14-Year-Old Thai Photographer Wins Hasselblad Masters 2026

At just 14 years old, Panitbhand Paribatra “Pari” Na Ayudhya from Thailand triumphed in the Project // 21 category of the Hasselblad Masters 2026 contest, aimed at photographers aged 21 and under. His entry featured three underwater images captured during a blackwater dive in the Philippines, utilizing a unique method that combined filters, flash, and a video light. As part of his award, he received a creative fund of 5,000 euros and the option to select a Hasselblad 100-megapixel camera along with two XCD lenses. Previously, he earned the title of Photographer of the Year Under-18 from the Shark Trust and received a Commendation at the Siena Awards. An Ocean Ambassador for the Manta Trust, Pari began scuba diving at 10 and currently uses a Nikon Z8 with a 105mm macro lens. He recently held a photo exhibition in Bangkok called “Pay Back to the Ocean” but views photography as a hobby, aspiring instead to pursue a career in ocean science.