The CEWE Photo Award, recognized as the world's largest photography competition, has unveiled its ten category winners for 2025 after receiving an unprecedented 656,000 submissions from photographers across 153 countries. This remarkable achievement breaks the competition's own record, cementing its position as the most extensive photographic contest globally.
Each of the ten category winners will receive substantial prizes including a €5,000 ($5,830) photography equipment voucher and €2,500 ($2,900) worth of CEWE's photofinishing products. The competition, which welcomes both professional and amateur photographers without entry fees, demonstrates the democratization of photographic excellence on a global scale.
The winning images span diverse categories, showcasing exceptional talent across multiple photography disciplines. In the Travel & Culture category, German photographer Günter Kleber captured "Lazise Early Morning," a serene dawn scene of Lake Garda in Italy using a Sony A7R III with FE 12-24mm f/4 G lens. His technical settings of 0.5 seconds, f/10, and ISO 64 perfectly preserved the tranquil morning atmosphere.
Maizal Chaniago from Indonesia claimed victory in the Cooking & Food category with "Traditional Drink," remarkably photographed in his own home using a Nikon Z7 II with Z 24-70mm f/4 lens. Shot at 1/500 second, f/10, and ISO 800, the image demonstrates how compelling food photography can emerge from everyday settings. The photographer humorously noted that he consumed the beverage after capturing the shot.
Filip Hrebenda of Slovakia dominated the Landscapes category with "Into the Cave," an extraordinary image from a remote Saudi Arabian desert expedition. Using a Sony A7R Mark V with FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens, he captured this windswept sunset scene at 1/30 second, f/8, and ISO 100. The photograph features natural sand movement created by desert winds, adding atmospheric drama to the composition.
The Architecture category winner, Ukrainian photographer Yevhen Kostiuk, presented "P-opular & I-gnored," an aerial perspective of the Adriatic Sea off Croatia's coast captured using a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone. This image exemplifies how modern drone technology enables photographers to achieve previously impossible viewpoints.
Belgian photographer Eric Tkindt secured the Sports & Action category with "Between The Lines," a precisely timed capture from the World Gymnastics Championship where he volunteered. Using a Nikon Z9 with VR 70-200mm f/2.8 G lens, he froze the athlete's motion at 1/2500 second, f/3.2, and ISO 4000, demonstrating exceptional timing and technical skill.
In the Nature & Wildlife category, Chinese photographer Xiaoping Lin's "Jungle Rule" presents nature's harsh realities through the lens of survival. Shot with a Sony A1 and FE 600mm f/4 lens at 1/3200 second, f/4, and ISO 160, the image captures what Lin describes as "the most authentic survival philosophy of the natural world at the critical point of life and death."
The Close-up & Macro category featured Hasan Baglar from Cyprus with "Danlock," while UK photographer Mike Taylor won the Street Photography category with "The Beautiful Game." Taylor's image, captured during the thrilling 2018 World Cup match between France and Argentina using a Leica Q (Typ 116) with flash at 28mm and 1/60 second, perfectly encapsulates the emotional intensity of that unforgettable sporting moment.
Brazilian photographer Gerson Antonio Toigo achieved victory in the Animals category with "Gato Na Janela," remarkably shot using only an iPhone XR smartphone at 1/1700 second, f/1.8, and ISO 25. This win demonstrates that exceptional photography transcends equipment limitations, focusing instead on vision and timing.
The People category winner, Indonesian photographer Yadi Setiadi, captured "United Colours" during a photography workshop using a Nikon D610 DSLR with 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. The image, frozen at 1/640 second, f/7.1, and ISO 160, showcases the magical interplay between light and water in a waterfall setting.
This marks the sixth edition of the biennial competition, which maintains its commitment to charitable giving by donating ten cents for every entry to support charity projects in East Africa. The ten category winners will now compete for the overall grand prize, which includes a €10,000 travel package, €5,000 in photography equipment, and €2,500 in CEWE photo products. The ultimate winner will be announced on September 25, 2025, concluding this remarkable celebration of global photographic talent.
