CEWE Photo Award 2025 announces top images from ten categories and from 656,738 entries

With a new record number of 656,738 photos from 153 countries, the CEWE Photo Award has once again confirmed its leading position as the world’s largest photography competition. The “Nature & Wildlife” category was particularly popular, with more than 200,000 submissions. The international jury has now selected the best images: Ten category-winning photos and the winner of the Young Talent Award have been chosen.

“The diversity, creativity, and emotional depth of the submitted photos once again touched us deeply this year,” explains Thomas Mehls, CEO of CEWE and a member of the six-member, distinguished jury. “With the CEWE Photo Award, we not only want to promote the joy of photography, but also assume social responsibility. Therefore, we are particularly pleased to once again support an important educational project run by SOS Children’s Villages worldwide with a donation of €65,673.80. The worldwide enthusiasm for photography shows us time and again how powerfully images connect people – and encourages us to continue to passionately promote the culture of photography.”

Chaired by star photographer Christie Goodwin (UK), the jury selected the impressive winning photographs at its meeting in Amsterdam in July – including the dynamic gymnastics shot by Eric t’Kindt (Belgium) in the “Sports & Action” category and the sensitive scene “United Colors” by Yadi Setiadi (Indonesia) in the “People” category. The image “P-opular & I-gnored” by Yevhen Kostiuk (Ukraine) in the “Architecture” category also caused a stir. 

The shortlist showcases not only technical excellence but also impressive moments: for example, the detailed macro photo of praying mantises by Cypriot Hasan Baglar or the shot “Football” by Welshman Mike Taylor, which captures authentic emotions during a football match.

The Young Talent Award was presented for the first time. The winner is Frenchman Gregory Vergne with his photo “Child Day,” taken spontaneously in an amusement park. It exemplifies the new generation of young photographers who capture the world with a keen eye and a great deal of emotion. A photo trip to Sicily with Ulla Lohmann awaits him. 

The CEWE Photo Award traditionally supports the work of SOS Children’s Villages worldwide. This year’s donation of €65,673.80 will go to the training center in Balbala, Djibouti. There, qualified specialists help young people launch their careers – an important measure to combat youth unemployment and improve prospects.

The awards ceremony will take place in Prague in September 2025. In addition to the announcement of the overall winner, second to 30th place winners will be awarded, along with numerous other prizes. The main prize: a photography trip with a helicopter flight and photography workshop with jury member and professional photographer George Steinmetz, high-quality equipment, and CEWE photo products with a total value of €17,500. CEWE will award a total of €250,000 in prizes.