Pure Street Photography Awards 2025: 20 Beautifully Authentic Moments

The Pure Street Photography Awards 2025, co-judged by renowned figures David Campany (Creative Director, International Center of Photography, New York) and Dimpy Bhalotia (award-winning photographer and Creative Director), celebrates the authentic spirit of street life in a world where artificial imagery is on the rise.

This year, the competition received 1,160 submissions from 34 countries. From these, judges selected 147 winning and finalist photographs for their powerful capture of honest moments, connection, and unpredictability—showcasing the vibrant, ever-changing rhythm of city streets.

More info: Instagram | PureStreetPhotography

#1 Grand Winner “Who Is Next” By Stefanie Waiblinger, Germany

©️ Stefanie Waiblinger

“The Galata Bridge in Istanbul – a place full of life, tradition and spectacular scenery – became the stage for a very special moment. Against the backdrop of the Istanbul skyline, between mosques and minarets, the bride throws her bouquet into the air – a spontaneous, lively moment full of joy and symbolism.” – Stefanie Waiblinger, Germany

#2 1st Place Winner “Meeting In The Middle” By Cazerella Tavs, UK

©️ Cazerella Tavs

“There is always an element of surprise to photography and a thrill in capturing a candid moment that can never be replicated. This was one of those moments. An unexpected standoff in the middle of a quiet rural road, where two cows pause as if negotiating the right of way. It emphasises form, symmetry, and contrast what might otherwise be a fleeting roadside encounter transforms into a playful reflection on standstills, stubbornness, and the gentle comedy of rural life — a reminder that even traffic jams can be charming when left to cows!!” – Cazerella Tavs, UK

#3 2nd Place Winner “Mirror” By Chris Yan, China

©️ Chris Yan

“This photo was taken in a market in Beijing. Two girls passed by me on an electric bike. One of the girls was holding a large mirror, and her figure was reflected in the mirror. The figure in the mirror merged with the girl in front, which looked very interesting.” – Chris Yan, China

#4

©️ Nicole Prüm

“This shot was taken spontaneously during a walk through New York City 2023. It captures a figure whose profile and attire—fedora and suit—immediately call to mind the appearance of Al Capone. The actual humour lies in the pure chance of the moment: the classic, historical allusion stands directly in front of a modern NYPD Police SUV in the background. The irony of this scene—the unprompted confrontation between the spirit of Prohibition and today’s street police—is what defines the image. It is a quiet, humorous moment of street photography that transports a historical jest into the present day.” – Nicole Prüm, Germany

#5 Finalist “Thoughts Take Flight” By Jignesh Chavda, India

©️ Jignesh Chavda

#6 Finalist “Green People” By Judith Krasinski, USA

©️ Judith Krasinski

#7 Finalist “Head Ball” By France Leclerc, USA

©️ France Leclerc

Making history, the 2025 edition will culminate in a landmark exhibition at Mumbai’s famed Jehangir Art Gallery, from 22–27 January 2026. For the first time, works from artists on five continents will be brought together in India’s most prestigious gallery, offering visitors a rare chance to see the world’s streets through a truly international lens.

Never before has India hosted a street photography exhibition of such scale, bringing diverse perspectives and spontaneous urban stories under one roof—a testament to the enduring allure of real life, expertly captured by the human eye.

#8 Finalist “The Sacred Collective” By Jepin Krishna, India

©️ Jepin Krishna

#9 Finalist “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” By Eric Davidove, USA

©️ Eric Davidove

#10 Finalist “Secret Lives” By Mona Singh, India

©️ Mona Singh

#11 Finalist “Fooling Around” By Marko Buntic, Croatia

©️ Marko Buntic

#12 Finalist “Desdemona” By Gavin Libotte, Australia

©️ Gavin Libotte

#13 Finalist “Friends” By Irina Ebralidze, Finland

©️ Irina Ebralidze

#14 Finalist “Redemption” By Danielle L Goldstein, USA

©️ Danielle L. Goldstein

#15 Finalist “Hide And Seek” By Jaejoon Ha, South Korea

©️ Jaejoon Ha

#16 Finalist “Higher Power” By Kelly Conlin, USA

©️ Kelly Conlin

#17 Finalist “Between Light And Motion” By Shreenivas Yenni, India

©️ Shreenivas Yenni

#18 Finalist – “Benchresting” By Gerd Bonse, Germany

©️ Gerd Bonse

#19 Finalist “The Mirror The Moment” By Kausik Paul, India

©️ Kausik Paul

#20 Finalist “Rise And Shine” By Jelisa Peterson, USA

©️ Jelisa Peterson

Shanilou Perera

Shanilou has always loved reading and learning about the world we live in. While she enjoys fictional books and stories just as much, since childhood she was especially fascinated by encyclopaedias and strangely enough, self-help books. As a kid, she spent most of her time consuming as much knowledge as she could get her hands on and could always be found at the library. Now, she still enjoys finding out about all the amazing things that surround us in our day-to-day lives and is blessed to be able to write about them to share with the whole world as a profession.