CEWE Photo Award 2025: New Horizons at the World's Largest Photo Competition
CEWE, Europe's leading photo company, once again invites photo enthusiasts from around the world to capture the beauty of our planet in images. Under the motto "Our world is beautiful," participants can submit their works in ten inspiring categories: "People," "Animals," "Landscapes," "Architecture," "Sports & Action," "Travel & Culture," and "Food & Cooking." For the first time, "Nature & Wildlife," "Street Photography," and "Close-Up & Macro Photography" are included as new categories in this global competition.
Yvonne Rostock, CEO of CEWE, emphasizes the significance of the cultural heritage of photography at the launch of the competition: "We are truly delighted to once again call for participation in the CEWE Photo Award, the internationally beloved photo contest, effective immediately for the duration of one year. The continued passion for photography around the globe strengthens us in our mission to consistently promote the culture of photography at all levels. This year, we are particularly proud to introduce the Young Talent Award, which encourages and supports young photographers to share their creative visions. These innovations underscore our endeavor to actively shape the future of photography and to act socially responsible through our support of SOS Children's Villages worldwide."
The Young Talent Award: A New Stage for Young Photographic Talents
As a special innovation, CEWE introduces the Young Talent Award, which encourages young photographers between the ages of 16 and 25 to share their view of the world. This award nurtures the creative potential of young talents and offers them a platform to compete with established professional and amateur photographers. The Young Talent Award winner will be honored like the main winners and will receive a place at the formal award ceremony and in Europe-wide exhibitions.
A Jury of International Caliber
The selection of winners is in the hands of an experienced jury consisting of renowned photography experts:
Christie Goodwin, this year's jury chair, is an outstanding concert photographer from the UK, known for her work with international music stars like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Usher, and Katy Perry. Her ability to capture the emotions and energy of live performers has earned her recognition in leading publications like Rolling Stone Magazine, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. Christie is not only active behind the lens but also commits herself as a mentor to aspiring photographers.
Lois Lammerhuber, an Austrian photographer and director of the "La Gacilly-Baden Photo Festival," brings a profound experience in artistic photography and photojournalism as a curator and exhibition organizer. Last year, he founded the OPEN YOUR EYES festival in Zurich, dedicated to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. For 11 years, he has awarded the Global Peace Photo Award, which poses the question: What does peace look like? In 1997, he and his wife Silvia founded the photographic book publishing company Edition Lammerhuber, which was chosen as Europe's best photo book publisher for the fourth time this year, following 2013, 2015, and 2017. He has been honored with the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art and numerous other awards for his exceptional achievements.
Ulla Lohmann, a renowned adventure photographer and vulcanologist, is known for her fearless expeditions to active volcanoes. Her work is regularly published in distinguished media outlets such as National Geographic, GEO, BBC Earth, and The New York Times. Her photographs captivate with their portrayal of wild nature and life in volcanic regions. As a sought-after speaker and author, she inspires worldwide with impressive photos and stories from the most remote corners of the earth, providing a unique perspective on the beauty and power of nature.
JC Pieri, a talented photographer and film director from France, has been sensitively observing the world's adventures for nearly 20 years. After starting in the world of extreme sports, he has become an internationally recognized professional in this field of photography. In recent years, he has focused his work more on wildlife, serving renowned initiatives for nature conservation. Television has also repeatedly sought his support on conservation topics. In 2019, he founded his own learning platform for photography and videography, which is very popular among thousands of students.
George Steinmetz, known primarily for his aerial photography, has a relentless curiosity for the unknown: remote landscapes, our changing climate, and the question of how we can meet the constantly growing food demand of humanity. He regularly writes for National Geographic and The New York Times Magazine and has explored the world's deserts for fifteen years, mainly as a pilot of a motorized paraglider. This experimental aircraft enables him to capture unique and fascinating images of the world. His current projects involve documenting climate change and the global food supply.
Yvonne Rostock, CEO of CEWE, brings her extensive industry experience to the jury and her perspective on the beauty of the world. For her, the diversity of the CEWE Photo Award, which can be interpreted in various ways under the motto "Our world is beautiful," makes the photo contest exciting and colorful. Sometimes beauty lies hidden, sometimes it surprises – but it is always the photographers who bring it into focus and bring it to life.
Commitment and Sustainability
With the launch of the CEWE Photo Award 2025, the Oldenburg-based photo finisher continues its commitment to social projects. With every photo entry, the company supports SOS Children's Villages worldwide, helping to provide disadvantaged children with better future and educational opportunities.
The submission phase begins on May 6, 2024, and offers amateurs and professionals the opportunity to share their work and become part of a community that makes the world a more beautiful place through the lens of photography, over the next 12 months. Following participation of over half a million entries in the last contest, CEWE expects a high number of participants again this time. The top 1,000 winners can look forward to prizes with a total value of over 250,000 Euros.
