35 Photographers. One Title. The World Food Photography Awards Shortlist Is Here

Food photography is one of the most underrated forms of the medium. Food not only allows one to reconnect with the traditions of a place but also with multiple communities that shape it. In fact, food is one of the easiest ways to understand a culture that may be fading away. Food photographers, thus, are documentors of not just what is being served but also the way of life. The World Food Photography Awards, sponsored by Bimi®, is one platform that celebrates food in its myriad ways. Here’s a quick look at what the shortlisted photographers bring to the table.

The lead image is by Sebastian Kahnert, courtesy of World Food Photography Awards. All images are used with permission.

This year, the World Food Photography Awards received thousands of entries from across 50 countries, which was then presented to an international jury. The latter included jury chair and legendary food photographer David Loftus; alongside him were Chef, Restaurateur, Author, and TV Host Ian Kittichai; Professor and Photography Curator Dr. Deb Willis; Chef, Restaurateur, and Food Campaigner Jamie Oliver; and Senior Photographer & Photo Editor, World Food Programme, Rein Skullerud, amongst others.

The photos are competing in 27 categories, which range from images of harvest and farming to cooking, survival, and celebration. The overall winner and 27 category winners will also be revealed on June 2 at the competition’s Champagne Taittinger Awards Evening in London, hosted by renowned chef and food writer Gennaro Contaldo. The title winner will also win a £5,000 GBP (about $6,635) cash prize. Further, the works will be displayed in an exhibition, The Mall Galleries, London, running from June 3 to June 7. Let’s dive into the shortlist.

Louis Jadot Wine Photographer of the Year – People | Andrew Lincoln (USA)

Boom lights on quads illuminate vineyard rows and can create dramatic lighting with rich, warm colors. This tonal aesthetic has always appealed to Andrew. He wanted to gain a unique perspective of this Los Carneros harvest and used a drone to show the scene in its near entirety. The image is truly one of a kind, as it appears like a miniature world. Had the photo not been shot from a top angle, it wouldn’t have led to an effect like this.

World of Drinks | Orly Catz (USA)

A Smoked Old Fashioned. A dramatic, aromatic twist of the classic Old Fashioned dating back to the 1800s. This image presents the historic cocktail on a cracked vintage leather table, highlighting its traditional ingredients with a contemporary touch of wood-chip smoke​,​ creating a beautiful sensory​ and visual experience. The use of light from the side also results in a nice golden color of the drink, which, in some ways, appears like an elixir of life itself.

Bring Home the Harvest | Valery Rizzo (USA)

Urban farmers, carrying a raft board of lemongrass, return it to the deep water bed after harvesting. Oko Farms is an outdoor aquaponic farm in Brooklyn, New York. The image is reminiscent of a utopian world, one where the people of Brooklyn are in control of what they grow and consume. The photo is a hopeful one, as it’s set against the present background of why more masses need to take control of our world from industry giants for the better.

Food in the Field | Arun Saha (India)

With Mount Semeru rising in the background, villagers in East Java, Indonesia, rear goats as a vital food source. Goats provide nutritious meat and milk, supporting daily diets and festivals. Adapted to the volcanic terrain, they also offer steady income and food security for rural families. In many ways, this photo stands out purely for its timing. Had the volcano not risen, causing clouds of smoke, with the goat ahead raising its head in hope, the image would have fallen flat. Moreover, the placement of the child and the adult is also just at the right place, as neither disturbs the harmony of the image.

MPB Award for Innovation | Květa Trčková (Czeck)

Use your imagination and you will see things differently. The image is an example of that. The photographer creates a city scape with biscuits that is not short of calling art. The toy airplane, stuck on blue paper, only further helps to create a sense of surrealism but also realism. The photograph is part of the photographer’s long-term project of surreal still life.

Fortnum & Mason Food at the Table | Sue O’Connell (UK)

These are the newest recruits to a nunnery near Yangon, Myanmar. They are likely to be orphans or refugees from fighting in the country, but here they have found a place of refuge, security, and companionship. Sue’s image is truly a heart-touching photo. The devotion of the children is adorable, but when you know the context, you realize what a challenge their lives must be. But despite that, the moment they sit down to their food, they basically become one with their faith. After all, children are the most innocent beings. With the way it is framed, too, it guides our eyes to go all the way to the child at the end and, at the same time, compare the kids in green with those behind them, who are already dressed as monks. This also highlights their present and what their future may look like.

Here’s a quick look at the other shortlists: