Gold – "Crestline Queen" by Elijah Barnes
#19. Still Life: Gold – "Rose Couture" by Patti Gary
#20. Street: Gold – "Two time" by Nikolay Schegolev
#21. Travel: Gold – "This Icecap is to Go" by Jacquie Matechuk
#22. Underwater: Gold – "Underneath the surface" by Kirvan Baldassari
#23. Wildlife: Gold – "Incoming" by Maddison Woollard
#24. Wildlife: Silver – "Surrounded By Love" by Jacquie Matechuk
#25. Wildlife: Bronze – "Snowy Owl I see You" by Kathy Sergio
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