The 1839 Awards Have Announced The Winners Of The 2025 Photographer Of The Year Contest (39 Pics)

"Just before sunrise, this cheetah lay perfectly still, deciding whether I was a threat or not before taking a drink. It felt like I’d stumbled into a painting, where even time had stopped to look."

"This bear family in Alaska gave me only a few seconds to take a family photo for them. And they never told me where to send the photo to, nor did I dare to ask."

"Makoko, a floating slum in Lagos with over 300,000 residents, lacks infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Despite poverty and no official recognition, its people show resilience and unity, turning hardship into strength and fostering a deep sense of community."

"Emperor parents are feeding their chick on the ice of Antarctica."

"I captured this image on my third blackwater dive in the Gulf of Thailand. A rare close encounter with a juvenile female paper nautilus hitching a ride on a box jellyfish. This is believed to be the first photo evidence of a living Paper Nautilus in the Gulf of Thailand."

"Beyond the Echo of Their Gallop revives the splendor of retired racehorses and cinematic horses. Through adornment and portraiture, their resilience and beauty transcend time, reminding us that glory need not fade—it simply waits to shine again."

"In some cultures, when a loved one dies at home, their portrait is turned upside down to guide them to heaven and prevent their return as a ghost. Personal items may be placed nearby. This image is part of a series exploring death and its symbolism."

"This photo was taken of a traditional Chinese cormorant fisherman on the River Li in China."

"This is my blend of creativity and surrealism, which invites you to dream beyond boundaries."

"During the months of the pandemic, my garden became a source of photography. I pictured the flowers next to each other like individuals waiting for a group portrait, replacing the contact we missed. Many insects are also enjoying my garden during a time when insect-dead is a danger to nature."

"A close-up backlit photo of an Ameles heldreichi nymph. I took this photo in December 2024 on a mountain near Athens, Greece. I found a pine cone with a mushroom growing on it, picked it up, and placedit in front of my lens, framing it with the sun in the background."

"Rare, flat, calm seas, 3 sleek northern right whale dolphins bow-riding our whale watch vessel, and the generosity of a stranger who insisted I take her spot at the crowded rail, enabled me to capture this atypical image. Shot in color, black and white adds to the surreal simplicity of the moment."

"Arizona's iconic saguaro cacti stand tall against a backdrop of post-sunset pastels. The monthly full moon lays watch over the serene Sonoran desert on a calm and colorful moment of dusk."

"A lone soul working the salt mines of Peru. Having a human immersed in this level of color caught my eye."

"Barrel racing at the Limestone County Sheriff's Rodeo in Athens, AL, USA."