LensCulture Critics' Choice Award 2026 Winners Announced
The LensCulture Critics' Choice Award 2026 has announced its winners, featuring 19 photography experts on the panel. The open-themed competition attracted photographers of all ages and experience levels globally. Notable winners include Yangjun Peng (China) with 'Unseen Landscape', Mark Fitton (US) for 'Pictures with Janet', a collaborative project with his aunt with Down's syndrome, and Mattia Corato (UK) documenting the River Lea in east London. Adam Lin (UK) explores masculinity in 'Sonder', while Valentina Sinis (Italy) portrays Kurdish female guerrillas in 'The Last Butterflies'. Ashkan Shabani (Germany) documents neo-Nazi groups in 'The Quiet Rise', and Mehrdad Fathi (Iran) addresses wildfires in Hyrcanian forests. Walter Plotnick (US) creates photographic collages in 'Surprise Inside', and Guanyu Xu (US) reconstructs immigrant interiors in 'Resident Aliens'. Yue Sun (China) captures youth in Inner Mongolia's Wuhai in 'Muted Ember', and Avery Norman (US) presents 'Cry to the Angels'. Olga Steinepreis (Germany) wins for 'My Mother Doesn't Work', praised by the Guardian's Fiona Shields as witty and engaging. The award is organized by LensCulture, with editor in chief Jim Casper.
Key facts
- LensCulture Critics' Choice Award 2026 winners announced
- 19 photography experts on the panel
- Open to all ages and experience levels, no themes or genre limitations
- Yangjun Peng (China) won for 'Unseen Landscape'
- Mark Fitton (US) won for 'Pictures with Janet', a project with his aunt with Down's syndrome
- Mattia Corato (UK) documented the River Lea in east London
- Adam Lin (UK) explored masculinity in 'Sonder'
- Valentina Sinis (Italy) portrayed Kurdish female guerrillas in 'The Last Butterflies'
- Ashkan Shabani (Germany) documented neo-Nazi groups in 'The Quiet Rise'
- Mehrdad Fathi (Iran) addressed wildfires in Hyrcanian forests in 'The Burning of Autumn'
- Walter Plotnick (US) created photographic collages in 'Surprise Inside'
- Guanyu Xu (US) reconstructed immigrant interiors in 'Resident Aliens'
- Yue Sun (China) captured youth in Wuhai, Inner Mongolia in 'Muted Ember'
- Avery Norman (US) won for 'Cry to the Angels'
- Olga Steinepreis (Germany) won for 'My Mother Doesn't Work'
- Fiona Shields, head of photography at the Guardian, praised Steinepreis's series
- Jim Casper is editor in chief of LensCulture
Entities
Artists
- Yangjun Peng
- Mark Fitton
- Mattia Corato
- Adam Lin
- Valentina Sinis
- Ashkan Shabani
- Mehrdad Fathi
- Walter Plotnick
- Guanyu Xu
- Yue Sun
- Avery Norman
- Olga Steinepreis
- Jim Casper
- Fiona Shields
Institutions
- LensCulture
- the Guardian
- Kurdistan Free Life party (PJAK)
- Women's Protection Forces (HPJ)
- Kurdistan Workers' party
Locations
- China
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Germany
- Iran
- Clapton
- River Lea
- east London
- London
- Taichung
- Taiwan
- Kurdistan
- Hyrcanian forests
- Inner Mongolia
- Wuhai