{"id":253074,"date":"2026-01-26T21:41:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T21:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/253074\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T21:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T21:41:14","slug":"28-award-winning-photos-from-society-of-photographers-photographer-of-the-year-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/253074\/","title":{"rendered":"28 Award-Winning Photos From Society of Photographers&#8217; Photographer of the Year 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/society-of-photographers-poty-2025-featured-800x420.jpg\" alt=\"A red fox stands on seaweed-covered ground, mouth open and eyes focused as it prepares to catch a crab that is mid-air in front of it.\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-836333\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thesocieties.net\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\">The Society of Photographers<\/a>, founded in 1988, has unveiled the winners of its 2025 Photographer of the Year competition, including three outstanding top photos of the year plus an array of excellent category winners. <\/p>\n<p>The 2025 edition of the competition attracted nearly 6,000 entries across 28 categories, showcasing the diverse talent of The Society of Photographers members. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDemonstrating outstanding skill, narrative depth, and execution, this bold and distinctive image emerged as a clear standout and generated animated discussion among the judges,\u201d the judging panel said. <\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Therese_Asplund_Pet_Portrait-800x444.jpg\" alt=\"Four fluffy chicks of different colors perch closely together on a thin, bare branch with pinecones, against a white background. One chick hangs upside down, while the others stand upright.\" width=\"800\" height=\"444\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836285\"  \/>Photographer Therese Asplund was named \u201cPhotographer of the Year\u201d for this image, which also took top prize in the \u201cPet Portraits\u201d category. | Image credit: Therese Asplund \/ The Society of Photographers\u2019 Photographer of the Year 2025 <\/p>\n<p>Alongside category winners, the judges also selected top three overall photos, with photographer Therese Asplund taking home top honors for her image of birds, which also won the \u201cPet Portrait\u201d category. <\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cecilie_Stuedal_The_Natural_World_Wild_Animals-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A red fox stands on seaweed-covered ground, mouth open and head tilted up, catching a crab mid-air above its mouth. The background is blurred, focusing on the fox\u2019s action.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836281\"  \/>Cecilie Steudal, 2nd Place and \u201cThe Natural World \u2014 Wild Animals\u201d category winner. | Photographer of the Year 2025 <\/p>\n<p>In second place overall is Norwegian photographer Cecilie Stuedal for an exceptional photo of a red fox snapping at a crab in mid-air. This photo won the \u201cNatural World \u2014 Wild Animals\u201d category. <\/p>\n<p>Rounding out the top three is British photographer Terry Donnelly, whose image, seen below, took the top prize in the competition\u2019s \u201cDocumentary\u201d category. <\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Terry_Donnelly_documentary-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A rescue worker in a helmet and red suit sits inside a helicopter at night, using a tablet. City lights and a large hospital complex are visible below, reflected on the helicopter window.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836299\"  \/>Terry Donnelly, 3rd Place and \u201cDocumentary\u201d category winner. | Photographer of the Year 2025 <\/p>\n<p>All the other category winners are featured below. <\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/neil_shearer_advertising-640x800.jpg\" alt=\"A stylish light blue sneaker is suspended mid-air, dramatically surrounded by splashing water, set against a teal background, highlighting the shoe\u2019s texture and dynamic movement.\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836305\"  \/>Neil Shearer, Advertising Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tim_Wilde_Architecture-800x477.jpg\" alt=\"Modern building with curved and straight sections, illuminated by soft, colorful streaks of light against a dark, dramatic sky. The lighting creates a futuristic and abstract atmosphere.\" width=\"800\" height=\"477\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836304\"  \/>Tim Wilde, Architecture Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Gemma_Harte_Children-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white portrait of a young girl with long, light hair and freckles. She has light eyes and an expression of calm curiosity, gazing directly at the camera against a dark background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836303\"  \/>Gemma Harte, Children Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Eleanor_Whibley_Commisioned_Portrait-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"An elderly man wearing a vintage military uniform and cap sits facing forward with hands clasped, gazing intently. Dark, neutral background highlights his thoughtful expression and decorated jacket.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836302\"  \/>Eleanor Whibley, Commissioned Portrait Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Heidi_Margocsy_Boudoir_and_Beauty-640x800.jpg\" alt=\"Two shirtless men stand close together, facing each other intimately. One wears an open red shirt and jeans, showing a large eagle tattoo on his chest. The other wears light pants. They appear to be about to kiss.\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836301\"  \/>Heidi Margocsy, Boudoir and Beauty Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cat_Brown_Creative_Portrait-534x800.jpg\" alt=\"A person in a long, form-fitting black dress, wide-brimmed hat, and gloves leans dramatically backward, holding a handbag with dripping paint against a plain white background. Their face is partially shadowed and painted with dark lines.\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836300\"  \/>Cat Brown, Creative Portrait Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/shiva_mehta_environmental-534x800.jpg\" alt=\"A monkey sits on tangled electrical wires and a utility pole, gripping the cables, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background. The image is in black and white.\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836298\"  \/>Shiva Mehta, Environmental Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Gary_Neville_Events-800x454.jpg\" alt=\"A military attack helicopter flies toward the viewer with large explosions and thick, dark smoke filling the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"454\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836297\"  \/>Gary Neville, Events Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jane_Thomson_Family_Group_Portrait-560x800.jpg\" alt=\"A woman in a white outfit with Princess Leia-style hair poses against a dark background, holding a French bulldog wrapped in a brown towel in her lap.\" width=\"560\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836296\"  \/>Jane Thomson, Family Group Portrait Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Michael_Hayes_Illustrative-534x800.jpg\" alt=\"A ballerina\u2019s legs shown from the front, one foot in a pointe shoe and en pointe, the other bare with visible scars and bruises. She wears a white tutu, and the background is dark, highlighting her legs and feet.\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836295\"  \/>Michael Hayes, Illustrative Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Lauren_Evans_Fashion-640x800.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with long brown hair wears a black baseball cap and a partially open black leather jacket, exposing her chest. She looks to the side against a dark background.\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836294\"  \/>Lauren Evans, Fashion Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arne_Bivrin_In-camera-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A blurred image of several white birds with yellow beaks in flight against a blue background, capturing a sense of fast motion and energy.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836293\"  \/>Arne Bivrin, In-Camera Effects Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jane_Thomson_Individual_Portrait-640x800.jpg\" alt=\"An older man wearing a flat cap, light blue shirt, gray trousers, and brown shoes sits on a wooden chair, smiling with his hands folded over his knee in front of a dark, textured background.\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836292\"  \/>Jane Thomson, Individual Portrait Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Pedro_Luis_Ajuriaguerra_Macro-800x352.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of a moth's fuzzy face and segmented antennae against a vibrant pink and orange gradient background. The moth shows detailed textures and colors, with large black eyes and fine hair on its head.\" width=\"800\" height=\"352\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836291\"  \/>Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra, Macro Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sandra_Vaskyte_Maternity-565x800.jpg\" alt=\"A pregnant person with long hair and tattoos poses seated on a draped stool, one hand on their belly. They wear sheer clothing and are surrounded by dried ferns against a muted brown backdrop.\" width=\"565\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836290\"  \/>Sandra Vaskyte, Maternity Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Terry_Donnelly_media_and_press-640x800.jpg\" alt=\"A dense crowd of fans wearing red celebrate outdoors with flags and red smoke flares, while one person sits atop a traffic light above the crowd.\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836289\"  \/>Terry Donelly, Media and Press Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Katie_Brockman_Monochrome-441x800.jpg\" alt=\"A black and white photo of a giraffe taken from behind, showing its long neck stretching upward and its head turned slightly to the side against a plain white background.\" width=\"441\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836288\"  \/>Katie Brockman, Monochrome Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Laila_Villebeck_Newborn-640x800.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of a newborn baby with a nasal tube, peacefully sleeping and curled up in the gentle, supportive hands of two adults against a black background.\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836287\"  \/>Laila Villebeck, Newborn Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Anna_Almen_OpenAvantGarde-572x800.jpg\" alt=\"A pair of sunglasses and Beats headphones being struck by a splash of water, captured in mid-air against a black background, with droplets and waves spreading outward.\" width=\"572\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836286\"  \/>Anna Aimen, Open Avant-Garde Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Terry_Donnelly_sport-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A rugby player in white dives to score a try while a player in red attempts to tackle him. The stadium is packed with spectators watching the intense moment near the sideline.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836284\"  \/>Terry Donnelly, Sport Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Lorraine_Finney_The_Natural_World_Landscapes-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A massive wave crashes dramatically against a breakwater, dwarfing the small lighthouse standing on the pier, with water spraying high into the cloudy sky. The image is black and white.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836283\"  \/>Lorraine Finney, The Natural World \u2014 Landscapes Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Angi_Wallace_The_natural_world_botanical_and_fungi-800x595.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of five tiny stalked fungi with round tops growing on a brown surface, set against a blurred green background. The fungi have yellowish and dark, textured heads.\" width=\"800\" height=\"595\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836282\"  \/>Angi Wallace, The Natural World \u2014 Botanical and Fungi Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Mark_Scicluna_Travel-601x800.jpg\" alt=\"A small white house with a red roof sits by a calm lake, surrounded by dark pine trees, with a few autumn-colored trees glowing in the background. The house and trees reflect in the still water.\" width=\"601\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836280\"  \/>Mark Scicluna, Travel Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Katie_Brockman_Visual_Narrative-567x800.jpg\" alt=\"A dog pulls on a leash, trying to lead a person who is sitting on the edge of a rocky cliff under a dramatic sky, with darkness on the left and light on the right.\" width=\"567\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836278\"  \/>Katie Brockman, Visual Narrative Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/seiji_nishimori_wedding-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Two people wearing traditional Japanese attire and holding large paper umbrellas walk in falling snow. The background is dark, highlighting the contrast with their clothing and the snowfall.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-large wp-image-836277\"  \/>Seiji Nishimori, Wedding Winner | Photographer of the Year 2025 <\/p>\n<p>The Society of Photographers of the Year 2025 also named various special category award winners, <a href=\"https:\/\/thesocieties.net\/the-society-of-photographers-photographer-of-the-year-2025\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\">all of which are featured<\/a> on the society\u2019s website.  <\/p>\n<p>Image credits: The Society of Photographers\u2019 Photographer of the Year 2025. Individual photographers are credited in the image captions.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Society of Photographers, founded in 1988, has unveiled the winners of its 2025 Photographer of the Year&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":253075,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[50,442,498,499,500,4596,13116,501,859,156,2061,111,139,69,19044,133402,146663,146664],"class_list":{"0":"post-253074","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-animals","9":"tag-arts","10":"tag-arts-and-design","11":"tag-artsanddesign","12":"tag-artsdesign","13":"tag-competition","14":"tag-contest","15":"tag-design","16":"tag-documentary","17":"tag-entertainment","18":"tag-nature","19":"tag-new-zealand","20":"tag-newzealand","21":"tag-nz","22":"tag-photocontest","23":"tag-portraiture","24":"tag-societyofphotographers","25":"tag-wildilfe"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}