All About Photo has officially revealed the winners of the 2026 All About Photo Awards, celebrating the 11th edition of its respected The Mind’s Eye competition. This annual event has become a major stage for photographers worldwide, spotlighting work that blends artistic vision with real human stories. This year’s jury was led by legendary photographer Steve McCurry, whose eye for emotional storytelling helped shape a powerful final selection.
The awarded images come from 15 countries across four continents, proving once again that photography speaks a universal language. From documentary projects and conceptual portraits to fine art compositions and slices of everyday life, the collection reflects a stunning range of creative voices. Some images dive into identity and memory, while others capture culture, movement, and the quiet poetry of ordinary moments.
Founded in 2015, the All About Photo Awards welcomes photographers of all genres and experience levels. What makes the competition stand out is its focus on images that do more than look beautiful; they say something meaningful. Social issues, cultural heritage, environmental awareness, and personal narratives all find space here.
This year, over 500 photographers entered from around the globe, making the final 45 winners an impressive achievement. The selected works feel like a visual map of our time, diverse, emotional, bold, and deeply connected to the world around us.
You can find more info:
Top Winners
1. 1st place winner: « Window to the Past » by Matt McClain (USA)
« Intern, Megan Day, 20, works in Margaret Hunter’s Millnery Shop at Colonial Williamsburg on Tuesday July 15, 2025 in Williamsburg, VA. This image was part of a story looking at the life of founding father, Thomas Jefferson. He was a resident of Williamsburg in different periods of his life. Jefferson was the principle writer of the Declaration of Independence. As the 250th anniversary of the United States approaches, his legacy still echoes throughout the places he once lived. «
2. 2nd place winner: « Obscura » by Brooke Shaden (USA)
« Obscura » looks at the nature of social sharing through the lens of a self-portrait artist, questioning the ways we alter, obscure, and share ourselves so willingly in today’s culture. I have been a self-portrait artist for seventeen years, curating my « sense of self » and « public persona » very intentionally. But what about those who share themselves without understanding of how their personhood and future could be effected by those actions?
3. 3rd place Winner: « Celestial Ladies » by France Leclerc (USA/Canada)
« From a previous trip to West Africa, I was familiar with the Celestial Church, the white attire, and the hat women devotees wear when they attend church service. On a random walk near the Benin/Togo border, I noticed these women resting and chatting, presumably after attending a service, sitting in front of a gray wall where white circles had been painted. I was amazed by the juxtaposition of the hats and the circles. »
4. 4th Place Winner: « Tunisia » by Javier Arcenillas (Spain)
« Train sleeping in Cartago. The photograph is part of a larger photographic project that took me to Tunisia. The image belongs to what we call street photography. It’s a spontaneous picture of a woman sleeping peacefully in a train car traveling from Carthage to the Tunisian capital. There’s no intention behind it other than to capture a beautiful moment stolen from time. »
5. 5th place winner: « Bringing Home the Birds » by Beamie Young (USA)
On a trip to Cuba I visited Casablanca, a ward of Havana. I saw two boys maybe brothers walking home carrying caged birds. The cages, likely handmade from wood or wicker, hold small songbirds commonly kept in Cuban households. »
Merit Award Gallery
6. « Full Swing » by France Leclerc
7. « Amazon » by Javier Arcenillas (Spain)
8. « Hands That Feed the Sky » by Tittu Shaji Thomas (India)
9. « Cycling in The Dew » by Wahyu Budiyanto (Indonesia)
10. « Photo » by Buck Holzemer (USA)
11. « Freedom » by Cheng Zhu (China)
12. « Kathakali » by Thaddäus Biberauer (Austria)
13. « Measuring my future » by Florian Wurzinger (Austria)
14. « Touched by light » by Khaichuin Sim (Malaysia)
15. « Dancing with giants » by Khaichuin Sim (Malaysia)
16. « Getting ready to bullfight » by Jordi Cohen (Spain)
17. « Water Body » by Shrikanth Poojari (India)
18. « Bus Ride to Heaven » by Shrikanth Poojari (India)
19. « Chinoiserie » by Gavin Libotte (UK/Australia)
20. « De Chirico » by Gavin Libotte (UK/Australia)
21. « Sunset at the Temple of Heaven » by Chris Yan (China)
22. « Artistic water ballet » by Zhang Lintao (China)
23. « Waiting Out the Storm » by Thibault Gerbaldi (France/United States)
24. « Under the sky » by Jiri Kostal (Czech Republic)
25. « Drawing by driving » by Jiri Kostal (Czech Republic)
26. « Fusion with the Work » by Takeshi Yamamoto (Japan)
27. « Young Monks Playing Football » by Andrew Newey (United Kingdom)
28. « The Honey Hunters of Nepal » by Andrew Newey (United Kingdom)
29. « The Weight of Creation » by Md Tanveer Rohan (United States)
30. « Faith. Flares. Fortune » by Eric Seidner (United States)
31. « Earth’s Veins » by Marco Di Marco (Italy)
32. « Arrested Protestor and Horse » by Prescott Lassman (United States)
33. « In a Hurry » by Gabi Steiner (Austria)
34. « Girl of the Northern Lights » by Tommi Viitala (Finland)
35. « When The Angels Cry » by Tommi Viitala (Finland)
36. « Soul Beneath the Paint » by Cesare Simioni (Italy)
37. « They, by Them » by Asako Naruto (Japan)
38. « Santovenia Home for the Aged » by Kerry Faulkner (Australia)
39. « Reaching for Heaven » by Archie Cludven (China)
40. « Wings of the Forest » by Fenqiang Liu (United States)
41. « She and The Popes » by Robert Lie (Indonesia)
42. « Wheels » by Hervé Boutrouille (France)
43. « Mending Nets » by Marie Kent (France)
44. « Shoeshiner’s Booth » by Seppo Tuomaala (Finland)
45. « 75 York Road » by Tebani Slade (Australia)
What 121Clicks Editor Thinks
The All About Photo Awards continues to prove why it matters in today’s image-driven world. These winners remind us that great photography is not just about technique, it’s about truth, emotion, and perspective. We love how this competition celebrates both emerging and established talent with equal respect.
The 2026 winners show courage, creativity, and global awareness in every frame. From intimate stories to powerful social themes, the collection feels fresh and necessary. At 121clicks, we believe these awards inspire photographers everywhere to shoot with purpose, think deeper, and trust the power of visual storytelling.