After much anticipation, the curtain has been drawn, and the spotlight is now on the incredible talents behind the lens. We’re thrilled to unveil the exceptional winners and finalists of the 2023 edition of the 500px Global Photography Awards.
From seasoned professionals to dedicated hobbyists, this year’s competition attracted photographers from all walks of life, each vying for the title of 500px Photographer of the Year and a chance to claim remarkable prizes from amazing brands.
In this third installment of the awards, participants had the opportunity to showcase their best works captured or uploaded throughout 2023. With categories spanning Landscape, Fine Art, Technical, Documentary, Storytelling, and Commercial Content, there was something to captivate every eye and imagination.
Today marks the grand unveiling of our winners, finalists, and the photographers who have secured the coveted titles of 500px Photographer of the Year. Let’s celebrate their extraordinary talent and creativity!
Drum roll…
The Photographers of the Year are…
Serhii Fett and Richard Beresford Harris—congratulations!
You will find their winning images, and the rest of the winners and finalists, below.
The winners and finalists
Landscape
PRO First Place Winner
Leonardo Papèra
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What our Editors loved about this photo: The Dolomites are a sought-after, highly photographed locale, but when they are captured with this precision and attention to detail, they become a true wonder. Leonardo leans into the soft light and brings the peaks, valleys, and cotton candy sky to life through his camera. The contrast is just right, the sharpness uncompromising, and the framing is done in a way that embraces the rules without hinging on them. Yes, landscape photography is made a little easier when your surroundings are this stunning, but mastering precision and color tones like this can only be done by a skilled eye.
HOBBYIST First Place Winner
Richard Beresford Harris
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What our Editors loved about this photo: Mountains are massive natural features that convey a sense of grandeur and awe-inspiring scale. By introducing a person into the scene, Richard provides a reference point for the viewer, allowing them to better understand the immense size and majesty of the landscape. This contrast in scale emphasizes the enormity of the mountains and adds depth to the composition. The photographer positioned the person central in the landscape in the lower third, and used that mountain peak to create visual intrigue. The textured green, suddenly juxtaposed by the blue of the water, creates depth and leads to the layer of snow-capped mountains.
Finalists
Gianluca Rubinacci (Hobbyist)
Dimo Hristev (Pro)
Thanayu Jongwattanasilkul (Pro)
Bahadir Sansarci (Hobbyist)
Mike Tesselaar (Pro)
Fine Art
PRO First Place Winner
Serhii Fett
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What our Editors loved about this photo: A frame, within a frame, within a frame. There are many layers to Serhii’s image—the deep dark entry, that lacks detail with its extreme shadows, guides you to a staircase, where light pours in, and then back to darkness that is contrasted with a bold sliver of a silhouette. Every decision is intentional—the geometry of the lines and the darkness that is broken by the brightness and warmth of the yellow and pink of skin to then dissolve back to black. It’s a captivating capture that brings forth more questions.
HOBBYIST First Place Winner
Lukasz Spychala
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What our Editors loved about this photo: A play on perception, on what is real and what’s not, in the way that only a fine art photo can do. It’s a mesmerizing capture that plays on soft tones, reflections, and leading lines. The subject is positioned perfectly, and the distortion is so artfully done. The eye is drawn to the bold red lip and the distorted eye in a manner that draws the viewer in. At first glance, what could appear to be a simple shot is Lukasz mastering the solo subject and crafting it into a conceptual triumph.
Finalists
Milos Nejezchleb (Pro)
Prosto_Yanka_ph (Hobbyist)
Alireza Karimian (Pro)
Michal Zahornacky (Pro)
Sabina Akter (Hobbyist)
Technical
PRO First Place Winner
Dina Belenko
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What our Editors loved about this photo: The power of this shot is in the details—the water droplets, the prop styling, and the lines. Dina knows how to craft a shot in the studio, wielding artificial light to her advantage and using post-processing to elevate the shot as-needed, as is evidenced by the perfectly levitating drop of water.
HOBBYIST First Place Winner
Tinu Muller
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What our Editors loved about this photo: Most winter sports photography can entail lots of white; however, Tinu’s intentional decision to distill the shot down to the essentials while catching the snowboarder suspended midair pays off. The slope of the half-pipe and the yellow of the athlete pop out from the darkness in a manner that marries both minimalist and action photography.
Finalists
Yevhen Kostiuk (Pro)
Elena Novikova (Pro)
Nicolas Doyen (Hobbyist)
Lara Mora (Hobbyist)
Mads Thomsen (Pro)
Documentary
PRO First Place Winner
Nicolas Castermans
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What our Editors loved about this photo: A successful documentary photo conveys emotions through its subject while also relaying an event or experience. Nicholas hits the nail on the head with this poignant photo of a lady in the middle of a ritual that takes place in the mountains of Peru annually. Her stare drives straight at you with a sense of calm and peace amid a mass of people in celebration. There is a startling power in holding the focus of a stranger for a documentary image, and the precise clarity of the lady’s eye connects the viewer with her instantly, while keeping the crowd just in focus enough to give context to the festival.
HOBBYIST First Place Winner
Sebastian Szczepanowski
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What our Editors loved about this photo: The everyday setting is ripe with opportunities for a true documentary-style photo. Sebastian’s depiction of fatherhood proves this—the creativity comes from the unique overhead vantage point, while the scene itself is quite simple: a father soothing his child in a stroller. An ordinary setting, but relayed through the camera in a way that shows an intimate relationship, a habit, and lives being lived—this is the core of documentary photography.
Finalists
Roy Vereijken (Hobbyist)
Mustafa AbdulHadi (Hobbyist)
Dee Potter (Pro)
Roberto Pazzi (Pro)
Yana Zyryanova (Pro)
Story-Telling
PRO First Place Winner
Andrea Gonar
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What our Editors loved about this photo: A layered image telling the story of family and telling a narrative as much through the space and setting as the brother and sister duo. There is simultaneously an airy feeling through the colors used, the posing and spacing, and facial expressions, while also creating a sense of home in the props. Is he bored? Is she comfortable? Why the teddy bear? As you continue to inspect the image, more questions spring up, and the complexity of the scene leaves the viewer wondering what the true story behind it may be.
HOBBYIST First Place Winner
Oksana Karashchuk
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What our Editors loved about this photo: A playful story unfolds between husband and wife in Oksana’s creative self-portrait. The way the photographer artfully frames and lights the male as he sits in shock makes the eye gravitate to him. He is also clearly communicated as the main character through being the only subject in focus. As the eye travels to the forefront of the image, we understand the full narrative, The wife playfully has her towel open, however, lighting is used with finesse as she stands heavily draped in the shadows to maintain an air of mystery. Photographer or storyteller—Oksana does both well.
Finalists
Vincenzo Carrieri (Hobbyist)
Gustavo Chams (Pro)
Refat Mamutov (Pro)
Darko Trajkovic (Hobbyist)
Arunas Gricius (Pro)
Commercial Content
PRO First Place Winner
Michal Jasiocha
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What our Editors loved about this photo: Michal Jasiocha’s photo is sharp, well-lit, and has creative lighting that makes it ideal for a variety of commercial uses. The model is exercising using rings in a gym, which can connect with themes like fitness, health, balance, endurance, and personal development. While fitness-themed commercial content can be a saturated category, Michal is able to elevate his shoot with dynamic lighting and rich copy space, perfect for potential text or branding, an essential quality for commercial photography.
HOBBYIST First Place Winner
Laro Pilartes
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What our Editors loved about this photo: Laro uses a drone to capture the dynamic perspective of a young woman on a beach in a red dress. Because of its versatility, this photo works well with commercial photography themes of travel, vacation, and adventure, as well as conceptual issues like identity, health, and romance. The wide composition of this photo makes the model somewhat anonymous and mysterious and allows the viewer to imagine themselves in their place.
Finalists
Agnieszka Wieczorek (Hobbyist)
Iza Lyson (Pro)
Serge MELESAN (Pro)
Alex Karamanov (Pro)
Nika Pailodze (Hobbyist)
As we celebrate the incredible talent showcased in the 2023 500px Global Photography Awards, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and supporters who made this event possible. A special thank you to our sponsors, including JOBY, Exascend, DJI, and Xpozer, whose generous contributions helped make this year’s awards a success.
As we reflect on the incredible submissions and exceptional winners, we eagerly anticipate the next edition of the awards in 2024. With your continued support, we are confident that the 2024 awards will be even bigger and better, offering new opportunities to showcase your talent and creativity on a global stage. Stay tuned for updates, and until then, keep capturing the world through your lens.
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