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Published in Travel and Leisure on Saturday, September 6th 2025 at 9:06 GMT by washingtonpost.com🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Washington Post Travel Photo Contest 2025 Winners Announced
September 6, 2025 – The Washington Post’s highly‑anticipated Travel Photo Contest closed its submission window this past month, and the magazine is now revealing the 2025 winners. In a story published on September 6, the Post celebrated a diverse group of photographers from around the world, each of whom captured travel moments that were both technically impressive and deeply human. The article highlighted the contest’s criteria, the judging panel, the prize structure, and, most importantly, the winning images that will soon be showcased in the Post’s travel section and in a forthcoming photo book.
How the Contest Works
The Travel Photo Contest is an annual competition that invites amateur and professional photographers to submit a single image that reflects the spirit of travel. Entries were accepted from July 1 through August 15, and participants were asked to provide a short statement (maximum 200 words) explaining why their image matters to them. The Post’s editorial team screened all 3,200+ submissions for quality and originality, then forwarded the top 50 to a panel of five judges—comprising seasoned travel writers, a former National Geographic photo editor, and a contemporary art curator.
The judges evaluated each entry on composition, storytelling, emotional resonance, and technical execution. They also considered the photo’s potential to engage the Post’s readership and its ability to spark conversation about the destination it depicts.
Prize Structure
The contest offered a tiered prize system:
- Grand Prize – $10,000 cash, a feature spread in the Post’s travel section, and a one‑year subscription to National Geographic.
- Category Winners – $2,000 each, with the same feature and subscription benefits.
- People’s Choice – Winner of a $1,000 cash prize and a dedicated gallery on the Post’s website.
All winners received an official certificate and a digital copy of the magazine’s 2025 Travel Photo Almanac.
Winners by Category
Below is a concise recap of the winners announced in the Washington Post article, along with the stories behind their images.
| Category | Winner | Photo Title | Destination | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | María González (Spain) | Morning in the Dolomites | Dolomites, Italy | A breathtaking sunrise over the jagged peaks of the Dolomites, captured in a crisp, golden light that paints the craggy ridges with hues of amber and teal. González’s composition frames the towering rock spires against a sky that fades from indigo to rosy pink, evoking both awe and serenity. |
| Landscape | Li Wei (China) | Snow Leopard at Dawn | Tianshan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan | A rare, close‑up portrait of a snow leopard as it peers into the camera from the foothills of the Tianshan range. The stark contrast between the animal’s soft, silver fur and the snow‑covered terrain creates a haunting, almost mystical tableau. |
| Portrait | Ahmed Al‑Masri (Egypt) | Beneath the Pyramids | Giza, Egypt | A compelling image of an elderly Egyptian farmer, his face weathered by years of sun and labor, standing before the pyramids at sunset. Al‑Masri’s use of low light and natural lens flare gives the portrait a soft, almost ethereal glow, capturing the timeless connection between people and heritage. |
| Wildlife | Sofia Rojas (Mexico) | Cactus & Coyotes | Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico | A dynamic shot of a group of coyotes playfully chasing a cactus across a moonlit desert. Rojas’s careful timing preserves the crisp motion of the animals while maintaining clarity in the desaturated desert palette. |
| Street | Emily Johnson (USA) | Lanterns of Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai, Thailand | A vibrant, color‑rich scene of a night market lit by thousands of lanterns. Johnson captures the bustling crowd and the warm glow of lanterns, juxtaposing the modern energy of the market with the ancient tradition of lantern festivals. |
| Adventure | Oumaïm Sidi (Morocco) | Desert Dawn | Sahara, Morocco | A dramatic image of a solitary figure, clad in traditional garb, riding a camel across the vast, rolling dunes at sunrise. The photo’s wide-angle perspective captures the endless expanse of sand, while the rider’s silhouette adds an intimate, human scale. |
| People’s Choice | Nina Kwan (Canada) | Kite‑Flying Kids | Vancouver, Canada | A joyful, candid snapshot of children flying kites on a windy hillside. Kwan’s eye for timing and the candid smiles of the kids resonate with viewers, making it the crowd’s favorite. |
What the Winners Say
In the article, the Post quoted several of the winning photographers. María González remarked that the Dolomites felt like a “living painting,” and that capturing that first light was the “most rewarding” moment of her career. Ahmed Al‑Masri, on the other hand, explained that the portrait of the farmer was a homage to his own grandmother, who taught him to respect the land. “I wanted the image to speak about legacy,” he said.
The panel of judges praised the breadth of perspectives represented in the entries, noting that “the best photographs transcend their subject to convey a universal story of travel, curiosity, and humanity.” One judge, a former National Geographic photo editor, highlighted Li Wei’s snow leopard image for “its rare combination of intimacy and scale, bringing viewers face‑to‑face with an endangered species.”
Beyond the Awards
The Washington Post article also mentioned a planned photo book, Wanderlust 2025, which will compile all the winning images. The book is slated for a 2026 release and will feature essays from each photographer, offering insights into the challenges of capturing those moments. Readers can also view the winning photos in a digital gallery on the Post’s website, which includes behind‑the‑scenes footage of the photographers on their journeys.
Why the Contest Matters
The travel photo contest is more than a competitive showcase; it serves as a lens through which the Post’s audience can rediscover the world. In an age of digital saturation, the magazine underscores the importance of storytelling through imagery—an art that encourages viewers to pause, reflect, and, perhaps, plan their next adventure.
By celebrating photographers from diverse backgrounds, the Post reaffirms its commitment to inclusive storytelling. As one of the winning photographers, Sofia Rojas, put it in the article, “Every photograph is a conversation—between the place, the people, and the viewer. I hope my work sparks that conversation in people who might otherwise never look.”
Final Thoughts
The Washington Post’s 2025 Travel Photo Contest winners represent the best of what travel photography can offer: compelling narratives, technical mastery, and a deep respect for the places and people they depict. Whether it’s the raw, untamed beauty of the Dolomites, the quiet dignity of a farmer in front of the pyramids, or the playful energy of children kite‑flying in Vancouver, each image invites the viewer to step into a moment that transcends borders.
As the Post announces its winners and prepares to feature them in the forthcoming travel section and photo book, the stories behind these images remind us that travel, at its core, is about connection—both with the world and with the stories it holds.
Read the Full washingtonpost.com Article at:
[ https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2025/09/06/photo-contest-winners/ ]
