From hazardous trips through the Kurdish mountains to a queer journey into the heart of Americana, these images all wowed the esteemed prize’s judges
Main image: ‘Tender, strange and vulnerable’ … Josh Aronson’s Florida Boys. Photograph: Josh Aronson
Wed 13 Aug 2025 08.00 CEST
Sean Cham (United Kingdom): Eastern Promise
‘The image is part of a series that interrogates and dismantles colonial depictions of the Chinese diaspora in south-east Asia. As a Singaporean-Chinese living in London, I engage in self-portraiture, using my body to reclaim agency over my identity and confront the legacies of colonialism.’ This year, 41 international photographers submitted to the awards from more than 120 countries. These top winners represent the personal favourites of the 19 photography experts on this year’s panel. More information on the LensCulture Critics’ Choice awards here
