JUDGES

Sean Fryxell

Sean Fryxell is a street photographer based in Beacon, New York. His work focuses on capturing raw and unfiltered moments, primarily throughout New York City. His images tell stories of the human condition and offer a glimpse into the lives of New Yorkers, preserving fleeting moments that define life in the present day. He is a member of the New York City Street Photography Collective (NYC-SPC).

"I'm a man who takes pictures and eats bad food. I don't take pictures of the food though. It's not worth remembering the remorse."

Website: www.seanfryxell.com
Instagram: @sfryx

Mariska Karto

Born in Suriname, South America, Mariska Karto carries a rich cultural heritage encompassing Surinamese, Indonesian, African, and Dutch roots. As a visual artist, she places the human figure at the center of her work to explore its vulnerability and strength.

Inspired by Baroque, fantasy, and cultural iconography, Karto's imagery is both timeless and deeply personal. She explores the multifaceted nature of femininity, from quiet harmony to powerful presence, navigating the fragile space between dream and reality in her frescoes. Through a female perspective, she uses sensuality, cultural archetypes, and social themes to create still, narrative worlds. 

Website: www.mariska-karto.com
Instagram: @mariskakarto

Dougie Wallace

Scottish photographer Dougie Wallace is internationally renowned for his long-term social documentary projects and a distinct, hard-edged style of street photography. Influenced by his Glasgow upbringing and decades of living in East London, he focuses his lens on the tragi-comic and uninhibited side of human behaviour. His work aims to translate societal trends and raw interactions into witty, visually exaggerated, and humorous vignettes that offer a believable yet absurd point of view.

This unique vision has earned him numerous prestigious awards, high-profile media features like a dedicated BBC documentary, and several critically acclaimed books, including the Magnum Award-winning Harrodsburg. His work regularly appears in leading global publications such as The New Yorker and The Guardian and has been exhibited in renowned institutions and festivals worldwide. Beyond his personal projects, Wallace undertakes editorial assignments, shoots for major fashion brands like Balenciaga, and shares his expertise through workshops.

Website: www.dougiewallace.com 

Barbara de Vries

Dutch born Barbara de Vries has had a long relationship with photography on both sides of the lens, from modeling (Razzmatazz and Cosmopolitan cover girl in Australia) to 30 years as a fashion designer, which includes the launch of CK for Calvin Klein as well as her own namesake collections in the UK, US, and Japan. For the past fifteen years she has produced, designed and published lifestyle books for Rizzoli USA, working with many well-known photographers. She photographed her last two books, Coming Home, Creative Living in Dutch Interiors and Living Upriver, Artful Homes, Idyllic Lives. She lives outside New York City and has a home near Amsterdam. 

Website: www.barbaradevries.net 

Instagram: @livingupriver

Michael Wayne Plant

Originally from New Zealand and now based in London, Michael Wayne Plant is a photographer specialising in portrait, street, and social documentary work. He holds an MA in Photography and Urban Cultures from Goldsmiths College, where he developed his interest in connecting visual storytelling with urban life.

A former Sony Global Imaging Ambassador, Michael’s career spans commercial, advertising, architectural, and fashion photography across major international cities. Alongside his practice, he dedicated nearly a decade to education, serving as Head of Photography at one college and lecturing at four other London colleges, while continuing to focus on Social Documentary photography.

Website: www.michaelwayneplant.com  https://street-photography.net

Instagram: @michaelwplant

 

John Taggart 

John Taggart's career began with brutal rejection, where photo editors dismissed his work and told him he should never pick up a camera again. Undeterred, he forged a resilient path to become a highly sought-after photojournalist and artist based in Manhattan. Today, his work is a testament to his perseverance, regularly appearing in the world's most prestigious publications.

With over 20 years of experience, Taggart is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. His photography, known for its distinct mood and versatility, has been published globally in outlets from National Geographic and Time to Vogue and The New Yorker, expertly covering everything from breaking news and politics to fashion and culture.

Website: www.johntaggart.net
Instagram: @jtaggstudios

Karen Ishiguro

Karen has built a career capturing primarily fashion images for clients that she once only dreamed of. Although her path has had its challenges, Karen is glad she persevered and is now finding her unique voice in the field.

She takes pride in her role as a storyteller, whether working with an ad agency or documenting personal moments, always aiming to convey a story, mood, or vibe. For Karen, photography is more than a profession; it’s a source of deep satisfaction and a way to share meaningful experiences.

Website: www.karenishiguro.com
Instagram: @karenishigurophoto

Yan Zhang

Yan Zhang is a highly regarded, award-winning landscape photographer and a mountaineering enthusiast. In recent years, Zhang has devoted his time and efforts to mountain and alpine landscape photography. Alongside the pursuit of capturing the sublime beauty of nature, Zhang hopes to use his photography works to inspire the conservation of our natural resources and environment.

Yan is the winner of 2022 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (Landscape).

Website: www.yanzhangphotography.com

Charlie Kwai

Born in London in 1986, Charlie Kwai studied Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins before pivoting to photography and film in 2014. He is known for his honest, energetic street photography, captured in diverse locations around the world, including Mexico, Ghana, China, and the UK.

Kwai is drawn to photographing overlooked and challenging environments, with his work centered on the people who inhabit them. He has held solo exhibitions for his projects "Parade" and "Gold Dust," and has successfully self-published several books, including "Overtime," "Sweet Dreams," "Al Pastor," and "Magnetite." Kwai continues to work on personal projects and travels both for his own work and on assignment.

Website: www.charliekwai.com
Instagram: @charliekwai

Dimpy Bhalotia

Dimpy Bhalotia is an award-winning woman photographer and creative director based in both London and Mumbai. She is widely known for her captivating street, portrait and documentary style of photography. Dimpy's work has received widespread acclaim and won her over 24 prestigious awards globally, including to be the first Indian to win the Grand Prize Award, IPPAWARDS 2020, for her photograph "Flying Boys". Apple CEO Tim Cook called the results of this competition "extraordinary" and applauded the photographers' "outstanding work" on twitter. According to L'Officiel, "Flying Boys is now the most famous photograph." 

Her work has been exhibited internationally in New York, London, Berlin, Mumbai, and Venice, and featured in publications including The Guardian, The Washington Post, Forbes, and National Geographic."

Website: www.dimpybhalotia.com

Instagram: @dimpy.bhalotia

Joas Souza

Joas Souza is a highly regarded architectural and aerial photographer, known for his fresh aesthetic and reliable project delivery. His passion for the field was cultivated from a young age in Brazil, with his father being a celebrated aerial photographer and his mother a respected architect. This unique background led him to London, where he honed his skills as an in-house photographer for a prestigious property marketing studio, learning to seamlessly integrate his work with a brand's larger vision.

Since going freelance in 2012, he has dedicated his career to capturing the extraordinary achievements of architects and artisans. His powerful, crisp signature style is the result of a meticulous approach, which includes exhaustive homework and careful study of light. This dedication has earned him acclaim from major clients and publications, as his work consistently translates the essence of breathtaking structures into proud, perfect images.

Website: www.joasphotographer.com


Claire Droppert

Claire Droppert is a photographer and visual artist based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, widely known by her Instagram handle @claireonline, where she has over 325k followers. Her work is recognised for its focus on serenity, simplicity, and silence.

With a fascination for remote places and desolate landscapes, Droppert aims to uniquely capture the essence of natural elements. Her minimalistic subjects and distinctive editing style create a signature look that is dreamy and ethereal, designed to leave a positive, emotional impact on her audience.

Website: www.claireonline.nl
Instagram: @claireonline

Paul Blackmore

Paul is an Australian based photojournalist who is renowned for covering social and political issues in Australia and abroad. Blackmore’s books, work and essays have been exhibited and published widely.

In his latest body of work Heat, Blackmore’s exposes a culture laid bare under an ever hotter sun. Against the backdrop of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Heat explores the intimate relationship between humanity and the ocean. While Blackmore’s images seeks beauty, they are vibrant and at times haunting reminders of our cultural and spiritual reliance on our beaches. Heat was published as a monograph and was featured in the exhibition Water at GOMA.

Website: www.paulblackmore.com
Instagram: @paulblackmorephoto