People Award January 2026

1st Prize David Dhaen

1st Prize David Dhaen
“Little Monks” - Ladakh, India 2025
An image is shot recently in a monastery in Karu. While one side there was some masked dances i saw this nice moment unfolding from the other side. Ladakh, India 2025 © David Dhaen
2nd Prize Roberto Flores

2nd Prize Roberto Flores
“Afternoon in Bamiyan” - Bamiyan, Afghanistan
A father lifts his children onto a donkey after spending a while watching boys play football near Bamiyan, Afghanistan. © Roberto Flores
3rd Prize Sebastian Riepp

3rd Prize Sebastian Riepp
“Aghori woman” - Varanasi, India, 2025
Description: Portrait of an Aghori woman on the streets of Varanasi, India. A group of Hindu ascetics, the Aghoris are devoted to Shiva and the manifestations of Kali. They practice a heterodox form of Hinduism, characterized by rituals centered on cremation grounds and the rejection of social taboos. By embracing what society deems impure or fearful, Aghoris seek to transcend the boundaries between life and death. This radical non-dualism is intended to facilitate moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth. © Sebastian Riepp
Finalist Andrew Newey

Finalist Andrew Newey
“Honey Hunters of Nepal” - Nepal
High in the Himalayan foothills of central Nepal, Gurung honey hunters gather twice a year, risking their lives to harvest the honey from the world’s largest honeybee. For hundreds of years, the skills required to practise this ancient and sacred tradition have been passed down through the generations, but now both the number of bees and traditional honey hunters are in rapid decline as a result of increased commercial interests and climate change. © Andrew Newey
Finalist Mahesh Balasubramanian

Finalist Mahesh Balasubramanian
“Divine Makeover” - Kaveripattinam, India, 2013
Before the drums and trance, a quiet moment of preparation. A face slowly transforms, carrying faith, tradition, and belief. © Mahesh Balasubramanian
Finalist Matt Dutile

Finalist Matt Dutile
“Robes in Motion” -Punakha, Bhutan
A young monk of the Phochu Dhumra Monastic School in Punakha, Bhutan, dramatically flicks his robes while moving between classes. © Matt Dutile
Finalist Savadmon Avalachamveettil

Finalist Savadmon Avalachamveettil
“Maha Kumbh” - Kumbh Mela festival, India
A once-in-144 years phenomenon. Ash-smeared Hindu holy men (Naga Sadhus) charged into India’s most sacred river Ganges at dawn on the first most significant bathing day of the Kumbh Mela festival. An extraordinary display of human unity, spiritual energy, and collective consciousness. © Savadmon Avalachamveettil
Finalist Sabrina Charehbili

Finalist Sabrina Charehbili
“On shoulders” - Zaouiat Sidi Iahsain, Ouarzazate, Morocco, 2024
Morocco is a country where time seems to slow down, like a long-closed door finally opening. With roots in both the Netherlands and Morocco, I never feel entirely at home in one culture. However, this sense of displacement offers the freedom to explore different worlds with an open mind. Today, I experience Morocco in a new, almost magical way – a mysterious country full of intrigue, intensified by my unfamiliarity with the language. The slow rhythm of life and the deep, unchanging cultural identity have preserved Morocco’s authenticity, even in an increasingly modern world. © Sabrina Charehbili
Finalist Stephane Philippe

Finalist Stephane Philippe
“The Last Reindeer Herders of Mongolia” - Mongolia
Nomadic reindeer herder family crossing a river on horseback with their reindeer. They live in tipis, isolated deep in the taiga, several days away from the nearest villages. Today, only 44 families remain. © Stephane Philippe
Finalist Marcin Jozefiak

Finalist Marcin Jozefiak
“Looloo” - Seoul, South Korea
Entangled in red strings, Looloo embodies the invisible yet relentless social pressures shaping identity in South Korea. The image visualizes constraint, expectation, and the quiet tension between conformity and selfhood. ‘Fearless Flowers’ project examines the relationship between the self and the body—how identity is negotiated under constant pressure to conform. While Korea is often associated with neon aesthetics, pop culture, and K-dramas, many people live in the shadow of unspoken demands, grappling with fear, loneliness, and the sense of not fitting in. © Marcin Jozefiak

Theme: People Photography /
Competition Judge: Pie Aerts

The People Photography Award celebrates humanity in all its forms, spanning cultures and continents alike. We are delighted to present the work of 10 exceptionally talented photographers. Congratulations to the winners and finalists of this year’s collection.”

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Finalists

Jury's Feedback

1ST PRIZE: David Dhaen

“A profoundly captivating portrait, imbued with an almost painterly sensibility. The image almost reads as a constellation of six distinct portraits woven into a single frame, each telling its own story. Sublime use of light allows all 6 stories to breathe independently, but at the same time exists as a dialogue with one another, which serves as a testament to the universal but diverse nature of humanity. “ — Pie Aerts

2ND PRIZE: Roberto Flores

“An extraordinary photograph that makes the viewer question and reflect. Three intertwined narrative layers form a single visual tapestry, drawing the eye back again and again. The careful use of light unites the elements, giving the image both depth and cohesion.” — Pie Aerts

3RD PRIZE: Sebastian Riepp

“A striking, intimate portrait that draws the viewer in. Framed by hood and shadow, the woman’s steady, contemplative gaze conveys both humility and transcendence, her adornments and subtle contrasts in tone hinting at layers of identity and devotion. Light, composition, and expression converge effortlessly, creating an image that captures not just a likeness but the profound strength and depth of her presence, lingering long after the first glance. ” – The Independent Photographer Editors

© Pie Aerts

Judge: Pie Aerts

Pie Aerts is an acclaimed Dutch documentary photographer and storyteller. Guided by deep curiosity, his warm, painterly images capture the resilience and dignity of global communities, inviting reflection on humanity’s connection to culture and nature. He is the author of Tales from the Road and founder of Stories for Good, and regularly leads immersive workshops worldwide.