The LensCulture Critics' Choice Awards 2026 have announced their winners, featuring a wide range of photographic works from across the globe. The competition, open to photographers of all ages and experience levels, received no thematic restrictions, resulting in a diverse array of images that capture personal expression, storytelling, beauty, documentation, art, and human connection.
Diverse Perspectives and Personal Stories
Among the standout projects is "Pictures with Janet" by Mark Fitton (US), an ongoing collaboration with his aunt Janet, a 51-year-old woman with Down's syndrome. The series began when Janet expressed a desire to make pictures, evolving over a decade into a sustained photographic practice that normalizes disability as a natural part of human experience.
Another notable entry is "Along the River Lea" by Mattia Corato (UK), which explores the urban nature and community along London's River Lea. Corato notes: "The community of people that live along the riverbanks represents a vibrant part of the river's modern identity. The river mirrors the cultural diversity and distinctive character of the neighborhoods of east London through which it flows."
Explorations of Identity and Society
"Sonder" by Adam Lin (UK) examines masculinity through domesticity, focusing on relationships between male family members in London and Taichung. Lin states: "Sonder examines how Taiwanese and Asian masculinity is expressed, negotiated, and reimagined within the family home."
"The Last Butterflies" by Valentina Sinis (Italy) documents female Kurdish guerrillas from the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) and the Women's Protection Forces (HPJ). These fighters describe themselves as "the last butterflies," ready to sacrifice themselves for freedom and truth, especially significant after the Kurdistan Workers' Party declared a ceasefire.
Political and Environmental Themes
"The Quiet Rise" by Ashkan Shabani (Germany) examines the growing visibility of neo-Nazi and far-right extremist groups in Germany between 2024 and 2025. The work shows how extremist ideology has moved beyond the margins, openly performed through symbols, language, and coordinated actions.
"The Burning of Autumn" by Mehrdad Fathi (Iran) addresses wildfires in the Hyrcanian forests, one of Iran's oldest ecosystems. Fathi uses a matchbox as a metaphor: "An item that is not inherently guilty, but one that can become a tool for catastrophe."
Innovative Techniques and Personal Narratives
"Surprise Inside" by Walter Plotnick (US) features photographic collages that serve as metaphors for anticipation and revelation. Plotnick explains: "The act of opening the boxes implied in these images releases the energy of what is inside, allowing the contents to take flight."
"Resident Aliens" by Guanyu Xu (US) reconstructs immigrant interior spaces into physical photographic installations, blurring boundaries between familiar and foreign, private and public, belonging and alienation.
"Muted Ember" by Yue Sun (China) documents younger generations in Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, facing economic challenges as the city transitions from coal to tourism. Sun spent two years photographing failed tourism projects and the people there, conveying uncertainty and change.
Expert Selections and Recognition
Jim Casper, editor in chief of LensCulture, praised "Cry to the Angels" by Avery Norman (US): "Avery Norman has created a story that makes you want to learn more... Every aspect is expertly controlled and intentional, loaded with details."
Fiona Shields, head of photography at the Guardian, commented on "My Mother Doesn't Work" by Olga Steinepreis (Germany): "This is such a witty and engaging series. It presents a caricature of family life through elaborate, humorous staging, underlining the absurdity of everyday tasks while also making a serious point about how underappreciated parental effort can be."
