Winners November 2025

With thanks to Victor Wong, this month’s adjudicator

There are 17 images submitted this month, each showcasing a strong sense of place. We’re fortunate to enjoy a diverse collection of stories from around the world, thanks to the diligent photographers who contributed. After careful selection, I am excited to present this month’s winners:

Travel Image of the month:

The riverbank catches my eye and pulls me into the scene, guiding my gaze toward the herd. The composition feels balanced: cattle cluster in the foreground, while people along the bank form a gentle diagonal that runs through the frame. The sense of place is rich. The warm light, shallow water, and rural backdrop evoke Majuli’s riverside life. A child with a stick, a man guiding a calf, and the moving edge of the water add real dynamics. The moment feels cohesive, inviting me to linger and imagine the daily journey that brings them home. This outstanding picture will certainly be my choice of the image of the month.

Highly Commended:

The title, River of Life (and death), frames a powerful narrative. I am drawn to the busy background with debris and chaotic activity that makes the scene feel real and lived-in. A child washing amid the rubbish becomes my focal point, prompting me to consider vulnerability and daily resilience. The image speaks to survival and community, and to how a river can sustain people while also presenting ongoing challenges. I wonder if the impact could be even stronger with a wider, zoomed-out shot that broadens the context around the subject.

This is an outstanding shot of a group playing cards inside an open tent in Omen. The scene feels deeply traditional, and its story is powerful: a moment of concentration, companionship, and shared ritual under a simple canopy.

The tent’s patterned textiles against the surrounding darkness provide a nice backdrop that centres the players, making their quiet interaction feel both intimate and universal. The spot lighting is a deliberate stroke of artistry, guiding the viewer’s eye to the table, cards, and faces.

The arrangement of figures around the mat, along with the subtle glint on the cards, creates a strong sense of place and a cinematic quality that elevates the image as a standout.

I appreciate the overall mood of this image, softly lit and bathed in a gentle glow. The composition is well balanced with the woman’s patterned dress, the flock in motion, and the architectural backdrop of domes and arches all reinforce a strong sense of place. The scene could be elevated further if a subject with a more vivid outfit were present to make the focal point stand out.