The 500px Global Photography Awards are now in full swing, and photographers around the world are submitting their most powerful work of the year. With entries open until the deadline, this is the perfect moment to take a closer look at what makes the 2025 Awards special and how this year’s exclusive sponsor, vivo, is helping push the boundaries of creative possibility.

A Global Celebration of Creativity

Each year, the Awards highlight the photos that shape how we see the world. For 2025, photographers can submit their best images taken throughout the year into one of five categories:

Architecture

Animal

Landscape

Portrait

Real Stories

Each category will honor two Category Photographers of the Year; one Judges’ Choice and one People’s Choice, reflecting both expert evaluation and community recognition.

From these winners, two standout photographers will rise to the top as the 500px Top Photographer of the Year and the Popular Photographer of the Year, earning major prizes and global visibility.

Awards & Prizes: Celebrating Excellence

This year’s prize pool totals over $20,000 USD, featuring cutting-edge technology, memberships, and cash awards that support photographers at every level.

Category Photographer of the Year — Judges’ Choice

• vivo X300 Pro
• vivo Professional Photography Kit (Zeiss 2.35x Telephoto Lens + Grip)
• 1-Year 500px Pro Membership
• Total value: $2,000 USD

Category Photographer of the Year — People’s Choice

• vivo X300 Pro
• 1-Year 500px Awesome Membership
• Total value: $1,500 USD

Overall Titles

Two photographers will earn the highest honors:

• 500px Photographer of the Year — Judges’ Choice
  • $1,500 USD cash prize
• 500px Popular Photographer of the Year — People’s Choice
  • $1,000 USD cash prize

These awards celebrate exceptional craft, creativity, and storytelling across a diverse range of photographic styles.

The vivo X300 Pro: Built for Photographers

As the exclusive sponsor of the 2025 Awards, vivo brings innovation directly into the hands of creators.

The flagship vivo X300 Pro, part of this year’s prize pool, is engineered with photographers in mind. Its ZEISS optics, improved low-light performance, and advanced color accuracy deliver sharp, true-to-life images straight from a mobile device.

With specialized telephoto capabilities and intuitive creative tools, the X300 Pro offers professional-level flexibility in a compact form, empowering photographers to shoot confidently, anywhere, anytime.

Meet the Guest Judges

This year’s panel brings together international photographers and visual storytellers, each offering a unique creative lens:

• Agnieszka Wieczorek – Travel photographer whose vibrant work spotlights diverse cultures.
• Natascia Mercurio – Portrait photographer known for emotional depth and subtle expression.
• Krid Karnsomdee – 500px Ambassador specializing in minimalist, geometric urban photography.
• Branden May – Architecture and street photographer exploring contrast and monumental scale.
• Ryo Utsunomiya – Wildlife photographer and visual artist blending conceptual and natural elements.

Their expertise ensures that Judges’ Choice winners represent excellence in technique, creativity, and impact.

Why You Should Enter Global Photography Awards 2025

Submissions are free for all 500px members. If you’re not yet a member, joining allows you to enter instantly and be part of a global photography community.

Whether you shoot with a professional camera or a smartphone, this is your opportunity to share your vision and be recognized for it.

You have until January 30 to submit your best work.

Your defining moment in photography could be one submission away.

Submit your photos

Thank you to vivo, the Exclusive Sponsor of the 2025 500px Global Photography Awards.

Read blog: Reignite Your Creativity: Photography Prompts to Start the Year Strong

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