One world. Many lenses: Meet the winners of Zenfolio’s global photo showcase.
December 5th, 2025
To celebrate World Photography Day 2025, Zenfolio launched One world. Many lenses—a global photo showcase and giveaway inviting photographers to share how their work incorporates their unique perspective of the world.
From India to Portugal, the UK and across the USA, photographers submitted over 1,600 entries from 27 different countries around the globe. With eight distinct categories, their subject matter ranged from powerful social stories to serene moments found in nature.
With the support of our prize partners—Bay Photo Lab, Think Tank Photo, KEH, Imagen, Miller’s Professional Imaging, and Master Photographer James Harris—we’re proud to spotlight this year’s winning images and the stories behind them.
Get inspired by the 2025 photo contest winners of One world. Many lenses.
Read on to see the winning images from each category of photography competition and their stories.
People, Portraits, and Lifestyle Category: Sourav Das – India
Prize Sponsor: Imagen
About the photo:
Sourav Das’ winning image vividly captures the harsh reality of child labor in the Jharia coal mines. The weary expression of the young girl, covered in coal dust and standing amidst a smoky, barren landscape, underscores the grueling conditions the children endure in Jharia, Jharkland, India–an area notorious for dangerous, largely unregulated coal mining.
Children here face severe health risks, from chronic respiratory disease to injuries from heavy labor, and are often deprived of education. NGOs such as Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and Save the Children work to rescue and rehabilitate these children. Sourav’s photograph is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to eradicate child labor and build a safer future.
Sports, Action, and Performance category: Robert McClory – USA
Prize Sponsor: Imagen
About the photo:
Robert McClory’s winning photograph captured skateboarder Chris Russell upside down, mid-way through a switch hand invert at the 2024 Tampa Pro Vert Contest. This trick starts with one hand on the coping of the ramp and the other on the board as he goes upside down. Mid-trick the skateboarder switches hands so the hand on the coping grabs the board and the one on the board braces for his return into the ramp.
Robert captured the split second where there are no hands on the board or the ramp—freezing a moment of technical difficulty and style that he had never seen performed before (or since).
Nature and Landscapes category: Raina Wessen, USA (joint winner)
Prize Sponsor: James Harris Photography
About the photo:
Raina Wessen’s winning image was taken on location along the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand. While crossing the bridges, visitors can look down and see the vibrant blues of the glacial water flowing beneath. On the day this was taken, the mountains were covered in snow, the grass was beginning to turn from green to yellow, and a few low clouds drifted into the valley.
Nature and Landscapes category: Tim Truby – Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA (joint winner)
Prize Sponsor: Miller’s Professional Imaging
About the photo:
Tim Truby created his winning image, “Sacred Cave at Winter Solstice,” in a sea cave in Palos Verdes, California. Taken during Winter Solstice, this long exposure captures the golden sunset transforming the cave to appear almost as though it is being lit from within.
Street and Urban category: Tom Carroll – Cornelius, USA
Prize Sponsor: Think Tank Photo
About the photo:
Tom Carroll’s winning photograph “The Vessel, Hudson Yards, Manhattan, New York City” captured clustered and solitary figures silhouetted along the enigmatic structure, its maze of staircases wrapping around the central core high into the sky. Recently constructed in Hudson Yards and designed by Thomas Heatherwick, Carroll took the image from the east side of the Vessel, looking toward the sunset in the west. From Carroll’s perspective of the honeycomb-like landmark, the warm orange light catches the underside of the upper geometric patterns, drawing our eyes up from the setting sun visible through the lower openings.
Weddings and Moments category: Renata Zimmer – Kansas City, MO, USA
Prize Sponsor: Imagen
About the photo:
Renata Zimmer’s winning image was shot during a New York City wedding. Shot from above and set against the energy of the city, we see a groom twirling his bride, her dress swirling like a cloud around her legs. Zimmer’s aerial perspective blends an intimate connection with an iconic urban backdrop, giving the viewer the feeling of being invited to eavesdrop on the private moment with her.
Food, Product, and Still Life category: Jennifer Rose, UK
Prize Sponsor: Bay Photo Lab
About the photo:
Jennifer Rose’s winning image, “The Fruit Refresh,” was her first capture using a small soft lighting box. The lighting choice caused the colors of the fruit to reflect in the moving water, enhancing the motion in this stunning still life. The timing and motion give a theatrical feel to the spilling water and the vibrant fruits contrast starkly with the dark background in Rose’s playful setup.
Pets and Animals category: Neil Arthurs – Portugal
Prize Sponsor: KEH
About the photo:
Neil Arthurs spotted these horses by the roadside on the way back to his accommodation after photographing reflections. Naturally, he pulled over and approached them carefully. With his trusty 100–400mm lens, he lay down—quite possibly in horse manure—to capture this shot.
Arthurs’ technique of getting to the animal’s eye level creates a stronger connection between viewer and subject. Dropping low can also add depth to your frame, using a shallow depth of field to blur grasses or other items in the foreground. Neil says he’d “happily roll around in horse manure” to capture more frames like this—a testament to the lengths nature and wildlife photographers will go for that one special image.
Under 18’s category: Robert Smith – USA
Prize Sponsor: Zenfolio
About the photo:
Robert Smith’s winning image “Tale old as Time” is a close-up shot of the rear of a light blue vintage Chevy pickup truck, showing the tailgate with an old chain latch and the retro taillights.
Smith’s perspective brings the beauty of an old truck to our attention; the speckles of rust and wear of the paint serve as subtle reminders of the stories it holds.
Thank you to our prize partners:
This global photography showcase and giveaway was made possible thanks to the generous support of our partners:
- Imagen: AI‑powered photo editing that learns your style and speeds up your workflow.
- Bay Photo Lab: Professional printing and wall art for photographers.
- Think Tank Photo: High‑quality bags and gear for travel and adventure.
- KEH: The largest selection of certified pre-owned camera gear in North America.
- Miller’s Professional Imaging: The largest pro photo lab in the US.
- James Harris Photography: Multi‑award‑winning fine art landscape photographer and educator.
- Zenfolio: Everything you need to build and grow your photography business online.
Want your work featured by Zenfolio?
One world. Many lenses is just one way we celebrate the photographers who make this community so special.
If you’d like to:
- Build a professional portfolio website
- Share beautiful client galleries
- Sell prints and digital downloads online
- And be the first to hear about future Zenfolio member spotlights and photography contests
Create your Zenfolio account today and grow your photography business.
Your website. Your way. In minutes.
Build a professional website that reflects your style. Easily customize your design–no coding required. Run your business…all from your own site with your own brand.
Related Posts
Contributor
-
Elizabeth Glanville is the Content Marketing Manager at Zenfolio, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. With over 12 years of professional photography experience, she has captured a wide array of subjects, from equestrian sport and luxury real estate to fashion editorials, commercial campaigns, family portraits, and Arabic weddings. Her photography has appeared in publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Vogue Arabia, Elle, and Marie Claire. Deeply embedded in the equestrian world, Elizabeth also offers photography, creative and strategic marketing consulting to equestrian brands including some of the countries leading polo and equestrian clubs.
Elizabeth holds a Master’s degree in Graphic Communication from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK and has a deep passion for design, branding, and visual storytelling. Her expertise bridges the creative and strategic, with a strong focus on marketing and commercial communication. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys spending time at the stables with her two daughters, horses, and an ever-growing collection of pets.
