The seventh annual Minimalist Photography Awards has concluded with remarkable success, drawing over 2,600 photographers from more than 50 countries who submitted over 7,000 images worldwide. This year's competition demonstrated the exceptional creativity and enduring appeal of minimalist photography in contemporary visual arts, with participants showcasing how the principle of "less is more" continues to inspire artists globally.

Alexandros Othonos claimed the prestigious title of Minimalist Photographer of the Year 2025 for his compelling series "Threads of Memory's." The winning project, which earned Othonos a $2,000 grand prize, features a unique artistic approach that transforms vintage family photographs by carefully placing threads to create connections between past and present. His innovative technique bridges generational gaps through visual storytelling, demonstrating the power of minimalist photography to convey complex emotional narratives.

The competition featured twelve distinct categories, each celebrating different aspects of minimalist photography. Notable category winners included Tommi Viitala for "When the Angels Cry" in the Abstract category, Nicolas Ferri for "Laços" in Aerial photography, and Geoffrey Goddard for "Sentinel Ghost" in Architecture. Other standout winners encompassed Laura Lewis's "It's Complicated" (Conceptual, Second Place), Robert Bolton's "Dream Land" (Fine Art), Martin Rak's "Art of Winter" (Landscape), Nick Green's "The Shy Fishermen" (Long Exposure), William Shum's "Window in the Sky" (Night Photography), Renzo Cicillini's "Evening Peace" (Open category), Jerad Armijo's "Lands of Transition" (Photomanipulation), Giuseppe Gradella's "Past Present" (Portrait), and Selaru Ovidiu's "Together" (Street Photography).

Competition founder Milad Safabakhsh emphasized the significance of this year's milestone participation numbers, particularly in the current era of artificial intelligence's rapid expansion into creative fields. "At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly entering creative fields, these numbers affirm that photography remains vibrant and continues to inspire artists globally," Safabakhsh stated. He added that "the winning works of 2025 show that minimalist photography is not only alive, but has become a fundamental language of visual storytelling."

Juror Leon Boch, Art Director of Galerie am Lindenplatz, praised both the international scope and artistic quality of the submissions. "It was a pleasure to serve as a juror for this year's Minimalist Photography Awards. The overwhelming number of submissions from around the world not only highlights the international appeal of the competition but also, more importantly, underscores the enduring relevance of minimalist visual language in contemporary photography," Boch commented. He was particularly impressed by the clarity of compositions, subtle details, and powerful ideas that demonstrated the expressive force achievable through artistic reduction.

The competition also recognized second and third-place winners in each category, with all awarded images available for viewing on the official Minimalist Photography Awards website. The global participation and high-quality submissions reflect the continued vitality of minimalist photography as both an artistic movement and a powerful medium for creative expression in the digital age.