The winners of the 2025 British Photography Awards (BPA) have been announced, showcasing exceptional talent from photographers both within the United Kingdom and internationally. Founded as a non-profit competition, the awards program highlights the finest achievements in British photography while celebrating both emerging talents and established professionals, whether they are based in the UK or working abroad.
This year's competition attracted remarkable participation, with 400 outstanding images making it to the shortlist. From this impressive pool, 40 winners were ultimately selected through a dual selection process: 20 photographs chosen by a panel of expert judges and an additional 20 People's Choice winners voted on by the general public.
Among the standout winning works is "Hangar 57" by Paul Reid, captured using a Leica Q2 Monochrom camera. Reid explained his artistic vision, stating, "Part of my Time Traveller series, I wanted to evoke a feeling of despair as the time traveller navigates his way through an airfield hangar." This monochromatic image exemplifies the Fine Art category's emphasis on creative expression and emotional storytelling.
In the Street Photography category, Andrew Golubev's "Summer Construction in London" earned recognition. Shot with a Sony A7 III and FE 85mm f/1.8 lens, Golubev described the spontaneous nature of his winning photograph: "Shot during a lunch break from the other side of the building on a warm summer day, this was just a quick snap of a construction site that had popped up across the street – one of those unplanned moments that catch your eye."
The Water Life category featured Pandora Maund's powerful image "Taken by a Ghost," captured with an OM System OM-1 and M.Zuiko 300mm f/4 Pro lens. Maund's photograph documents the harsh realities of nature, showing a ghost crab carrying a deceased turtle hatchling. She explained the challenging circumstances of the shoot: "I had been out with the conservation team on the island early one morning, looking for where turtles had been up to lay their eggs during the night and also with the hope of seeing some turtle hatchlings making their way down to the sea. Quickly I lay on the sand and tried to find the best position as the crab was running up and down the beach, which actually took almost an hour to get the final shot. It is estimated only one in a thousand hatchlings make it to maturity, with many being taken by predators such as crabs and birds before they even reach the sea."
The Wedding category was represented by Sarah Carter's touching image "Bride and the flower girl," captured with a Canon EOS R6 Mark II. Carter described the intimate moment: "The flower girl was playing under the bride's veil so I snuck under as well to get a shot of them together." This photograph demonstrates the category's focus on capturing genuine emotions and spontaneous interactions during wedding celebrations.
In Commercial Product photography, Celso Marrero's "Pop Pressure" stood out, created using a Nikon Z8 and Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. Marrero explained his artistic concept: "Bold curves and playful contrast. Pop Pressure explores the tension between elegance and edge. High-shine heels meet soft resistance, capturing the energy of confidence that refuses to be quiet."
The Sports category featured Glen Marillier's evocative image "Chasing Tomorrow," photographed with a Fujifilm X-T5 and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR lens. Marillier's artistic statement reflected the universal appeal of grassroots sports: "On cracked schoolyard asphalt, in the chill of a misty afternoon, a child faces an empty goal. Here, football is stripped back to its core: joy, possibility and the courage to believe. Chasing Tomorrow reflects the universality of grassroots sport, where ambition is born in quiet moments as fleeting as fog."
The British Photography Awards serve as a significant platform for recognizing excellence across diverse photographic disciplines, from fine art and street photography to commercial work and sports imagery. The competition's comprehensive approach, combining both professional jury selection and public voting, ensures that the awards reflect both technical expertise and popular appeal. All winning photographs and additional information about the competition can be viewed on the official British Photography Awards website, providing inspiration for photographers and photography enthusiasts worldwide.
