Discover the Winners of AAP Magazine 56 Shadows

AAP Magazine is pleased to announce the 25 winners of AAP Magazine #56: Shadows, an international photography competition celebrating the creative power of light and shadow.

Photography has always been defined by light—its ability to reveal, shape, and transform what we see. Yet shadows are just as essential to the language of the medium. They add depth, mystery, rhythm, and emotion, turning ordinary scenes into compelling visual stories.

With its 56th edition, AAP Magazine invited photographers from around the world to explore the creative power of shadows and their ability to shape narrative, atmosphere, and composition. The goal was to celebrate images where shadows are not simply present, but essential—where they become a force of expression in their own right.

The 25 selected photographers—coming from 11 different countries across 4 continents—offer a remarkable diversity of interpretations. From bold graphic contrasts to subtle, poetic atmospheres, their work reveals how shadows can conceal, reveal, suggest, and transform. Spanning fine art, street photography, documentary, and minimalist approaches, the selected images demonstrate the many ways photographers use darkness to illuminate meaning.

Together, these works create a rich visual dialogue and remind us that shadows are far more than the absence of light—they are an essential part of how we experience photography.

Selecting the winners was no easy task, and we thank all photographers who shared their vision with us. The following 25 winning photographers each bring a unique perspective to this exploration of shadows in contemporary photography.

The Winner is Derry Ainsworth (United Kingdom) with the series 'Highs & Lows'

The Second Place Winner is Federico Borobio (Argentina) with the series 'Chronicles of Earthquake Street and Other Magical Alleys'

The Third Place Winner is Bernice Williams (United States) with the series 'Shadow Catching'

The other winners featured in the Merit Award's Gallery are:

Costas Delhas (Greece), Tom Zimberoff (United States), Jozef Macak (Slovakia), Manuel Besse (France), Matthew Garbutt (United Kingdom), Marika Poquet (France), Tommi Viitala (Finland), Rémy Pinaton (France), Giacomo Sannipoli (Italy), Alfredo Diano (Italy), Jens Hoffmann (Germany), Klaus Lenzen (Germany), Colin Page (United Kingdom), Hendrik Wolf (Germany), Ave Pildas (United States), Demetrio Jereissati (Brazil), Margo Ryan (United Kingdom), Wendy Stone (United States), Mary Kay Kirsner (United States), Ludovic Vievard (France), Sarah and Lucy Jenkins (Australia), Rupert Chambers (United States). Discover all the 25 winners here