The reFocus Awards has announced the winners of its 2025 Color Photography Contest, celebrating some of the most exceptional talent in the field today. With entries from over 80 countries, the competition’s most diverse pool yet, the contest highlighted artistic excellence, technical mastery, and powerful storytelling across a wide range of subjects. From striking portraits that challenge convention to breathtaking aerial perspectives and surreal captures of everyday life, this year’s winning images stand out for their innovation and emotional depth.
Selected by a distinguished panel of judges from organizations including ABC News, National Geographic Society, BBC World Service, Shutterstock, and Condé Nast, the winning works reflect the reFocus Awards’ mission to honor and elevate global photography talent. Established in 2022, the platform continues to shine a light on the lasting power of the photographic image and its ability to inspire, connect, and move audiences worldwide.
#1 Earth’s Galaxy By Navaneeth Unnikrishnan
Professional - Gold - Nature
Beneath the earth lies a glowing realm, where bioluminescent glow worms create a galaxy-like spectacle. This image captures the awe of exploration, blending the soft glow with the cave’s textures, highlighting nature’s fragile, otherworldly beauty in a moment of quiet wonder.
Beneath the earth lies a glowing realm, where bioluminescent glow worms create a galaxy-like spectacle. This image captures the awe of exploration, blending the soft glow with the cave’s textures, highlighting nature’s fragile, otherworldly beauty in a moment of quiet wonder.
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19points
#2 Underneath The Surface By Kirvan Baldassari
Professional - Gold - Underwater
Underwater in French Polynesia, a surfer rides through the barrel of a wave. Nearby, another person floats, watching the moment unfold.
Underwater in French Polynesia, a surfer rides through the barrel of a wave. Nearby, another person floats, watching the moment unfold.
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17points
#3 The Supercell By Uwe Schellscheidt
Non-Professional - Gold - Nature
A thunderstorm formed a supercell, including a small and short tornado, in Texas. The light blue area is where the hail comes out.
A thunderstorm formed a supercell, including a small and short tornado, in Texas. The light blue area is where the hail comes out.
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16points
#4 Two Time By Nikolay Schegolev
Professional - Gold - Street
Past and present, light and cold shadow, man and woman... One morning, I came to the train station and took this photo shortly before the departure of the retro train.
Past and present, light and cold shadow, man and woman... One morning, I came to the train station and took this photo shortly before the departure of the retro train.
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15points
#5 A Quiet Moment By Manuela Palmberger
Professional - Gold - Landscapes
A quiet moment captured in the geothermal area of Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland.
A quiet moment captured in the geothermal area of Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland.
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15points
#6 Blue Swallow By William Mark Sommer
Professional - Gold - Film/Analog
Seeing Route 66 change from boom to bust, season to year, surviving the loss of the surroundings and the bypass of old routes, The Blue Swallow survives as a living part of history for the nostalgic traveler that seeks the roadside relics that convey America's passing culture.
Seeing Route 66 change from boom to bust, season to year, surviving the loss of the surroundings and the bypass of old routes, The Blue Swallow survives as a living part of history for the nostalgic traveler that seeks the roadside relics that convey America's passing culture.
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12points
#7 In Limbo By Ana Julia Gobbi
Non-Professional - Gold - Conceptual
Steps echo. Lights flicker. Two shadows cross paths in silence. Not lost—just in limbo. Between the glow and the void, something pulses.
Steps echo. Lights flicker. Two shadows cross paths in silence. Not lost—just in limbo. Between the glow and the void, something pulses.
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12points
#8 Red Staircase By Laila Mackellar
Non-Professional - Gold - Architecture
The "red staircase" of the Stadtcasino Basel, Switzerland, is a striking architectural feature resulting from the building's extensive renovation by Herzog & de Meuron. This two-storey staircase serves as a functional element, embodying the fusion of neo-baroque and contemporary elements.
The "red staircase" of the Stadtcasino Basel, Switzerland, is a striking architectural feature resulting from the building's extensive renovation by Herzog & de Meuron. This two-storey staircase serves as a functional element, embodying the fusion of neo-baroque and contemporary elements.
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11points
#9 Deep In Thought By Venkatesh Kittur
Non-Professional - Gold - Wildlife
Here, I am presenting a portrait of an orangutan with deep, soulful eyes, reflecting both intelligence and sorrow. Their gaze speaks of a quiet plea for survival, haunted by the encroachment of deforestation and habitat loss, a silent struggle for existence and survival in a rapidly changing world.
Here, I am presenting a portrait of an orangutan with deep, soulful eyes, reflecting both intelligence and sorrow. Their gaze speaks of a quiet plea for survival, haunted by the encroachment of deforestation and habitat loss, a silent struggle for existence and survival in a rapidly changing world.
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11points
#10 Traditions From Above By Chris Ha
Non-Professional - Gold - Fine Art & Travel
A celebration of Vietnam’s living traditions—captured from above to reveal the quiet poetry of daily labor. From tea fields to salt flats, each frame honors the hands, heritage, and harmony shaping the soul of a culture through craft.
A celebration of Vietnam’s living traditions—captured from above to reveal the quiet poetry of daily labor. From tea fields to salt flats, each frame honors the hands, heritage, and harmony shaping the soul of a culture through craft.
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11points
#11 Incoming By Maddison Woollard
Professional - Gold - Wildlife
This is my only capture of this adult Australian fur seal. The pups were curious and playful, and this fella would float in the distance, ignoring us. A younger seal was chasing and nibbling him, and that interaction sent him charging in my direction. Unveiling this remarkable, dynamic encounter.
This is my only capture of this adult Australian fur seal. The pups were curious and playful, and this fella would float in the distance, ignoring us. A younger seal was chasing and nibbling him, and that interaction sent him charging in my direction. Unveiling this remarkable, dynamic encounter.
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10points
#12 This Icecap Is To Go By Jacquie Matechuk
Professional - Gold - Travel
Gliding through a cathedral of ice, this moment in the Arctic feels suspended in time. But beneath the stillness lies urgency—these ancient giants, reflected in fleeting waters, remind us just how swiftly beauty can disappear.
Gliding through a cathedral of ice, this moment in the Arctic feels suspended in time. But beneath the stillness lies urgency—these ancient giants, reflected in fleeting waters, remind us just how swiftly beauty can disappear.
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10points
#13 Nowhere By Alessandro Tagliapietra
Professional - Gold - Minimalism
These photographs are part of a series taken in the northern part of the Venice lagoon, where I live. All images are taken with long exposures, sometimes with the tripod directly stuck in the underwater mud. I look forward to the foggy days to isolate the subjects as much as possible.
These photographs are part of a series taken in the northern part of the Venice lagoon, where I live. All images are taken with long exposures, sometimes with the tripod directly stuck in the underwater mud. I look forward to the foggy days to isolate the subjects as much as possible.
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10points
#14 In The Light By Daniela Schnabel-Sahm
Professional - Gold - Domestic Animals
When I saw this church, I knew I had to take photos there. The church has a light channel in front of its entrance. And I was lucky; the model fit perfectly with the stones of the church, and during the shoot, the sun came out and shone directly into her face.
When I saw this church, I knew I had to take photos there. The church has a light channel in front of its entrance. And I was lucky; the model fit perfectly with the stones of the church, and during the shoot, the sun came out and shone directly into her face.
9points
#15 Traditions From Above By Chris Ha
Non-Professional - Gold - Fine Art & Travel
A celebration of Vietnam’s living traditions—captured from above to reveal the quiet poetry of daily labor. From tea fields to salt flats, each frame honors the hands, heritage, and harmony shaping the soul of a culture through craft.
A celebration of Vietnam’s living traditions—captured from above to reveal the quiet poetry of daily labor. From tea fields to salt flats, each frame honors the hands, heritage, and harmony shaping the soul of a culture through craft.
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9points
#16 Traditions From Above By Chris Ha
Non-Professional - Gold - Fine Art & Travel
A celebration of Vietnam’s living traditions—captured from above to reveal the quiet poetry of daily labor. From tea fields to salt flats, each frame honors the hands, heritage, and harmony shaping the soul of a culture through craft.
A celebration of Vietnam’s living traditions—captured from above to reveal the quiet poetry of daily labor. From tea fields to salt flats, each frame honors the hands, heritage, and harmony shaping the soul of a culture through craft.
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9points
#17 Chile Pepper Workers By Serkan Dogus
Professional - Gold - People
Bangladeshi women contribute to the household economy by working in chile pepper factories during the summer.
Bangladeshi women contribute to the household economy by working in chile pepper factories during the summer.
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8points
#18 Liquid Soul N°7712 Extinctions By Gaëtan Changeur
Professional - Gold - Abstract
I create visual worlds blending abstraction and nature through fluid forms born from the interaction of water, pigments, and light. In a studio setting, I photograph these dreamlike landscapes, questioning the boundary between the natural and the artificial, the real and the imagined.
I create visual worlds blending abstraction and nature through fluid forms born from the interaction of water, pigments, and light. In a studio setting, I photograph these dreamlike landscapes, questioning the boundary between the natural and the artificial, the real and the imagined.
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8points
#19 As The World Before Us Burns, 1 By Kristine Vann
Non-Professional - Gold - Photojournalism
Altadena, CA.
Altadena, CA.
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8points
#20 The Elephant Herder By Sarah Wouters
3rd Place, non-professional category
The mahout and his elephant at Ban Ta Klang village of Surin province, Thailand. The villagers raise elephants like friends. They sleep under the same roof as the owner until the elephants become similar to being a part of the family. This has caused a strong bond between humans and the elephants.
The mahout and his elephant at Ban Ta Klang village of Surin province, Thailand. The villagers raise elephants like friends. They sleep under the same roof as the owner until the elephants become similar to being a part of the family. This has caused a strong bond between humans and the elephants.
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8points