These 39 Photos Won The 2026 All About Photo Awards

The award-winning images take us everywhere, from the historic streets of the United States to West Africa, from Tibet’s vast landscapes to the busy energy of Mumbai, Havana, and Beijing. But what makes this collection so compelling is not just where it was photographed — it’s how each artist chooses to see.

First Place went to Matt McClain for Window to the Past, a quiet image that looks through a rain-covered window and blurs the line between memory and the present moment. Second Place, Obscura by Brooke Shaden, turns inward with a surreal self-portrait that explores identity and transformation. Third Place, Celestial Ladies by France Leclerc, captures a powerful and graceful scene filled with cultural presence and stillness.

Fourth Place by Javier Arcenillas brings us onto a Tunisian train, where light and composition turn an everyday scene into something deeply intimate. Fifth Place, Bringing Home the Birds by Beamie Young, uses black and white photography to tell a timeless story of childhood, freedom, and symbolism.

Notably, three women photographers are among the top five winners, highlighting the growing strength and visibility of female voices in the field.

The Merit Award section expands the story even further. Some of the honored photographs tackle urgent global realities, such as labor conditions, environmental fragility, and political unrest. Others focus on tradition, spirituality, or the small moments that make up daily life.

And then there are the images that feel almost magical: a cyclist reflected in a drop of dew, a diver suspended among whales, a beam of light breaking through the darkness of a remote chapel. These are the kinds of photographs that remind us how much wonder can still be found in the world, even in the most ordinary places.

As the sole juror, Steve McCurry brought a distinctive perspective to this year’s selection. Rather than favoring one style, he highlighted a wide range of visual languages — from documentary realism to conceptual work to poetic storytelling.

The result is a collection that feels both immediate and timeless. These are not just competition winners. They are images that speak to memory, identity, culture, and the emotional texture of life itself.

Open to photographers of all levels, the All About Photo Awards continue to be a platform for powerful visual storytelling. This year’s winners receive $5,000 in cash prizes, plus international exposure through AAP Magazine, online exhibitions, and global media coverage.

Founded in 2015, the competition has grown into a respected showcase for emerging and established photographers alike. Its title, The Mind’s Eye, is inspired by Henri Cartier-Bresson’s idea of aligning “one’s head, one’s eye, and one’s heart” — a fitting philosophy for a competition that values both vision and feeling.

In a world full of images, these 39 stand out for one simple reason: they don’t just show us something beautiful or impressive. They make us feel something.