Since its establishment in 1969, the Nikon Photo Contest has evolved over more than half a century to become an international photography and imaging competition. On October 12, 2025, the Nikon Photo Contest 2024-2025 awards ceremony was held in Tokyo, Japan, officially announcing the winners of various categories.
This year's competition attracted submissions from 180 countries and regions worldwide, ultimately selecting winning works for the "Grand Prix," "Awards of Excellence," and "Encouragement Awards." Additionally, two works received the "People's Choice Award" through public voting.
The following are the Grand Prix winners by category:
| Competition Category | Division | Winning Work | Winner | Nationality | |---------------------|----------|--------------|---------|-------------| | Short Movie Category | Short Movie | "The small red, big blue" | Hamed Nobari | Iran | | | 5-Minute Movie | "Finding Serenity" | Ademola Falomo | Nigeria | | Photo Category | Single Photo | "Jonas" | Tiina Itkonen | Finland | | | Photo Story | "Farewell-able" | Yang Lei | China |
The winning works will be exhibited in major cities worldwide and at Nikon galleries globally. Specific information will be announced later on the official Nikon Photo Contest 2024-2025 website.
**Short Movie Category - Short Movie Division Grand Prix** Hamed Nobari (Iran) "The small red, big blue"
*Image taken from work footage.
Behind the Scenes: "This work explores environmental issues and marine ecology from a global perspective. Children have a pure love for fish and the ocean. I cherish this emotion and always remember to respect nature."
**Short Movie Category - 5-Minute Movie Division Grand Prix** Ademola Falomo (Nigeria) "Finding Serenity"
Behind the Scenes: "This work was created during the special period of the pandemic, inspired by Yimeeka's poem 'Finding Serenity.' I completed this short film with friends, seeking tranquility in chaos and discovering beauty in impermanence."
**Photo Category - Single Photo Division Grand Prix** Tiina Itkonen (Finland) "Jonas"
Behind the Scenes: "Jonas lives in Savissivik, Greenland, one of the world's most remote human settlements. This village in northwestern Greenland, located over a thousand kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, experiences four months of polar night and four months of midnight sun each year. The entire village has only 50 residents, with just one helicopter per week reaching the northern town of Qaanaaq.
The Inuit people of northwestern Greenland are the northernmost indigenous group on Earth. In this frozen land where agriculture is impossible, hunting walrus, seals, and other Arctic animals has long been an important part of life and the main food source for most families. However, in recent years, sea ice has gradually thinned, making hunting on ice increasingly dangerous. The melting ice is severely impacting the traditional Inuit way of life, and these cultures, passed down for hundreds of years, may gradually disappear."
**Photo Category - Photo Story Division Grand Prix** Yang Lei (China) "Farewell-able"
Behind the Scenes: "Whenever we leave one place for another, we use words like 'goodbye' or 'farewell' to express our attachment to people and land. Before leaving China, I recorded my hometown through my lens, contemplating what 'farewell' truly means to me."
**Chief Judge Sarah Leen's Commentary on Nikon Photo Contest 2024-2025 (Summary)**
"Serving as chief judge for this competition again has been an incredibly precious experience for me.
Compared to previous competitions, the quality of each entry this year has significantly improved, which left a particularly deep impression on me. The theme 'Inspire' sparked diverse creativity, showcasing impressive creative richness. We received numerous outstanding works, including many magnificent landscapes and moving portraits, all deeply resonating with this year's theme.
The Photo Story category remains the most challenging judging process, as series of images involve complex thinking, concepts, and creative intentions. This requires us to deeply interpret the narrative conveyed through each frame's unique visual language, rather than relying on text descriptions. However, it is precisely through the lenses of global contributors that we glimpse those moments of inspiration that are treasured and remembered, bringing endless emotion to all judges.
Each judge brought their professional expertise to the discussions, and the final selection of winning works underwent multiple rounds of in-depth deliberation. I deeply believe that the most unique charm of this competition lies in how the judges themselves expanded their photographic perspectives and gained new insights through these intellectual exchanges."
**Global Major Cities Exhibition Activities**
Nikon plans to hold exhibitions of winning works at the Nikon gallery in Kyobashi, Tokyo, Japan, and in major cities worldwide, striving to let more people appreciate the outstanding results of the Nikon Photo Contest 2024-2025.
Exhibition information for other cities will be announced gradually. For details, please visit the official Nikon Photo Contest 2024-2025 website.
Website: https://photocontest.nikon.com.cn/cn/