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Photography News Photographer of the Year 2025
The Photography News Photographer of the Year competition is back! We're celebrating the best of your photography for the second time with PNPOTY 2025, backed by used kit reseller MPB.
|15.05.2025
3 min read
With so many fantastic cameras, lenses and accessories to pick from, the photography talent here in the UK and beyond has never had more freedom to shine. Last year’s contest attracted tremendous images that spanned ten categories and captured countless moments in all their glory.
The set-up is the same as last year – ten categories, namely weddings, black & white, lighting, wildlife, portrait, photo editing, landscape, street, events and macro.
Entry is free, and you can enter as many images in as many different categories as you like. The overall winner will pick up a £500 voucher to spend on anything they like from the competition’s backer MPB. There are thousands of used cameras, lenses and accessories to choose from on MPB’s amazing website, where all the kit is fully tested.
Use the form below to enter one or more categories. The deadline for entries is 15 August 2025, after which judging will take place. The winners will be announced in issue 123 of PN – out in September.
This category celebrates the art of monochrome. Submit images that make powerful use of contrast, shadow and tone. We’re looking for photographs that feel refined, expressive and deliberate – whether that’s in subtle greys or bold blacks & whites. Shape, texture and emotion take centre stage.
Capture the essence of an event – be it a festival, performance, rally or celebration. We want dynamic, engaging pictures that convey atmosphere, emotion and key moments. Whether fast-paced or quietly powerful, your image should demonstrate timing, composition and real technical skill in often tricky shooting environments.
From sweeping mountain ranges to quiet woodland corners, we want immersive landscapes. Composition is key – consider how you lead the eye through the scene, balance light or convey mood. Your image should evoke a sense of place and show technical control in varying conditions.
Great lighting makes great images – and we want to see how you’ve mastered it. Show us photographs where light plays an essential role in shaping mood, form or texture. Whether natural or artificial, soft or dramatic, lighting should enhance a subject and highlight photographic control.
Reveal a world that’s often hidden. From insects and flowers to textures and tiny treasures, we want macro images that feel visually rich and precisely executed. Your composition should isolate the subject, with sharp detail and an aesthetic that elevates even the smallest scene.
This one’s for the digital artists. Submit photographs where editing has elevated the image without overpowering it. We’re looking for tasteful, imaginative enhancements – whether that’s through subtle retouching or complex compositing. We want to see clean execution, creative direction and an understanding of balance in post.
Your portrait should tell us something about your subject – who they are, what they feel or how they connect to their surroundings. Natural or studio-lit, posed or candid, everything is welcome. The portrait must be striking and emotionally resonant, with an effective use of composition and light.
Street photography thrives on moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Submit images that tell a story or freeze a fleeting interaction in urban life. We’re drawn to pictures that feel authentic, energetic and well composed – where timing, subject and setting create something special.
We’re seeking photographs that capture the spirit of a wedding day – from heartfelt glances to big celebrations. Whether your image spotlights the grandeur of a lavish event or the intimacy of a quiet moment, it should convey the story, atmosphere and emotion of the day. Strong lighting and a creative eye will help you stand out.
We’re looking for wildlife images that celebrate the natural world in all its wonder. From the quiet intensity of a predator’s gaze to a candid moment in the daily life of a garden visitor, your entry should be technically strong, well composed and showcase behaviour, character or habitat with flair.
About our sponsor
MPB is the official sponsor of this year’s Photographer of the Year Awards and will give the winner a £500 voucher to spend on its platform. As the world’s largest platform for buying, selling and trading used photography gear, it offers a smarter way to upgrade your kit, save money and support the planet.
Each year, it handles over 500,000 items of photo and video equipment, offering an unrivalled range of cameras, lenses and accessories from leading brands such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm and Leica. Every item is carefully inspected by experts, accurately graded, individually photographed and comes with a six-month warranty – so you can buy with complete confidence.
Buying from MPB is quick and easy: browse the online inventory, select your chosen item based on condition and price and have it shipped securely to your door. You can also sell your unwanted gear in just a few simple steps. MPB provides an instant online quote; simply send over your kit with free, insured collection. Once checked by MPB’s specialists, you’ll receive prompt payment – or you can put the value straight towards your next upgrade.
MPB makes it easier than ever to stretch your budget further, as you’ll find high-quality used equipment at a fraction of the cost of buying new. Every transaction is a step towards a greener future – by keeping great kit in use, MPB reduces waste and lowers the environmental impact of the imaging industry. This ensures that photography remains not only more accessible, but also more sustainable for generations to come.
As sponsor of these awards, MPB shares our commitment to celebrating creativity and innovation at every level. Whether you’re entering the awards or planning your next kit upgrade, MPB will help you get more from your photo journey – for less.
mpb.com
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