The world's most lucrative photography competition, the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), announced its 14th annual winners on November 11, 2025, with this year's theme focusing on 'Power.' The prestigious competition attracted an impressive 87,000 images from 50,000 photographers worldwide, all vying for top honors and substantial cash prizes totaling $1 million.
The glamorous awards ceremony took place at Dubai's futuristic Museum of the Future in the United Arab Emirates. His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, presented the coveted $200,000 Grand Prize to Italian photographer Gianluca Gianferrari. His winning photograph, titled 'Etna's Paroxysm,' captured a dramatic volcanic eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily, powerfully showcasing nature's raw force against a snowy backdrop.
The event drew an international audience of award-winning photographers, members of the royal family, distinguished dignitaries, and photography journalists from around the globe. HIPA was first established in 2011 under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and has since become renowned as the world's richest photography contest.
American photographers claimed significant recognition at this year's awards. Rick Smolan received the prestigious Appreciation Award worth $100,000, honoring his distinguished four-decade career as a photographer, author, and influential speaker who has consistently raised awareness about critical humanitarian issues. Fellow American Mark Smith earned the Content Creator Award worth $50,000, recognizing his work as both photographer and filmmaker who creates his own musical accompaniments. Smith has gained particular acclaim as a leading bird photographer and researcher specializing in avian life and habitats.
The HIPA Photographer of the Year Award, carrying an $80,000 prize, went to Omani photographer Salem Al-Hajri. Al-Hajri has distinguished himself by creating unique visual projects that tell impactful stories of Omani and broader Arab culture. Beyond his artistic achievements, he demonstrates commitment to fostering local talent by providing opportunities and training for photographers throughout the Gulf region.
Ali Bin Thalith, HIPA's Secretary General, expressed deep gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan for his continued support of both HIPA and the broader art of photography. He emphasized how HIPA has achieved global recognition and secured an important place for photography in society, while simultaneously encouraging local Emirate talent to seek international recognition. The competition's focus on honoring visual arts has effectively raised awareness about photography's power to illuminate pressing global issues.
This year's competition maintained strict standards by prohibiting AI-generated photographs, with HIPA reserving the right to disqualify any submissions created using artificial intelligence. The distinguished panel of judges included renowned photographers from around the world: Aida Mangstu of Ethiopia, Armand Sarlangue of France, Dennis Schmelz of Germany, Filip Hrebenda of Slovakia, Jamie Rojo of Spain, Muhammed Muheisen of the Netherlands, and Oscar J. Barroso of Spain.
The competition featured multiple categories with substantial prizes. In the main 'Power' category, Syrian photographer Hashem Dardowra won first prize ($40,000) for 'The Rise of the Phoenix,' depicting a brave young boy emerging from war rubble with defiance. Indian photographer Deepak Singh Dogra secured second place ($30,000) with 'Ultimate Power,' showcasing the sun through specialized long-focal-length photography. Australian photographer Scott Portelli, a previous HIPA Portfolio winner, claimed third prize ($20,000) for 'Jetstreams,' demonstrating the propulsion power created by penguins underwater.
The Color category saw American Karine Aigner triumph with first prize ($40,000) for 'Jungle Keeper,' featuring a magnificent jaguar in Ecuador's Yasuni National Park. American photographer Jinhua Zhi earned second place ($30,000) with 'The Flying Hatchet,' documenting peregrine falcons defending their nest from pelicans. Polish photographer Marcin Giba secured third place ($20,000) for 'The Lake Eye,' capturing a frozen lake in southern Poland from above.
In Black & White photography, Australian Edward John Grambeau won first prize ($40,000) for 'Exploding Swell,' showcasing massive Pacific Ocean waves. South African wildlife photographer Chris Fallows earned second place ($30,000) with 'Time Will Tell,' featuring a matriarch elephant and her family facing climate challenges. Emirati royal photographer Yousef Bin Shakar Al Zaabi claimed third place ($20,000) for 'Sunset Over the Sands,' depicting a camel herder in the Liwa desert.
The Sports Photography category crowned Vladimir Tadic of Bosnia and Herzegovina as first place winner ($40,000) for 'Victory and Defeat,' capturing contrasting emotions in teenage boxing. German photographer Ladislav Perenyi secured second place ($30,000) with 'Apex of Grace,' featuring German rhythmic gymnast Darja Varfolomeev's gold medal performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Japanese photographer Masatoshi Ujihara earned third place ($20,000) for 'The Madison,' documenting the unique teamwork in track cycling.
The Portfolio storytelling category, offering the highest individual category prizes, saw Palestinian photographer Ali Jadallah win first place ($50,000) for 'Burden of Survival,' documenting life in Gaza during Ramadan amid ongoing conflict. Polish photographer Marek Biegalski earned second place ($40,000) for 'Whispers of Light,' showcasing Utah's Factory Butte landscapes. UAE photographer Ammar AlSayed Ahmed secured third place ($30,000) with 'Wings of Wonder,' revealing the intricate beauty of insect wings under magnification.
The innovative Drone Video category featured American photographer Karim Iliya winning first place ($40,000) for 'Blood of the Earth,' capturing Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano from above. Norwegian filmmaker Chrisander Bergan earned second place ($30,000) with 'One More Flight,' contrasting diverse global landscapes from tribal gatherings to abandoned cities. Indian videographer Shantha Kumar Nagendran claimed third place ($20,000) for 'Origin to Orbit,' tracing humanity's evolution from untouched forests to space exploration.
Beyond the competition categories, HIPA's special awards recognized individuals who have significantly impacted photography's future. Rick Smolan, the $100,000 Appreciation Award winner, gained fame through his 'A Day in the Life' book series, selling 5 million copies worldwide with many reaching number one on The New York Times Best Sellers list. His work 'America 24/7' became one of the largest crowd-sourced photo books, printing 1.4 million copies and earning recognition on Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Things Program.
Mark Smith, the $50,000 Content Creator Award recipient, has built an impressive following with over 2 billion video views, 1.8 million YouTube subscribers, and 2.1 million Instagram followers. His specialty in ultra-slow-motion videography reveals intricate details of bird behavior during hunting and flight, earning features from the National Audubon Society as both artist and advocate.
Salem Al-Hajri, the $80,000 Photographer of the Year Award winner, has conducted 19 photography workshops promoting Omani culture through his 'We are Oman' series and traditional Moroccan horseback displays called Tbourida. His international recognition includes gold medals at FIAP International Photography Competitions and showcases at Qatar Museums during prestigious festivals.
The 14th annual HIPA competition successfully demonstrated photography's power to capture human experiences, natural phenomena, and cultural heritage while providing substantial financial support to photographers worldwide. With its continued commitment to excellence and substantial prize pool, HIPA maintains its position as the photography world's most prestigious and rewarding competition.
