The Independent Photographer, an international network of photography enthusiasts and photographers, has announced the winners of its Street Photography Contest, which took place in May 2022. We have received images from more than 50 different countries, mostly from USA (30% entrants), but also from Italy, the UK, Germany, and China.
The Street Photography Competition aims to celebrate and reward photographers for being the best at observing and recording life on the streets. Whether the subject was the photographers’ own urban environment or as they explored other territories and cultures, we were looking for those spontaneous and fleeting moments and it is our great pleasure to present the work of these incredibly talented artists!
The competition judge: Bruce Gilden. A member of Magnum Photos since 1998, Bruce Gilden is one of the most iconic street photographers of our time. Known for his graphic and often confrontational close-ups made using flash, Gilden has received many awards and grants for his work, including National Endowments for the Arts fellowships and in 2013, a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship. Since the seventies, his work has been exhibited in museums and galleries all over the world.
We are delighted to present the images of 10 artists whose work shows an exceptional level of talent. All full captions can be found on The Independent Photographer’s winners page, as well as the feedback from the competition judge, Bruce Gilden.
Congratulations to all winners and finalists!
Davide Albani - 1st place. Prize - $1000
“Oktoberfest” - Munich, Germany.
The shot is taken during the world-famous beer festival, the Oktoberfest.
Valentine de Villemeur – 2nd place. Prize - $600
“Boy Scouts” - Paris, France.
"I was walking around Paris when I heard from far away some kids chatting and laughing. I saw that it was a group of scout kids and I knew that there was an interesting shot there. So, I placed myself in the middle of the street so that they were facing me. All of a sudden, one kid takes his friend by the shoulder and shouts “look over there!” and I quickly took the shot as he was raising his arm to point at something behind me."
Francesco Gioia – 3rd place. Prize - $400
“Hand and Cigarette” - Leicester Square, London, UK.
Brad Jones – finalist
“A Fragile Utopia 72”
"I began A Fragile Utopia with the belief that I was creating a project where I would document my daily life in Brooklyn. Understanding at the time that this city was a refuge for me culturally and politically as I grew up in a rural small town. I’ve come to realize that A Fragile Utopia is instead a construction of a world that I want to see in my mind."
Andreea Badiu-Slabu – finalist
“People of Paris” - Paris, France.
"I imagine he’s lived in Paris most of his life. How many times has he been photographed?! I want to guess not many. But now there’s at least one."
Anna Biret – finalist
“Look to the Future” - India.
“I was at the bus station, and this girl on her way to school caught my attention. She had a very intriguing personality, a form of pride and modernity, which is in direct contrast to the reality of living in India.”
Dovlet Annayev – finalist
“Gel Doy” - Berlin, Germany.
A night shot was taken on a snowy winter night on the streets of Berlin, Germany.
Ilya Nikolayev – finalist
“Coffee and Cigarette” - Manhattan, New york City, USA.
Candid photograph taken on 47th Street, NYC.
Inge Colijn – finalist
“Street scene” - Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Young boys looking for dropped fishes at the fish market in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Pierluigi Mesolella – finalist
Created in 2016, The Independent Photographer has quickly become a major resource for the world of international photography through the popularity of its online magazine and its annual exhibitions. We run a monthly photography competition with the aim of discovering new talent, with a panel of judges such as Steve McCurry, Maggie Steber, Jacob Aue Sobol, Alessia Glaviano, Ed Kashi (and many others), bringing together the biggest names in photography. To date, we have organized more than 60 competitions and awarded over $140,000 in prizes to artists, and printed, published and exhibited over 400 photographers, both online and at our annual exhibitions.
We welcome all photographers. From professionals, semi-professionals, and amateurs to total beginners. We are interested in all kinds of photography and we believe everyone has a chance.