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The Formation

Alp Turgut

United Kingdom

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A striking portrait inspired by Hanuman, the revered monkey warrior of Balinese mythology. Ornate gold details, white fur and a fierce expression transform the performer into a figure of strength, devotion and myth, suspended between ritual and theatre.

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Nominees

Hanuman

A crowd stands before the Mona Lisa, yet most view it through their phones. The painting is iconic, but the real subject is us. I captured this moment to question how social media has reshaped perception—where presence is replaced by proof, and experience becomes documentation.

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Screen Between Us

Tradition often speaks through silence rather than words. I photographed these ceremonial guards as storm clouds gathered overhead, waiting for their perfectly ordered formation to contrast with the uncertainty of the sky. The image explores discipline, duty & the quiet weight carried behind ritual.

Honorable Mentions

People’s Vote Award

In Bali, an artisan works quietly beneath a shelter, weaving natural fibres by hand. The afternoon light enlarges the gesture across the wall, turning an intimate act of labour into a dialogue between the maker, the material and the shadow.

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Woven in Shadow

There are nights when a city stops feeling real. I photographed this quiet alley in Kyoto after dark, waiting for two strangers to enter the frame. The cold neon glow, empty street and silhouettes created a scene that reminded me of a ghost story unfolding in silence.

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Kyoto Ghoul

At Columbus Circle on Halloween, a skateboarder rises above the pavement while a face-painted couple sits behind him. I photographed the instant when separate performances aligned—costume, chance and gravity briefly sharing the same stage.