Discover the Winners of AAP Magazine 57 Portrait

Portrait photography is far more than a mere physical record of a face. It is a profound artistic genre operating at the crossroads of technical mastery and raw human sensibility. While early portraiture in 1839 mimicked the stiff aesthetics of classical paintings for the upper class, modern portrait photography has evolved into a dynamic celebration of the subject. A truly great portrait captures a privileged, fleeting moment where alchemy happens, allowing the photographer to peer beneath the surface and capture the very personality of the subject.

In this newest edition of AAP Magazine, the selected winners beautifully showcase innovative, contemporary approaches to portraiture alongside striking, timeless traditional work. From intimate studio sessions to sensitive documentary approaches that capture fleeting raw emotions, these images go beyond the ordinary to express the full scope of photographic creativity. A powerful portrait can elicit a vast spectrum of responses—it can describe, reveal, embellish, question, or deeply unsettle.

While a portrait may have a thousand faces, we could only display a select few. We are absolutely delighted to reveal the 25 talented photographers from 12 different countries and four continents who won AAP Magazine #57: Portrait. Each artist shares a deeply personal narrative, reflecting a unique aesthetic and a distinct approach to the human form.

Discover the extraordinary global galleries and meet the visionaries shaping the future of portrait photography today.

The Winner is Kevin Smith (United States) with the series 'Characters, New York'

The Second Place Winner is Ian McFarlane (United States) with the series 'Of The South'

The Third Place Winner is Emily Neville Fisher (United States) with the series 'Natural Tendencies'

Discover all the winners here