Winners of the 2025 Flow Photo Contest presented by Kodak
The 2025 Flow Photo Contest winners have been announced, highlighting powerful images from around the world. The contest, presented by Kodak, received 16,000 entries from 109 countries. Participants could submit photos in five categories – Water, Human, Travel, Film and Animal – with a total of $50,000 in prizes available.
The photographers ranged in experience from beginners to professionals and could use any type of camera. The panel of judges included Shireen Rahimi, a NatGeo Explorer and underwater storyteller, Shawn Theodore, a visual artist known for his work on Black identity and Alex Stead, a UK-based travel and lifestyle commercial photographer.
"We were blown away by the depth, emotion and technical artistry in the entries. From a single image of a whale mid-breach to portraits that radiate raw humanity, these photographers – many of them amateurs – captured something extraordinary," said Eddie Berrang, Head of Studio at Flow. "This contest reminded us that the most powerful storytelling doesn’t require a big production budget – just vision."
Besides showcasing beautiful imagery, the contest aims to raise awareness and funds for five nonprofit organizations. Re:wild, a group dedicated to protecting and restoring biodiversity, presented the animal category. The Water category highlights the work of Charity: Water, supporting sustainable solutions to bring clean drinking water to communities in need. Hi, How Are You Project, which promotes mental health awareness through art, music and education, sponsored the Human category. The Travel category highlights the work of Surfrider Foundation, which works to protect oceans, waves and beaches. Finally, the Film category is presented by Music Farming to expand access to music education.
The winners and finalists are featured in the 172-page Photo Issue of the Flow Trip magazine, which is only available in print. The magazine also includes judge interviews and a feature on the history of Kodak's Super 8 Camera. You can customize your Photo Issue cover by selecting four different cover images. It's available for purchase for $18 at the Flow website.
Grand Prize Winner: Water
Photographer: Érico Hiller
Instagram: @ericohiller
Category: Water
Photo location: Turmi, Ethiopia
Caption: Climbing up the stairs in this tank holding the gallon is an unimaginable operation that demands balance and strength. Some women do this over and over again, four or five times a day. After leaving the dump area wearing no shoes, the challenge is to avoid scorpions that accumulate around the hole that leads to the ladder one of them showed me a scorpion she had just killed. One small problem leads to another, and the entire chain of water-demand generates challenges these women face every day.
Tell us a little bit more about what led you to capture these humans and their way of life.
As a professional photographer, what has always motivated me is a profound interest in social justice and social impact. I’ve been driven by the desire to connect with others, to understand people’s struggles, and to produce work that might foster awareness and contribute, in some way, to justice. This motivation compels me to leave home, pursue my stories with genuine commitment, and pay true attention to my purpose. It also encourages me to listen carefully and empathetically, striving to be a better listener. Ultimately, I hope this process leads to meaningful photographs that I can share with the world. I believe that one of the essential roles of documentary photography is to make the world a little less unjust — and, in the end, a slightly better place.
How did seeing this way of life alter the way you think about yours?
I believe that through this work I have become a more conscious citizen — more aware of the social structures, the way the world operates, and how, all too often, the digital lens through which we see the world distorts the realities of life as it truly is. Photography allows me to take deeper steps into the lives and real challenges of others. This has given me a greater sense of belonging, while also making me more aware of my role — as a citizen, as a Brazilian, but above all, as a human being. I believe this awareness is reflected in my daily decisions and actions. The world is not an easy place; we live in an era of profound social and human injustices, of unexpected and difficult conflicts. But I believe that by continuing on the path of documentary photography, I am able to find more meaningful answers than if I were to remain a passive observer of the world’s injustices. In this sense, through photography, I strive to improve myself as a person — and in doing so, I hope that I can also contribute, in some small way, to improving my surroundings.
Finalist: Water
Photographer: Jorgito Rivera
Instagram: @jorgitorivera
Image title: Beneath the Lineup
Category: Water
Photo location: Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Caption: Surfer Kanoa Igarashi slices through the underwater silence with flawless control as a massive wave crashes above him. This shot reveals the raw power of the ocean and the calm precision it takes to master it. 'Beneath the Lineup' is a look into the heart of surfing.
Finalist: Water
Photographer: Mohammed Rimon
Instagram: @mohammedrimon
Image title: Carrying Date Juice
Category: Water
Photo location: Bogura, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Grand Prize Winner: Human
Photographer: Saurabh Narang
Instagram: @_saurabhnarang
Image title: Ramnath: A Man Who Feeds The Migratory Birds
Category: Human
Photo location: Yamuna Ghat, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Caption: Ramnath Sharma feeds migratory birds at Yamuna Ghat in Delhi, India. Every year between October and March, thousands of seagulls migrate from Siberia to Delhi. Locals come to feed them, believing it is good karma.
Finalist: Human
Photographer: Zay Yar Lin
Instagram: @zayyarlin84
Image title: Golden Moments in the Corn House
Category: Human
Photo location: Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái, Việt Nam
Caption: Set in the highlands of Mù Cang Chải, this photograph captures a fleeting yet profound moment between a mother and daughter during the corn harvest. The warm shafts of sunlight filtering through rows of drying maize illuminate not only the space but also the joy and intimacy of rural life. This image is a tribute to the enduring strength of family, the quiet poetry of daily labor, and the cultural richness of the country’s ethnic communities. It invites the viewer to pause, reflect, and feel the gentle beauty woven into tradition.
Finalist: Human
Photographer: Pyae Phyo Thet Paing
Instagram: @pyae_phyo_thet_paing
Image title: The Fishing Boys
Category: Human
Photo location: Inle Lake, Shan State, Myanmar
Grand Prize Winner: Travel
Photographer: Evan Wang
Instagram: @evanwongphoto
Image title: Best View in Town
Category: Travel
Photo location: Squamish, British Columbia
Caption: The greatest light show on Earth doesn't usually dance this far south but when it did, we knew exactly how we were going to view it: by climbing under it. Nick Ayers is taking it all in over the Squamish townsite.
How does seeing the northern lights in person, let alone from this perspective, alter your brain chemistry?
The northern lights are such a raw and visceral human experience. They are uniquely special in that they can be appreciated from both your front door or a remote backcountry location. By natural-wonder standards, they’re quite accessible. Seeing them in person rekindles those childlike feelings of wonder that I often find elude us as we grow older. It’s like you’re 5 years old again, gazing up at the sky with all the curiosity in the world, not knowing what to expect next. With this shot, I hoped to evoke those same emotions — no artificial light or image stitching, just the authentic experience exactly as you’d see it with your naked eye.
Finalist: Travel
Photographer: Luba Hristova
Instagram: @lubahristova
Image title: Volcán de Fuego
Category: Travel
Photo location: Volcán de Fuego, Chimaltenango Department, Guatemala
Finalist: Travel
Photographer: Aidan Doyle
Instagram: @fotosaidan
Image title: Fun and Games
Category: Travel
Photo location: Comuna 13, Medellín, Colombia
Caption: At Lake Atitlán, you learn that timing cannot be rushed it is patience, persistence, and being present.
Grand Prize Winner: Film
Photographer: Jacob Paley
Instagram: @jacobpaley
Image title: Eyes on the Palisades Fire
Category: Film
Photo location: Santa Monica, California
Caption: As the flames raged in January, residents of the Pacific Palisades community fled. Some went to the Santa Monica Pier to witness what would later be classified as the most destructive wildfire in the history of Los Angeles.
What were emotions like at the time you captured this image? Explain how you saw this bring the community together.
How do you console the inconsolable? Sometimes, when the chaos is so great, all you can do is sit close by in solidarity. Shock, horror, and perhaps a bit of awe were all palpable feelings that first night. People watched from the safety of the Santa Monica Pier; some came to simply witness the devastation unfold, while others could merely hope their homes were still standing, with those prayers swiftly drifting into the growing plumes of smoke above. As strange as it might be, communities are often most supportive in times of tragedy, when their resilience is tested to the limit and must, in this case quite literally, rise from the ashes. It’s this support from the greater Los Angeles area and beyond that will help those who lost everything to start again.
This image is a powerful one. What do you want viewers to take away from seeing this photo?
Documenting devastation is essential in making sure we never forget our own history. My goal is to provide the audience with an emotional connection to how those who were affected felt, so that we as a society can mourn, support, and reflect on how small we really are in this sometimes unforgiving and unrelenting natural world.
Finalist: Film
Photographer: Ben Dickson
Instagram: @shot.point.blank
Image title: Grind
Category: Film
Photo location: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Finalist: Film
Photographer: L . Chaussée
Instagram: @l.chaussee
Image title: Monument Valley
Category: Film
Photo location: Monument Valley, Oljato-Monument Valley, Utah
Caption: The reflective surface of the windows creates a duality between the landscape and the built environment. And although the image suggests stillness and quiet, in reality, the site was crowded with visitors admiring the view.
Grand Prize Winner: Animal
Photographer: Michele du Plooy
Instagram: @michele.d.p
Image title: Once in a Lifetime
Category: Animal
Photo location: Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Caption: This photo was taken in Magdalena Bay during the annual Mexican sardine run. I went on a freediving expedition to see sea lions and marlin feeding on bait balls compact spheres of fish trying to protect themselves and I was absolutely shocked when, on day three, this Bryde’s whale showed up out of nowhere and started feeding on the bait fish right in front of me. Truly the most unexpected, once-in-a-lifetime moment that I will forever cherish and never forget.
How has capturing and witnessing this moment changed your perspective on life above the surface?
Witnessing and capturing this moment with the Bryde’s whale deepened something Iʼve always felt — that so much of what really matters exists quietly, out of sight, and often goes unnoticed by most people. Being in the presence of such a massive, graceful creature reminded me how small we are in the grand scheme of things, and how much wonder still exists beyond the busy surface world we tend to focus on. It reinforced how important it is to slow down, pay attention, and stay connected to the natural world — even when I'm not underwater. It also reinforced my sense of purpose in wanting to share these kinds of moments with people who might never get the chance to experience them firsthand.
What led you to start documenting marine life? What value do you find in showcasing marine life, and what value do you hope your images bring to the lives of others?
I have always been someone who loves capturing memories. Even when I was younger and all I had was a flip phone camera, I was always documenting as much as possible, preserving as many memories as I could. My dad is a scuba diver, so I am very fortunate to have been certified at 13, growing up traveling and doing annual scuba trips with my family. Along with diving, I also grew up with a saltwater tank filled with coral in my childhood home (in landlocked Ottawa), allowing me to really fall in love with the ocean. Upon graduating from University, I made the move from Ottawa down to the Florida Keys to partake in an internship doing Coral Restoration work, and this was when I truly started falling in love with underwater photography. My dad had a small digital underwater camera that he used for our annual dive trips, and despite pointing out every single fish I wanted him to photograph, I never used the camera much myself. When I moved to the Keys, I took the camera with me, and being in the water nearly every day for my internship allowed me to discover my love of underwater photography. From there, I spent as much time underwater as possible, as well as saving any extra money I had for plane tickets, and now I travel as much as I can to witness and capture a variety of marine life. I have always thought of the photos I take as the preservation of my fondest memories, and as someone who’s fallen completely in love with the ocean, capturing these underwater memories has become one of my greatest passions. Personally, the most meaningful part of documenting marine life is being able to share a world that so few people get to see firsthand. I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent time in these remarkable ecosystems, and I want to share that beauty with others. People fight for and protect what they love — and my hope is that by showcasing marine life through my lens, others will also come to care for these animals and the fragile environments they call home. I hope people look at my images and see the amazing wildlife we have in our world. With so many threats currently facing our oceans, I believe that the more people are exposed to its unique wildlife, the more they’ll be inspired to care for and protect this incredible environment.
Finalist: Animal
Photographer: Gabriel Jensen
Instagram: @shallowseasgallery
Image title: Everything's A-Ok
Category: Animal
Photo location: Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida
Caption: This doctorfish looks completely unbothered as a lizardfish does its best to have it for breakfast. Luckily, the doctorfish has spines in its fins that can prevent it from sliding down the lizardfish's throat.
Finalist: Animal
Photographer: Bianca Lewallen
Instagram: @roamtobewild
Image title: Eye Contact
Category: Animal
Photo location: Tiputa Pass, Rangiroa, French Polynesia
