2025 Photographer of the Year Contest

“Receiving this honor further bolstered my credibility and boosted my confidence. It has had a hugely positive impact on both a personal and professional level and is a great calling card. This award led to two print publications as well as many digital ones. It’s also opened and continues to open doors and unlock new opportunities within the industry - including not so long ago being able to get my work featured on a website I really wanted to partner with.”

Mario Tarantino

Spain

“Winning gave me something that I think is more valuable in the long run than a job or press coverage. And that was appreciating my work and giving me self-confidence in my work while motivating me to create and experiment.”

Laura Zalenga

Netherlands

“Winning an 1839 Award gave me a huge boost in confidence as a photographer and inspired me to aim even higher in my technical and artistic growth.”

Hans Martin Dölz

Germany

“Being recognized in this contest has been a huge personal affirmation and has led to several exhibition opportunities.”

Shaohan Fang

United States

“If you want your work to be seen, taken seriously, and judged alongside strong global talent, this competition is well worth entering.”

Jan-Tore Oevrevik

United States

“In a world overflowing with photo contests, the 1839 Awards stand out — from the quality of submissions and jury to the thoughtful presentation of the winners. Being recognized brought me great satisfaction, especially at a time when it’s hard for work to stand out.”

Hans Martin Dölz

Germany

“Winning the Photographer of the Year at the 1839 Awards was a powerful validation of my dedication and hard work. It opened doors to an international audience and inspired me to keep growing—not just in photography but in all areas of life.”

Lee Ching Kai

Malaysia

“Winning an 1839 Award provided a massive boost to my confidence as a photographer and has inspired me to aim ever higher in terms of technical and artistic abilities.”

Jeremy C Glover

United Kingdom

“Winning this award gave me a huge boost in confidence at a time when I was questioning my path — it was the validation I needed to keep going.”

Jay Tang

Netherlands

“Being recognized in this contest was more than a celebration; it became a turning point in how I saw myself as a photographer. It gave me the courage to share my work more openly, leading to overwhelming support and meaningful reconnections with old friends and colleagues. Photography became a bridge back to the community.”

Maria Ciampini

Canada

“Being recognized in this contest has greatly boosted my credibility locally and internationally, helping me reach a global audience. It inspires me to tell meaningful stories through my photography and motivates me to keep growing in my craft.”

Lee Ching Kai

Malaysia

“It was a huge honor to be recognized in such a prestigious competition.”

Vince Burton

United Kingdom

“My favorite part was gaining international exposure, with my work featured in distinguished magazines like Forbes.”

Md. Arifuzzaman

Bangladesh

“What makes the 1839 Awards so meaningful is the community and the values they represent: a celebration of genuine expression, honesty, and presence in art. This recognition fuels my commitment to keep creating work that is true to myself, driven by the desire to connect and share stories that matter.”

Maria Ciampini

Canada

“The award gave people a reason to take a closer look at my work, and I immediately saw an uptick in Instagram followers. Being able to say ‘award-winning photographer’ or ‘featured in Forbes’ is priceless. It also encouraged me to keep pursuing my vision.”

Trina O’Hara

Italy

“I have been fortunate to receive recognition from other prestigious contests like the Sony Awards, IPA, PX3, and several others. Each award has been meaningful in its own way, but earning an honor at the 1839 Awards holds a special place because of its focus on celebrating artistic vision and diversity in photography. The level of competition is incredibly high, and the global reach of the platform has offered unique exposure and new opportunities to connect with a broader, international audience. It’s not only a validation of my work, but also a strong motivation to keep evolving creatively.”

Antonio Coelho

Portugal

“Receiving this honor further bolstered my credibility and boosted my confidence. It has had a hugely positive impact on both a personal and professional level and is a great calling card. This award led to two print publications as well as many digital ones. It’s also opened and continues to open doors and unlock new opportunities within the industry - including not so long ago being able to get my work featured on a website I really wanted to partner with.”

Mario Tarantino

Spain

“Winning gave me something that I think is more valuable in the long run than a job or press coverage. And that was appreciating my work and giving me self-confidence in my work while motivating me to create and experiment.”

Laura Zalenga

Netherlands

“Winning an 1839 Award gave me a huge boost in confidence as a photographer and inspired me to aim even higher in my technical and artistic growth.”

Hans Martin Dölz

Germany

“Being recognized in this contest has been a huge personal affirmation and has led to several exhibition opportunities.”

Shaohan Fang

United States

“If you want your work to be seen, taken seriously, and judged alongside strong global talent, this competition is well worth entering.”

Jan-Tore Oevrevik

United States

“In a world overflowing with photo contests, the 1839 Awards stand out — from the quality of submissions and jury to the thoughtful presentation of the winners. Being recognized brought me great satisfaction, especially at a time when it’s hard for work to stand out.”

Hans Martin Dölz

Germany

“Winning the Photographer of the Year at the 1839 Awards was a powerful validation of my dedication and hard work. It opened doors to an international audience and inspired me to keep growing—not just in photography but in all areas of life.”

Lee Ching Kai

Malaysia

“Winning an 1839 Award provided a massive boost to my confidence as a photographer and has inspired me to aim ever higher in terms of technical and artistic abilities.”

Jeremy C Glover

United Kingdom

“Winning this award gave me a huge boost in confidence at a time when I was questioning my path — it was the validation I needed to keep going.”

Jay Tang

Netherlands

“Being recognized in this contest was more than a celebration; it became a turning point in how I saw myself as a photographer. It gave me the courage to share my work more openly, leading to overwhelming support and meaningful reconnections with old friends and colleagues. Photography became a bridge back to the community.”

Maria Ciampini

Canada

“Being recognized in this contest has greatly boosted my credibility locally and internationally, helping me reach a global audience. It inspires me to tell meaningful stories through my photography and motivates me to keep growing in my craft.”

Lee Ching Kai

Malaysia

“It was a huge honor to be recognized in such a prestigious competition.”

Vince Burton

United Kingdom

“My favorite part was gaining international exposure, with my work featured in distinguished magazines like Forbes.”

Md. Arifuzzaman

Bangladesh

“What makes the 1839 Awards so meaningful is the community and the values they represent: a celebration of genuine expression, honesty, and presence in art. This recognition fuels my commitment to keep creating work that is true to myself, driven by the desire to connect and share stories that matter.”

Maria Ciampini

Canada

“The award gave people a reason to take a closer look at my work, and I immediately saw an uptick in Instagram followers. Being able to say ‘award-winning photographer’ or ‘featured in Forbes’ is priceless. It also encouraged me to keep pursuing my vision.”

Trina O’Hara

Italy

“I have been fortunate to receive recognition from other prestigious contests like the Sony Awards, IPA, PX3, and several others. Each award has been meaningful in its own way, but earning an honor at the 1839 Awards holds a special place because of its focus on celebrating artistic vision and diversity in photography. The level of competition is incredibly high, and the global reach of the platform has offered unique exposure and new opportunities to connect with a broader, international audience. It’s not only a validation of my work, but also a strong motivation to keep evolving creatively.”

Antonio Coelho

Portugal