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Guy Clears Out $30K of Debt On A $31K Salary, Claims It Was All Thanks To The “Avalanche Method”

Danielė Šidiškytė — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:58:11 +0000

People love to point out that education in Europe is affordable, that every citizen has the right to access it, and that, for most people, it’s simply a stepping stone to a better future… or so they say.

But that’s not quite the case in the United Kingdom, where tuition fees can reach £9,535 (~$12,500) per year, forcing many students to take out student loans through Student Finance to cover their studies. But one man took it even further, spending more money than he had until he hit a breaking point and turned his life around. This is his story.

Debts are one of the major adult life realities that everyone wants to avoid at all costs

jakeshuttleworth_ / Instagram

However, 31-year-old Jake Shuttleworth started amassing debt when he was just a student

Jake Shuttleworth / Tiktok

It all began when he was in university, and he suddenly maxxed out his overdraft

Jake Shuttleworth, a 31-year-old man from Newquay, Cornwall, explained to the media exactly how he overcame one of the biggest hurdles of his life: mounting debt. He said it began at university, when he maxed out the overdraft on his student bank account.

In the United Kingdom, many banks offer specialized student accounts with an arranged, interest-free overdraft of up to £3,000. This means Jake spent all the money in his account and then used the full overdraft facility, leaving him with a negative balance.

Jake Shuttleworth / Tiktok

He began going to concerts, festivals and trying to live a life he couldn’t afford by taking out loans

Alaur Rahman / Pexels (not the actual photo)

He ended up amassing £24,000 worth of debt before he was even 30 years old

kaboompics / Pexels (not the actual photo)

However, by the time he hit 29 years old, he realized he didn’t have any money saved

The man’s seemingly carefree lifestyle, however, didn’t end there. Hoping to gain life experience and figure himself out, Jake began splurging money he didn’t have by taking out loans. But his money wasn’t necessarily going toward physical or material possessions, either.

Instead, he spent it on concerts, festivals, and, of course, eventually started buying new iPhones and computers for his hobbies. Ultimately, he explained that the money didn’t feel real, and he began spending recklessly because it felt like a never-ending resource, so he paid immediately and forgot about it until later.

cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)

And that’s when he decided to change his life around using three major life rules

Elizabeth Zernetska / Pexels (not the actual photo)

For starters, the man implemented a strict monthly budgeting plan with a simple Excel spreadsheet

But Jake admitted that when he turned 29, he hit a crisis point. By then, he realized he had no savings or anything to show for the 10 years of work he’d done. By 2025, he had accumulated a mountain of debt, owing £24,000, which is roughly $31,662.

He eventually decided he had had enough and began planning for his future, determined to turn his life around. For starters, Jake created a monthly budget using an Excel spreadsheet. He listed all his “non-negotiables,” including bills, internet, and food. Every month, he copied the same strict budget and stuck to it religiously for a year.

Tiger Lily / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Later, he decided to get a second job that would help bring money into his finances, and eventually help with the debt

Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

With his two jobs, Jake was now bringing home a monthly salary of £2,500, but strict budgeting and a new job weren’t enough to reach his goals

Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels (not the actual photo)

He decided to implement the avalanche method into his plan

His second move was to get a second job. Jake admitted that his full-time job, combined with his side gig, brought his annual income to £26,000. He earned around £800 a month from the second job, bringing his total monthly income to approximately £2,500. Even so, that amount alone wouldn’t have been enough to pay off his debt as quickly as he did.

And this reality is more common than many of us might think. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), about 1.2 million to 1.35 million people in the UK have a second job, making up roughly 3.5% to 4% of the country’s workforce.

Azray Agilsyah / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

This repayment strategy prioritizes the payment of high interest rate debts first, and lowest interest rate last

Erik Mclean / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

With this method, paired with budgeting and a second job, Jake was able to pay off his debt in 18 months and still save money

Erik Mclean / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

But the man still believes that if financial education were more prioritized, he wouldn’t have reached rock bottom

But his third strategy made the biggest difference: the debt avalanche method. Jake used this repayment strategy to pay off his debts as quickly as possible. Financial experts explain that this method involves paying off debts by interest rate, starting with the highest and working down to the lowest, regardless of balance size.

This approach minimizes the total interest paid and can save borrowers more money in the long run, which is exactly what happened to Jake. By the time he was managing his loan, he was paying £700 a month on the highest-interest loan, which gave him an extra £700. But he also had debt that cost only £500 a month, so he paid that, leaving £200 to pay somewhere else.

Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

However, Jake also admitted that if he had had more financial education, he believed he wouldn’t have got into so much debt. Many campaigners, educators, and individuals have also blamed a lack of financial education for the debt young people accumulate early in life. In the UK, financial education only became compulsory in the school curriculum in 2014 after all.

However, many economists argue that structural pressures, such as high rents and inflation, also drive problematic debt in the UK, not financial illiteracy alone. Both factors can contribute to the problem, though. Ultimately, Jake’s story shows a financial struggle that many people may find difficult to relate to. But if you were in his shoes, Pandas, would you have done the same or handled things differently?

The “Avalanche method” has become quite popular these days – for instance, here’s it explained in details

@gagestsociety get rid of debt using the faster method #debtavalanche #personalfinance #moneytok #debtpayoff ♬ original sound – FRE 🪽 – Fre Greene 🪽

Some folks online praised Jake’s efforts, but many pointed out that living with parents isn’t an option for most of those with debts

If You Can Finish This 25-Question Millionaire Quiz, You’re Smarter Than Most Players

Raquel Teixeira — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:37:45 +0000

Think you have what it takes to walk away a millionaire?

Welcome to Part 7 of the ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ quiz! We’re extending the challenge: you’ll tackle 25 questions ranging from history and pop culture to science and general trivia.

Here’s the catch: questions start with just two choices, but the options multiply as you climb the ladder, capping out at five choices for the final $1,000,000 question. How far can you go?

🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to the Bored Panda Quizzes and explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀

Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.

Once Endangered, Now Vulnerable: A New Book Celebrates China’s Giant Panda Comeback (12 Pics)

Hidrėlėy — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:35:48 +0000

Giant pandas have been around for more than eight million years, and in that time they've gone from elusive mountain dwellers to one of the world's most important symbols of nature conservation. They've also perfected the art of looking adorable while doing almost nothing, which certainly hasn't hurt their popularity.

A new photography book, "Giant Panda: Portraits, Wild Habitats, and Untold Stories", sets out to show what lies behind that famous face. Compiled by China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration and published by ACC Art Books, the 280-page hardcover features more than 80 photographs, alongside texts drawn from interviews with experts, philanthropists, and international partners. Some of the images are pure joy, like a panda that has decided a woven bamboo toy makes a perfectly good hat. Others follow the animals into the wild mountain habitats they call home.

Ahead of the book's release on November 10, 2026, we've gathered a selection of its photos below.

More info: accartbooks.com

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A giant panda cub.

An entire chapter of the book is devoted to individual pandas and their personalities. Readers meet Dai Li, a three-legged panda whose life is a story of resilience, and the young panda Qiao Yi, whose rescue is told in the book and who is known as the "little fairy" of the giant panda world. There's also the story of how villagers in Foping came together to help save a young cub.

Then there's Tao Tao, born on August 3, 2010, the first cub ever delivered at a wild training base in Wolong without any help from humans. Raised in semi-wild conditions by his mother, Cao Cao, and trainers dressed in full panda costumes, he was released into the Liziping Nature Reserve on October 11, 2012, and is widely considered the first captive-born panda successfully returned to the wild.

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A three month old panda.

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A giant panda amuses itself by placing a bamboo-woven toy over its head.

The bigger story is the species' comeback. China's first national survey, carried out between 1974 and 1977, counted 2,459 wild pandas, but by the second survey, between 1985 and 1988, that number had dropped to 1,114. Decades of anti-poaching enforcement and expanding forest reserves turned things around, and the 2014 survey found 1,864 pandas in the wild, a rise of nearly 17% in ten years. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature moved the giant panda from "endangered" to "vulnerable," and Chinese authorities followed with their own reclassification in July 2021.

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Five-month-old panda cubs explore the nursery for the very first time.

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Yun Duo (Cloud)

Alongside the photographs, the book highlights the people behind that progress, from conservationists to international partners, and the difficult, painstaking work of returning pandas to the wild. It's a reminder that every one of these famous faces depends on a team of people determined to keep them thriving for generations to come.

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Across the vast river of time.

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Haoyue (Moon)

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Known as the little fairy of the giant panda world, Qiao Yi (Joey).

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Xiang Xiang (Flora). Born at Ueno Zoo in June 2017.

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Ya Jun (Grace)

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Yang Yang (Sunny) teaches her cub, Fu Long (Lucky Loong), how to eat bamboo.

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The second cub born to Ge Ge (Princess) in 2015.

Everyday Life Gets A Hilarious Twist In These 43 New Comics By Vaughan Tomlinson

Hidrėlėy — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:32:48 +0000

Sometimes, a single image is all it takes to turn an ordinary situation into something completely ridiculous. That's something cartoonist Vaughan Tomlinson has mastered with his clever, often absurd single-panel comics. Whether he's poking fun at everyday habits, imagining bizarre scenarios, or giving familiar situations an unexpected twist, his cartoons catch readers off guard with their humor. The cartoonist has previously told Bored Panda that inspiration can come from just about anywhere, often when he least expects it. Living in New York City has given him plenty of opportunities to encounter strange and amusing moments that eventually make their way into his drawings. He also keeps a notebook handy to jot down ideas before they disappear.

Originally from South Africa, Tomlinson has developed a distinctive style that combines sharp observations, playful wordplay, and a healthy dose of absurdity. His work has appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Times, and Reader's Digest. We've featured his work several times before, and today we're back with another collection of his entertaining creations. Beyond his individual cartoons, Tomlinson is also the creator of "Oddly Enough," a single-panel comic strip published on Comics Kingdom. Like his other work, the series embraces the unexpected, finding humor in familiar experiences and exploring how strange the world can become from a slightly different perspective.

Scroll down to enjoy Tomlinson's latest comics, upvote your favorites, and let us know in the comments which ones made you laugh the most!

More info: Instagram

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Guy Books A Hotel Room With His Mistress, Forgets His Wife Can See The Bill And Blames The Staff

Monika Pašukonytė — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:12:45 +0000

It’s funny how entitled people go to any lengths to save their own skin, even when they are at fault. They love playing the blame game, holding everyone else accountable but themselves. That’s probably why it feels so satisfying when life pushes back against them.

One woman came across such an entitled man and vented about him online. She was working at the front desk of a hotel when he raged at her for charging his card. He accused her of “ruining his marriage,” as his wife would find out he was there with his mistress. Scroll down to learn how he made a fool of himself!

Watching life teach entitled cheaters a lesson is oddly satisfying

magnific / Magnific (not the actual photo)

This front desk worker had a cheater accusing her of “ruining his marriage” as the hotel charged his card, which would expose him

magnific / Magnififc (not the actual photo)

shotprime / Envato (not the actual photo)

rawpixel.com / Magnific (not the actual photo)

u/FinancialElephant5

Cheaters often play the blame game when their actions are exposed

The whole concept of cheating is extremely strange and beyond my comprehension. People have the option of breaking up instead of complicating things for their partners. But some folks just want to have the best of both worlds. And if they really want to cheat, they will find any way possible to do it. That’s why they choose discreet places where they can get away with it.

According to Delta 74 Private Investigations, hotels are among the most common places where affairs take place. They claim that if you were to sit and work in a hotel lobby or reception area on any day of the week, you would likely see an affair happening right in front of your eyes. When they choose these locations, they sometimes get away with it. But when they are caught, it can be quite enjoyable to watch them trying to save themselves.

Dr. Rob Weiss, a mental health professional, talks about how they try to justify their actions in his book Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating. He lists seven common behaviors cheaters sometimes engage in after their infidelity is uncovered that make the situation worse rather than better. One is blaming someone or something other than themselves for the cheating.

“Unfortunately, this tendency toward externalizing blame typically continues even after their infidelity is discovered. In the heat of the moment, cheaters tend to forget that the choice to cheat was theirs and theirs alone,” he explains. Well, dealing with an exposed cheater already sounds like a hassle. It can get even more insufferable if the person caught is extremely entitled.

Itzshubobd / Magnific (not the actual photo)

Hospitality workers can face mental health challenges due to such customers

The way the man accused the poster of his mistake was very telling about what his wife would face if she found out about his affair. Honestly, I shudder to think about what she might have to go through. Also, his disrespect, shouting at the author, and demanding a refund clearly showed his sense of entitlement.

Experts at Verywell Mind emphasize that such people have a self-absorbed view of the world and little regard or empathy for their impact on others. They also make high demands and act melodramatically when people refuse to give in to them. That sounds exactly like the guy in the story, doesn’t it?

Moreover, experts stress that entitled people often act like victims and blame other people or outside forces for their problems. Someone with this attitude also believes the world owes them and that others are responsible for making their lives better. No wonder he lashed out at the author, but netizens cheered her on for the way she handled it.

Working the front desk at a hotel is not easy. I mean, they deal with all kinds of people, their weird demands and tantrums, every day. Research highlights that “the pressures faced by hospitality workers are unique. Long hours, demanding customers, and the need for efficiency contribute to a high-stress environment.”

As though she didn’t have enough troubles, the last thing the author needed was an entitled cheater yelling at her in the morning. It must have been a sight to see when he realized that he made a fool of himself in front of so many people. Don’t you agree? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Also, here’s another dramatic tale of a cheater that you can check out.

The poster responded to netizens and provided more details about the situation

Plus-Size Model Who Gained Fame Because She Couldn’t Fit In Plane Seats Reignites Controversy With Earthquake Photos

Rocio Corsi — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:18:14 +0000

Gracie Bon insisted she was trying to help victims of the recent Panama earthquake, but the internet wasn’t buying her explanation.

The influencer was criticized for seemingly turning the devastating disaster into a photo-op and trying to gain extra sympathy from her 11.9 million followers on Instagram.

Her pictures made netizens question why she couldn’t raise awareness about the disaster without making herself the center of attention.

Gracie Bon sparked outrage after posing in front of earthquake-damaged homes in Panama

graciebon/Instagram

After last week’s massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake razed hundreds of homes the ground, Gracie Bon shared pictures of herself in front of the ruins.

Wearing a pair of blue jeans and a white crop top, the influencer was seen posing in front of the wreckage.

“The reality of my country after the earthquake,” she wrote in the caption.

graciebon/Instagram

“We have to remember that the material is recovered, but life is priceless,” the caption continued. “Live the present, be grateful for what we have and extend help to those who need it today.”

Her post drew immense backlash from viewers who felt she was being wildly inappropriate, turning people’s tragedies into an opportunity to increase her social clout.

“Seriously. Was it necessary to pose?” asked one viewer.

“I can’t believe she actually asked someone to take pictures of her in front of someone’s destroyed house,” one commented online

graciebon.xl/TikTok

Another wrote, “I would never take a picture in the middle of a tragedy, people and their stuff.”

“‘How do I make this about me?’ What a need to go out posing in the middle of a disaster,” read another comment.

One said, “Momma, don’t you understand that for the message to get through, you don’t need to be in the picture?”

graciebon.xl/TikTok

The model later shared a follow-up post, in which she insisted she was trying to raise awareness about the situation in her country.

“I decided to appear in my photos because I want people to make donations and if I appear in my photos they have a better reach on MY NETWORKS than if I put the images alone,” Gracie said in her defense.

The influencer said she wanted to encourage people to make donations to the affected families and knew that pictures with her would have a “better reach.”

“I’m not in a photoshoot or posing, I’m telling y’all ‘Look, this is how Panama really is,’” she said. “But you have a damaged heart that prefers to insult and not help the cause.”

The content creator later shared an update insisting she was trying to raise awareness

graciebon/Instagram

Gracie asked her haters: “If I hadn’t been in the picture, would it be okay? The [more important] question is: What is everyone doing to contribute?”

She also revealed that she was donating money for the reconstruction efforts in her country.

Earlier the same day, the content creator shared footage of herself inside what appeared to be a massive store.

She was seen acquiring supplies, including cases of water bottles and bags of rice, to donate to victims.

Gracie said photos with her included were likely to gain better reach

graciebon/Instagram

The influencer was also seen visiting victims in affected areas and handing supplies to them.

“Panama needs us,” she wrote in the caption.

She said some people were “fortunate” to be in the safety of their homes today, while others lost almost everything to their name and don’t know where they might be sleeping at night.

“Today I bring a grain of [rice], what to us is little, to someone else it may mean so much,” she added.

graciebon/Instagram

As she raised awareness about how people could help, Gracie included addresses where people could drop off food, water, diapers, hygiene products, and other basic necessities to donate to victims.

“Tomorrow you will forget about my photo, but that family will remain without a home,” she said in one video addressing the backlash over her photos.

27 people were injured and nearly 900 homes were damaged in the Panama earthquake

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GRACIE BON (@graciebon)

No lives were lost in the recent earthquake that hit Panama, but at least 27 people sustained injuries.

Nearly 900 homes suffered damage, while several buildings collapsed and roads were split during the disaster.

The presidential minister, Juan Carlos Orillac, said the earthquake left homes, schools, healthcare facilities, roads, and hotels destroyed.

“It was a terrible thing,” a resident named Tony Jiménez, whose home partially collapsed, told The Guardian.

“I can tell you with absolute certainty that in my 90 years, I had never experienced anything like it,” he added. “It was intense – truly intense.”

“People are mean. She’s helping,” one commented online

www.facebook.com

Family Of Man Who Tragically Entered Tiger Enclosure Breaks Silence After Trump’s Scandalous Video

Lei RV — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:06:02 +0000

Donald Trump’s fascination with AI-generated content has drawn criticism in recent months for depicting himself as Jesus, Atlas, and the Pope, but none of those instances turned MAGA supporters against him.

That changed on Tuesday, October 13, when the US president shared a fabricated video showing himself tackling a tiger, leading many to believe it was mocking William Chapman, a 23-year-old British man who lost his life after being attacked by a big cat over the weekend.

“I voted for you but not for this. Why is no one advising him against such theatrics?” one person asked.

As backlash mounted over the perceived insensitivity of the clip, Chapman’s family also spoke out, urging those sharing what they described as “deeply offensive media” to refrain from doing so.

Family of man mauled by tiger breaks silence after Trump shares AI video depicting himself with the animal

Maghan Mags/Facebook

The video Trump posted on social media showed a lush green lawn resembling the setting where Chapman confronted the endangered Siberian tiger, Altai, after entering the restricted enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster on October 10.

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The president was seen on the ground, wagging his finger at the predator before chasing after it.

He then appeared to overpower the animal and bring it to the ground before flashing a toothy smile at the camera.

The song The Lion Sleeps Tonight played in the background.

The White House

Mere minutes after the upload, Chapman’s family said in a statement, “The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time.”

“We ask people to stop doing this,” they added.

TrumpTruthOnX

Inexplicably, Trump’s AI-generated clip came after he shared the original footage of Chapman’s encounter with the tiger, captioned “Don’t ever mess with nature.”

William Chapman’s family also addressed rumors about his mental health in their statement

TrumpTruthOnX

Chapman’s actions at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park involved more than simply breaching the tiger enclosure.

According to eyewitnesses, he was seen dancing “erratically” and appeared to be “in a trance, not in reality at all” before taking the fatal step.

This caused Reddit users to speculate that he was “neurodivergent” or “autistic.”

WhiddonLeann

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While Chapman’s family neither confirmed nor denied these claims, they told the press that he “suffered from significant mental illness” and had consequently been “prescribed strong medication.”

New media post from Donald J. Trump

( TS: Oct 13 2026, 11:17 PM ET )‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌ pic.twitter.com/lkyx2bHihJ

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 14, 2026

“The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their utmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did,” they added.

Elsewhere in their statement, they remembered Chapman as “a bright, warm and engaging young man” who was “dearly loved.”

A woman with two children reportedly tried to stop Chapman from entering the tiger habitat

Maghan Mags/Facebook

Scarlet Hogan, a pharmacy worker, was visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park with her partner, Anthony Hunt, when the incident occurred.

The couple, in a Sunday interview with The Telegraph, said Chapman asked a woman to take his picture alongside the tiger, and she agreed to help.

However, they soon saw the woman trying to pull him back as he tried to climb over the barrier around the tiger.

JennMGreenberg

lisadseye

Despite her efforts, he “overpowered her and jumped off.”

“She seemed really frightened,” Hunt recalled. “We spoke to her after, and she was like, ‘I tried to pull him back,’ but I guess she didn’t want to risk her own life as well.”

Animal rangers at the park discharged firearms at the ground in an attempt to deter the tiger, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Chapman was pronounced deceased at the scene when emergency medical personnel arrived.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park officials confirmed Altai’s fate following the fatal attack

The White House

Chapman’s encounter with Altai sparked widespread debate online.

While many blamed him for what happened, others argued that park authorities should have “fired at the tiger to save him.”

On October 11, Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed that Altai was “safe and well” and would not be euthanized.

Maghan Mags/Facebook

Charlotte Pywell, who worked at the park, welcomed the decision.

“I don’t know who the guy was or what made him jump. It was not the tiger’s fault at all. It was something else to play with,” she said.

Doncaster City Council has ordered a health and safety investigation into the incident under statutory regulations.

“It’s awful that the video was shared,” a netizen said

Here Are The Best 70 Pics Of 2026, As Shared By Siena International Photo Awards

Gabriela Zagorska — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:43:30 +0000

Every year, photographers worldwide capture moments that make us see the world a little differently. The Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) brings together photographers from different countries and backgrounds, celebrating outstanding images selected by an international jury of photographers and photo editors.

The winners of the 2026 competition are here, and we've gathered some of the remarkable photographs that caught the judges' attention. This year, the competition recognized outstanding work across 10 categories, covering everything from travel and nature to wildlife, street photography, sports, fascinating faces and characters, storytelling, documentary and photojournalism, underwater life, and short documentary films.

Scroll down to check them out, and let us know which picture you think has the biggest impact and impresses you the most!

More info: sienawards.com | Instagram | Facebook | x.com | youtube.com

#1 Animals In Their Environment, 1st Classified: Power Play By Kevin Shi

A moment of intense tension as a female puma attempts to capture a guanaco. For days, Kevin had been following the predator, a mother of two cubs who depended on her for food. At dawn, after observing the guanaco for a long time, the puma cautiously approaches and launches her attack, repeatedly trying to pull it down and bite into its neck to suffocate it. Despite the intensity of the struggle, the guanaco ultimately manages to escape.

#2 The Beauty Of Nature, 1st Classified: A Powerful Onset By Marco Di Marco

Eruptions of the Svartsengi volcanic system initially unfold in a rapid and powerful way: within minutes, the ground tears open, forming fissures up to one kilometer long, from which lava emerges violently, creating high lava fountains and incandescent flows. At Sundhnúkagígar, during the November 20, 2024 event, the winter night was lit by an orange glow as activity progressively concentrated into a few eruptive vents.

#3 Documentary & Photojournalism, Highly Commended: Morning In A Burned Valley By Pinu Rahman

Early in the morning, after a devastating fire swept through the Korail slum near Dhaka’s Mohakhali-Gulshan area, a family rests beneath the open sky, surrounded by the charred remains of their own home, reduced to rubble by the blaze of the previous night.

#4 Documentary & Photojournalism, 1st Classified: Tender Humanity By Carol Guzy

In a rare and poignant moment of tender humanity, a security guard breaks down in tears while witnessing the devastating heartbreak of a distraught migrant family, moments after the woman's husband was unexpectedly detained by ICE during his immigration court hearing, in New York on August 20, 2025. Such scenes have become increasingly common as many find themselves caught up in the intensified mass deportation campaign.

#5 Animals In Their Environment, 2nd Classified: Highlands By Marco Gaiotti

A gelada (Theropithecus gelada) perches on a rock in the Ethiopian highlands at sunset. Endemic to Ethiopia, this primate—also known as the 'bleeding-heart baboon' for the distinctive reddish patch on the chest of males, a sign of health and dominance—is the only primate in the world that feeds almost exclusively on grass, which it selects with agile, precise fingers. It spends the nights clinging to rocky ledges along steep escarpments, where the altitude and steep walls protect it from predators. In the background, amid threatening clouds, the jagged peaks of the Simien Mountains rise, a volcanic massif in northern Ethiopia with deep gorges and spectacular basalt cliffs. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they host the world’s largest concentration of geladas and other endemic species in a high-altitude ecosystem often above 3,000 meters.

#6 Photo Of The Year: Amina By Stefano Rosselli

Amina, an Afghan girl, perfectly embodies the condition of Afghan women: a life spent in the shadows, confined within the walls of her home, her eyes struggling to glimpse a future that, for now, remains steeped in darkness. In any other corner of the globe, the right to fight for a better life exists, but this is not the case for Afghan women, who are deprived of the right to work and their independence—the only weapons to change their destiny. In Afghanistan, moreover, there is not a single day of respite; it is a vortex of emotions that overwhelms you at every turn. Entering the homes of those who have lost everything reveals a chorus of identical stories: families where the death or disappearance of men has left an unfillable void, silencing all hope. They are all defined by the sad awareness that a happy ending will probably never be written by anyone.

#7 Underwater Life, 2nd Classified: Shark Portal By Linda Ness

During the annual Sardine Run off the Transkei Coast of South Africa, Linda spent three days freediving amidst massive shoals of sardines trapped against a headland. She descended into an almost surreal underwater world—a parallel universe where sharks swirled, appearing and disappearing into the blue. Among them, a massive dusky shark, an apex predator, moved effortlessly within the bait ball during this extraordinary migratory spectacle. In that presence, an unexpected sense of calm could be felt. While the impact on the oceans caused by human activity is now widely documented, Linda has chosen instead to reveal its pristine beauty, creating images that invite a profound sense of wonder.

#8 Documentary & Photojournalism, Commended: A Lifeline In The Rubble By Ali Jadallah

For two years, life in Gaza has been defined by bombardment, displacement, and hunger. Tens of thousands have died, and nearly the entire population has been driven from their homes. With aid blocked and infrastructure destroyed, starvation has become part of the war itself.

#9 The Beauty Of Nature, Commended: Humpback's Ice-Flower By Roie Galitz

A humpback whale (Megaptera, from Ancient Greek for "giant wing") surfaces to breathe after diving deep for krill, breaking the water at the heart of a flower-shaped opening in the sea ice. From above, the dark water and scattered floes frame its glowing pectoral fins, in a fleeting moment where art and nature become one.

#10 Journeys & Adventures, Commended: Wild Traffic By Shailza Singhal

On the dry lakebed of Amboseli, this playful frame makes it look as if the elephant is about to give the jeep a mighty kick—while the little calf trails behind, watching curiously. A fun illusion, yes, but also a gentle reminder that this shared terrain exists in a delicate balance.

#11 Journeys & Adventures, 1st Classified: Mothers By Amir Hossein Kamali

The end of the holy month of Ramadan, a profound spiritual journey, is marked by the communal Eid al-Fitr prayer—a unified call to a fresh beginning. For Muslims, it is a day when faith is renewed, and the diverse expressions of global Islam paint the world with unique local colors, traditions, and scents. The presence of a new generation, a child among the rows of women, highlights the theme of a fresh start.

#12 Underwater Life, Highly Commended: Back To Fishing By Romain Barats

A group of Gentoo penguins speeds through the icy waters of the Antarctic summer at Port Charcot. At this time of year, penguins rapidly build colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula, finding in this sheltered bay—surrounded by mountains and icebergs—an ideal refuge. Romain and his companions anchored their sailboat for three days near the colony. Every day they immersed themselves in the freezing waters to observe these incredibly curious birds, which repeatedly approached to investigate their presence. During a freediving session, a vast group of penguins suddenly passed above him, diving in unison to feed on krill. Clumsy on land, in water they transform into fast and perfectly agile swimmers. In just moments, Romain found himself surrounded by over 200 individuals, immersed in the midst of their frenzied activity.

#13 Street Photography, Highly Commended: The Trousers Man By Gianpaolo La Paglia

Amidst the alleys of Varanasi, where the rhythm of life flows fast, a local worker rests among rows of trousers drying in the sun. This moment of profound peace transforms reality into a living pattern: the man's body merges with the expanse of fabrics, becoming an integral part of their texture.

#14 The Beauty Of Nature, Commended: Joining The Crowd By Kevin Lohman

Two tightly packed clusters of Western monarch butterflies rested on branches that hung close together in the forest. Small bursts of orange showed through their wings as a single butterfly approached one cluster, easing in as though preparing to join the crowd.

#15 The Beauty Of Nature, Highly Commended: Cluster Of Hope By Vinodh Venugopal

During the monsoon season in the Western Ghats, Vinodh found a clutch of bush frog eggs on the moss of a large tree. This species is characterized by direct development: these frogs skip the tadpole stage, and young froglets emerge directly from the eggs.

#16 Journeys & Adventures, Commended: In One Line By Ammar Alamir

The image captures thousands of worshippers dressed in white ihram garments, all facing the same direction. Despite differences in races, colors, and backgrounds, the scene becomes unified in a single movement and a single line, where human diversity dissolves into visual harmony.

#17 Journeys & Adventures, Highly Commended: Weightless Morning By Thibault Gerbaldi

In rural Bali, children grow up among rice paddies and jungle. Kites occupy a central place in village life, as they are symbols of prosperity and spiritual connections to the gods. They serve as ritual tools to communicate with the divine, acting as a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual realm. Their tradition is passed down from father to son, with boys learning from a very young age the craft of shaping bamboo, sewing silk, and assembling lightweight frames. Built collectively and flown during the dry season, they reflect agricultural rhythms and family traditions. On a quiet path, a boy leaps into the morning light to catch his homemade kite. Far from screens and traffic, his play reflects a slower rhythm of life—immersed in nature, creativity, and joy. In these still corners of the world, time stretches differently.

#18 Journeys & Adventures, Highly Commended: Pickering Hotel 4 By Chin Leong Teo

The Parkroyal Collection Pickering Hotel feels like a lush vertical garden in the heart of Singapore. Its swimming pool is framed by sky-gardens and cabanas that offer a serene retreat, creating a verdant architecture that contrasts dramatically with the hectic streets below.

#19 Underwater Life, 3rd Classified: Mating Mandarin Fish By Luc Rooman

In December 2025, Luc spent two weeks in the Lembeh Strait, exploring its volcanic seabed to document the underwater microcosm. During a dusk dive, he focused on the elusive mandarinfish, a species renowned for its extraordinary and fleeting twilight mating ritual. These small, vividly coloured fish emerge from the coral in pairs, briefly rising into the water column to complete reproduction, before vanishing in a fraction of a second. After countless attempts and patient waiting, Luc managed to capture the exact moment of the nuptial ascent, immortalizing the chromatic harmony and fragility of this brief instant.

#20 Street Photography, Highly Commended: Good Bye Francisco By Yuri Cortez

A church worker carries a portrait of Pope Francis during a memorial mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in the Zócalo, on April 21, 2025. On the same day, Pope Francis died at the age of 88, a day after making a much-anticipated appearance in Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday.

#21 Street Photography, Highly Commended: Varanasi Streets By Arianna Speranza

A merchant rests in his shop near the cremation ghat, where small businesses remain open day and night. A rooster wanders among packaged goods while the turquoise wall frames the scene in which daily commerce and sacred rituals coexist along the streets above the Ganges ghats.

#22 Street Photography, 3rd Classified: A Family Affair By Paul Mckenzie

In the densely populated Wah Fu housing complex, worn by time and life, and home to an economically disadvantaged working-class community, a father plays with his child as the mother casually walks into the frame, like an unexpected apparition in an intimate fragment of daily life. The scene highlights the contrast between the mother’s perceived glamour and her humble surroundings: as the child bends down to pick up a toy, only the mother’s leg and a foot in an eccentric golden high heel are visible. The father remains just outside the frame, present only through his shadow playing with the child.

#23 Sports In Action, Commended: Barrelled By Ben Thouard

Taken in Teahupo'o, from underwater, in the morning light. With the right timing and conditions, you can see the surfer passing through the barrel, and the whole scene is mesmerizing thanks to the water's clarity.

#24 Sports In Action, Highly Commended: Touching The Star By Roman Vondrouš

Jockey Ondřej Velek and his horse Star salute the spectators after the qualifying race of the legendary Velká Pardubická steeplechase, held in Pardubice, Czech Republic, on September 6, 2025—a moment of shared respect and joy between rider, horse, and crowd.

#25 Animals In Their Environment, 3rd Classified: Sleeping Beauty By Felix Belloin

From a ship deep within the Arctic pack ice north of Svalbard, in the summer of 2025, a tuft of fur emerging from a distant ice wall catches Felix’s attention. In this remote polar environment, where sea ice thins each summer due to rising temperatures, encounters with wildlife are increasingly rare and unpredictable. Driven by curiosity, he launches his drone and approached slowly. As the distance narrowed, the scene gradually revealed itself: a polar bear (Ursus maritimus, an apex predator dependent on sea ice for hunting seals) in a deep sleep, its body curled within a crack beside an extraordinary formation of glacial ice of an intense and almost unreal shade of blue. Felix keeps the drone high, careful not to break the spell of the moment or disturb the bear’s peaceful rest. Then, with the same gentleness with which he had arrived, he withdrew, leaving the bear to its dreams, alone in the frozen realm it calls home.

#26 The Beauty Of Nature, Highly Commended: Bubble Kingdom By Filippo Carugati

In summer, the Fino River in Abruzzo is almost dry, with only a few puddles surviving the midday heat. A zenithal perspective frames a common green frog (Pelophylax esculentus) surrounded by shimmering green bubbles among filamentous algae floating along the water’s edge.

#27 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Commended: Lord Of The Butterflies By Thomas Nicolon

Ngoma Aimé Désiré, the village chief of Legue-Malen, poses for a portrait on the banks of the Dja River in southeastern Cameroon. In rural areas, traditional authorities often hold more legitimacy than state representatives, and his leopard-skin hat is a symbol of power and status.

#28 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Commended: The Nomads Of Ladakh By Wasim Malik

Yangdol lives in the remote Changthang region of Ladakh, where nomadic families depend on their herds for survival. In this frozen, wind-shaped land, her daily life is a balance of tradition, resilience, and responsibility. Her presence reflects the courage of those who call this plateau home.

#29 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Highly Commended: The Performers By Vikas Nama

Two Indian performers are captured as they prepare for their performance, in a moment suspended between the theatrical and the intimate. Their painted faces, styled hair, and carefully arranged costumes trace the passage between identity and the characters they are about to embody, where the mask conceals as much as it reveals, and the persona merges with the soul. The image intensifies this tension through contrast: on the left, a composed, everyday gesture suggests concentration and preparation; on the right, the body opens into theatrical abandonment, already beyond itself, tracing the fragile boundary between representation and identity. Moving through light and shadow, presence and absence, it reveals a delicate balance: the precise moment when art, ritual, and human vulnerability intersect, reminding us that every act of expression carries within it both survival and loss.

#30 Fascinating Faces And Characters, 3rd Classified: Ulrika's Second Life By Pekka Ala-Pietilä

On 4 November 2008, Ulrika’s life changed forever when a Learjet 45 crashed next to her in Mexico. In a matter of seconds, an ordinary moment turned into a devastating accident. The explosion and intense heat left her with severe burn injuries: forty percent of her skin was badly burned, including her face. What followed was a long and painful journey. Ulrika had to undergo extensive medical treatment and endure months of recovery, both physically and emotionally. The road back to everyday life was difficult and often uncertain, requiring immense courage and determination. Yet, despite the trauma and the challenges she faced, Ulrika gradually found the strength to move forward. Step by step, she moved on with her life, drawing on a deep resilience that allowed her not only to survive the tragedy, but also to live with renewed hope and purpose.

#31 Street Photography, Highly Commended: The Custodian By Enrica Ridolfi

Inside San Francisco's Coit Tower, the walls are entirely covered with murals from 1934 that illustrate the city's history. Here, a custodian seated in a small booth seems to be part of the paintings, blending seamlessly into the artwork.

#32 Street Photography, Commended: Skaters By Luca Menotti

At MACBA in Barcelona, one skater rests while the other shows off his tricks. The tent adds to the narrative of a legendary spot where skaters from all over the world come to experience the culture firsthand.

#33 Under 20, 3rd Classified: The Flautist By David-Leonardo Antal

With his enchanting melody, the flautist leads the group of bear-costumed people around him, setting the pace and guiding their movements. Known as 'Jocul Ursului' (the Bear Dance), this traditional Romanian custom is performed every year between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Once considered a sacred animal deeply connected to the rhythms of nature—hibernating through winter and awakening in spring—the bear was believed to hold the power to defeat the cold season and herald renewal. Men, women and children disguised as bears with red tassels mimic the movements of the animal in a captivating ritual meant to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity in the year to come, as they bring back to life the spirit of the bears whose skins they wear.

#34 Documentary & Photojournalism, 2nd Classified: Whirling Against Pepper Spray By Umit Bektas

During a protest in Istanbul on March 23, 2025, which erupted following the arrest of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, police officers use pepper spray against a demonstrator dressed in traditional dervish attire, an incident that became a symbol of the heightened tensions surrounding the entire nation. İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure and vocal critic of the ruling government, has long been considered an emblem of democratic reform in the country. Detained on March 19, 2025, he was arrested a few days later: his arrest sparked outrage among his supporters and triggered a wave of protests across Turkey. In numerous cities, demonstrations were organized, calling for his immediate release, while tensions escalated further due to clashes between police and protesters.

#35 Sports In Action, 2nd Classified: The Dark Knight By Ben Thouard

A rare and fleeting alignment unfolds beneath the surface in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia. Captured from underwater, the surfer becomes a dark silhouette gliding along the wave’s face, framed by a luminous ribbon of light slicing through the water. The slow shutter speed softens the chaos above into a celestial texture, while the perfect alignment of wave and surfer, combined with the reflection of light, transforms the wave itself into a sculptural, dreamlike form. Suspended between motion and stillness, the scene reveals the duality of the ocean: both powerful and serene. In this instant, light, water, and human presence merge into a single, timeless vision, creating an almost surreal composition.

#36 Sports In Action, 1st Classified: Jumping Javelineer By Dean Mouhtaropoulos

Para‑athlete Guillermo Varona González of Team Cuba prepares to compete in the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 Final on day three of the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, on September 29, 2025. The F46 class features standing athletes with upper limb impairments, who adapt their technique to throw the javelin for maximum distance. Varona secured the bronze medal with a throw of 63.34 meters.

#37 The Beauty Of Nature, Highly Commended: Spiderlings By Georgina Steytler

Newly hatched spiderlings gather in a delicate web in Darwin, Northern Territory, shortly after emerging from their egg sac. At this early stage of life, the tiny spiders cluster together before dispersing to begin their independent journeys. Georgina chose to photograph the scene toward the rising sun to emphasize the fragile, translucent quality of the spiderlings’ bodies. The backlighting also revealed subtle iridescent colors shimmering along the silk threads of the web. Using a shallow depth of field, Georgina isolated the small group of spiderlings against the luminous background, creating a soft, ethereal atmosphere that highlights both their vulnerability and the intricate beauty of the web.

#38 The Beauty Of Nature, 3rd Classified: The Sporologist By Benjamin Pawlica

The reproduction of the pear-shaped puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme), a saprophytic fungus with a distinctive pear-shaped form, takes place under the silent gaze of a small woodland snail slowly climbing across its surface. The puffball relies on the dispersal of spores produced inside the gleba which, when mature, are released through a small apical pore. When the fruiting body is stimulated by external factors such as rain or the passage of animals, the spores are expelled in a thin cloud, resembling smoke, which is carried by the wind, ensuring the continuity of the species’ life cycle. At the right moment, Benjamin gently shook the branches above, releasing raindrops trapped among the leaves. The first drop strikes the fungus, triggering a cloud of spores, while a second is caught in mid-air.

#39 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Commended: Carrying The Sacred By Bartlomiej Rubik

Women from Escuela de Cristo brotherhood walk together during a Holy Saturday procession in Antigua, Guatemala, carrying a platform with the statue of the Virgin of Sorrows. The ritual becomes not only an act of penitence, but also a time of reflection, shared faith and remembrance of the ancestors.

#40 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Commended: Farewell To Pope Francis By Francesco Monteforte

Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience in the San Damaso courtyard in Vatican City on September 30, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

#41 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Highly Commended: Behind The Veil By Alessandro Bergamini

Along a road in Gujarat, a young woman briefly lifts her veil after receiving permission from a nearby man. The gesture is fleeting, yet in that instant, hesitation, trust, and presence converge, revealing the quiet tension between tradition, personal space, and the act of being photographed.

#42 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Highly Commended: The Barefoot Volcanologist By Elle Leontiev

On the ash plains of Mount Yasur, on the remote Pacific island of Tanna, Vanuatu, Phillip stands barefoot atop a volcanic rock bomb. Wearing a lava-protection suit donated by visiting scientists, the volcano smoulders behind him, sending plumes of gas and sulfur into the sky. Born and raised at the base of Mount Yasur, Phillip has spent years studying and monitoring the volcano. He trained with French volcanologist Thomas Boyer, but due to limited access to education and the high cost of tuition, he has no formal qualifications. Despite this, Phillip is now internationally recognized as a self-taught volcanologist and has progressively played an important role locally, serving as a knowledgeable observer of Yasur and as a bridge between the volcano, visiting scientists, and the communities of Tanna. He often guides researchers and tourists up the volcano—always barefoot, as he has been since childhood. This portrait captures Phillip in his element, embodying both courage and a deep familiarity with one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

#43 Journeys & Adventures, Highly Commended: After The Rain By Alessandro Bergamini

After a heavy rainfall in the high Andean plateaus of Peru, a Q’ero family observes their flooded tuber fields. Water and moss reshape the landscape, revealing the fragile balance between tradition, environment, and resilience that defines everyday life in these remote communities.

#44 Journeys & Adventures, Highly Commended: Immersed In Color By Tittu Shaji Thomas

Holi, the festival of rebirth in northern India, is more than a celebration of colors—it is a sensory journey. Among thousands of people, a living storm of color and motion takes over. As colored powder fills the air, individual boundaries dissolve into rhythm, faith, and collective joy.

#45 Underwater Life, Highly Commended: Expectant Parents By Mark Chang

Two whip coral gobies share a tender embrace while guarding their maturing eggs. These tiny fish—barely 3.5 centimeters long—are known to form monogamous pairs and to be remarkably dedicated parents, carefully tending their clutch until the eggs hatch. What makes this species even more extraordinary is its ability to change sex in response to specific social cues, ensuring the pair bond is always maintained. This rare scene—where fish appear to be showing real emotion—was captured in an extreme macro shot in which the entire frame is only about an inch wide, a reminder that some of the ocean's most intimate moments play out in a miniature world.

#46 Underwater Life, 1st Classified: Commotion In The Ocean By Nur Tucker

A chaotic underwater struggle unfolds as northern gannets compete fiercely for discarded fish. What begins as a frantic aerial dive quickly transforms beneath the waves into a violent battle for survival. This intense feeding frenzy exposes the unseen consequences of human fishing activity—an artificial abundance that distorts natural behavior, pushing these seabirds into dangerous and exhausting competition.

#47 Documentary & Photojournalism, Highly Commended: Explosion Over Gaza By Ali Jadallah

Amid the devastation in Gaza, civilians flee through streets shattered by airstrikes as explosions tear through residential buildings. Years of conflict have turned everyday life into a struggle for survival, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and families forced to seek refuge elsewhere.

#48 Documentary & Photojournalism, 3rd Classified: Breaking Fast In The Rubble During Ramadan By Saher Alghorra

On March 4, 2025, during the holy month of Ramadan, Palestinian Tamer Hassan El Shafei breaks his fast with his wife and children inside the remains of their almost completely destroyed home in Beit Lahia, Gaza. Seated around a small table in a partially collapsed room, the family shares a simple evening meal surrounded by the rubble and debris that stretch across the devastated neighborhood. The background, with its ruins and dusty roads, highlights the scale of destruction that Palestinians are still experiencing. The family, attempting to preserve a sense of normality despite the devastation around them, embodies resilience and strength.

#49 Sports In Action, Commended: Serve In The Spotlight By Tingshu Wang

Coco Gauff of the United States unleashes a serve during her fourth‑round clash with Switzerland's Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 19, 2025. The sun splits the court into shadow and glow, turning the scene theatrical, as if Gauff were serving from a spotlight.

#50 The Beauty Of Nature, Commended: A Carpet Of Shimmering Light In The Forest By Shirley Wung

The glow of every firefly signals ecological balance, shaped by thriving forests and conserved watersheds. Preserving this balance means preventing deforestation, sustaining soil and water systems, reducing pollution—while minimizing artificial light and embracing coexistence over exploitation.

#51 The Beauty Of Nature, Commended: Underwater Garden By Ysabela Coll

From the darkness of the cenote cave, an underwater garden comes to life with colorful water lilies and tiny fish. The sudden contrast transforms the scene into a dreamlike world, where light, color, and life replace the silence of the cave.

#52 The Beauty Of Nature, Commended: Gamberetto Arlecchino By Stefano Scortegagna

Small and charming Harlequin Shrimp, or Hymenocera picta, photographed in the Philippine Islands at a depth of about 15 meters, using a Nikon 105 VRII f2.8 Macro lens, with a selective snoot lighting technique that isolates the subject.

#53 The Beauty Of Nature, 2nd Classified: Quetzalcóatl By Miguel José Ávalos González

In Santa Bárbara, at 2,269 meters above sea level, on the summit of the Sierra de Baza Natural Park, stands a remarkable black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii), a sentinel of the high-mountain oromediterranean landscape. Its twisted, snake-like branches show remarkable adaptations: compact size reduces wind exposure, trunks and branches bend under snow, and deep roots draw nutrients from rocky soils. Shaped by decades of harsh conditions, these trees are living symbols of resilience. Their rugged silhouettes host lichens, mosses, and endemic invertebrates, highlighting their role as keystone species. The gnarled forms recall Quetzalcóatl, the feathered serpent bridging earth and sky. Every wind-shaped trunk and branch tells a story of survival, beauty, and nature’s strength.

#54 Journeys & Adventures, Commended: Dune By Julia Roger-Veyer

On a beautiful and wild ridge close to Mont Blanc, the snow is covered with sand from the last windstorm coming from the south. The tiny alpinists help us realize the immensity of the landscape.

#55 Street Photography, 2nd Classified: The Fan Out By Olesia Kim

During the Notting Hill Carnival, London’s West End transforms into a whirlwind of steel pans, booming sound systems, and vibrant masquerade bands. This event, Europe’s largest street festival celebrating Caribbean culture since 1966, attracts millions of visitors each year. Under the sweltering August sun, attendees from all over the world cool themselves with bright fans, becoming part of the living performance. In this intimate frame, three figures hide behind ornate fans. Their rhythmic waving, set against a backdrop of raw urban graffiti, adds a sophisticated, fluttering layer to the carnival’s famous kaleidoscope of colors, turning a simple gesture of cooling down into an exuberant choreography.

#56 Street Photography, 1st Classified: Urban Puzzle By Luca Paccusse

Amid the chaos of Roman traffic and the warm glow of the sunset, Luca is struck by a face on a poster at the bus stop. After a few minutes of waiting, he manages to compose this interlocking of gazes, which intertwine and overlap, capturing the layers and complexity of a city where diverse identities merge and blur, like tiles in an ever-shifting urban mosaic.

#57 Under 20, Commended: Wunderpus Octopus By Panitbhand Paribatra Na Ayudhya

A Wunderpus octopus larva drifts through the darkness of the open ocean, reminding us that no life is insignificant—even the smallest existence is essential and beautiful when truly seen.

#58 Documentary & Photojournalism, Commended: Jimmy Carter Lies In State At Dusk By Andrew Harnik

The flag-draped casket of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. Carter's body will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda until a funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington on January 9.

#59 Documentary & Photojournalism, Highly Commended: Life Persists Amid The Ruins By Ali Jadallah

Seated on rugs among the rubble, a group of men share a meal beside the collapsed dome of a mosque. Around them, a devastated landscape of destroyed buildings and piles of debris bears witness to the effects of the bombardments, while daily life continues amid destruction and uncertainty.

#60 Sports In Action, Commended: Balance Without A Face By Chalinee Thirasupa

The Philippines' Jasmine Althea Ramilo performs during the women’s individual rhythmic gymnastics qualification at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, held at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani, Thailand, on December 15, 2025.

#61 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Commended: Nargis By Silvia Alessi

Nargis is an Afghan hairdresser who fled alone to Pakistan after losing her parents and brother in a suicide attack and her sister to suicide. This portrait was taken before she reached the USA. The scissors are her work and her defense; her eyes hold grief and exposure.

#62 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Commended: Childhood Dream By Alireza Bagheri Sani

Pardis is a newly developed town near Tehran, a place defined by uniform, lifeless buildings—a symbol of mechanized modern living. A child was playing, then—noticing the camera—started to run.

#63 Storyboard, 1st Classified: Así Es La Vida (C’est La Vie) Cecot By Juan Carlos

The Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a mega-prison that houses inmates from El Salvador’s three major gangs—Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Barrio 18 Revolucionarios, and Barrio 18 Sureños—is the largest prison in the Western Hemisphere. Built in a record-breaking span of six months, this maximum-security facility can house 40,000 inmates as part of the 'war on gangs' launched by President Nayib Bukele, who has been praised for ending gang violence and bringing security to his country. This reportage offers a rare look inside the prison and at the lives of gang members held in CECOT.

#64 Journeys & Adventures, 3rd Classified: Guardian Of The Cattle By Alessandro Bergamini

In South Sudan, the Mundari tribe—a Nilotic pastoral people with deep cultural and social roots—has preserved its customs and traditions unchanged for centuries. Their economy revolves around cattle, with which they live in an almost symbiotic relationship. Roaming the banks of the White Nile, they migrate to ensure grazing for their precious animals: the majestic, large-horned Ankole-Watusi cows and bulls, regarded as true family members, status symbols, wealth and even a form of currency. At dusk, as a young herder watches over the camp from above, the silhouettes of the animals meld with the golden light of the sunset. It is the story of a timeless bond between man and land, where responsibility, identity, and tradition are passed down intact from generation to generation.

#65 Under 20, Highly Commended: The Bear And The Volcano By Kesshav Vikram

A lone brown bear strolls along the desolate shore of Kuril Lake, its stark silhouette set against the water, as the Iliinsky volcano emerges from the clouds and a slaty-backed gull flies past, perfectly aligned with its summit. Generally solitary, the bear is heading to join its kind in feasting on the sockeye salmon migrating upriver from July to September to spawn—a seasonal abundance that draws bears from across the remote wilderness of the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia's Far East. Kurile Lake, a caldera formed by the collapse of a volcanic crater, is the largest sockeye salmon spawning ground in Eurasia; its deep, cold waters serve as a vital cradle for life in this untamed landscape.

#66 Under 20, 2nd Classified: The Flying Horse By Matteo Botta

The Menorquin Fiestas and Jaleos are vibrant traditional celebrations with roots dating back to the Medieval period, held every summer across Menorca's main towns. In a remarkable display of horsemanship, skilled riders dressed in traditional costumes guide their Menorcan horses at a gallop through densely packed crowds, in a thrilling atmosphere of music, cheering, and festivity. At the heart of the festivities is the 'bot'—a movement in which the rider makes the horse rear up on its hind legs—while spectators try to touch the horse's chest, a gesture long considered to bring good luck. These fiestas remain one of the most extraordinary and authentic folk traditions in the Mediterranean.

#67 Documentary & Photojournalism, Commended: The Ones Who Stay By Ringo Chiu

A firefighter's shadow is cast on the wall of a burning home as wind-driven embers fly during the Palisades Fire. Amid a powerful windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, crews worked to contain the fast-moving flames on January 8, 2025.

#68 Sports In Action, Highly Commended: Trouble On The Double By Seb Daly

Jockey Jamie Lee Scallan and Empire Soldier narrowly avoid Stealthy Tom and jockey Simon Derek Torrens, who remain on the ground after a fall, as they soar over Ruby’s Double—a demanding double grass obstacle built in 1995 in honor of legendary Irish jockey Ruby Walsh Sr.—on the cross-country course at Punchestown in County Kildare. The action takes place during the third day of the Punchestown Festival, Ireland’s premier National Hunt event, held every April, which attracts top competitors and large crowds and is regarded as the Irish equivalent of the Cheltenham Festival. With clods of earth flying through the air, Scallan maintains balance and momentum as his horse stretches mid-leap, in a moment of pure peril and precision.

#69 Sports In Action, Highly Commended: Dive By By Adam Pretty

Brandon Loschiavo and Jordan Rzepka of the United States perform their dive during the Men's Synchronized 10m Platform Final at the Fukuoka World Aquatics Championships on July 17, 2023. Shortly before, the two American athletes had won the national title, securing their qualification for the World Championships. Against a black background, the long exposure transforms their bodies into a single luminous, blurred form floating in the darkness above the judging panel. The six judges, dressed in dark suits, watch in silence from their seats, still and focused, in sharp contrast with the swirling motion captured by the lens. The luminous fluidity of the athletes’ bodies contrasts with the judges’ composed stillness, turning the moment into a scene suspended between motion and silence, where tension and the fleeting beauty of the athletic gesture converge.

#70 Sports In Action, 3rd Classified: Blue Glass By Adam Pretty

Three athletes from the U.S. team dive in perfect synchrony into the pool to start their routine in the Artistic Swimming Team Technical Final at the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships on July 22, 2025. The water’s surface, smooth and still like glass, reflects the dome of the arena and the surrounding lights, turning the pool into a mirror suspended between sky and water, where the athletes seem to swim through the air. Several elements align perfectly: the harmonious symmetry of the venue, highlighted by the upward perspective of the roof; the dive, perfectly centered on the platform; and the brightly colored costumes standing out sharply against the transparent pool floor. All these details merge into an extraordinary choreography, where geometry, color, and movement converge to transform an athletic gesture into pure visual architecture.

These 26 Photos By Marcel Heijnen Show Why Street Cats Belong In Every City Scene

Hidrėlėy — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:53:25 +0000

Cats have a special talent for making themselves at home just about anywhere. Whether they're lounging in the middle of a busy shop, keeping an eye on passersby, or claiming an unexpected corner as their favorite resting spot, these furry residents seem to move through city life with complete confidence. And sometimes, they make the most ordinary places look surprisingly charming. Dutch photographer Marcel Heijnen has spent years documenting these fascinating feline encounters, capturing cats in shops, markets, and streets around the world.

Beyond their undeniable charm, these photographs also capture a quieter side of urban life. Amid crowded streets, busy storefronts, and everyday routines, the cats seem perfectly content to take things at their own pace. And through Marcel's lens, these ordinary moments become little stories filled with character, humor, and plenty of feline personality. Known for projects such as Shop Cats of Hong Kong and City Cats of Istanbul, his photography offers more than just adorable animal portraits. Each image also offers a glimpse into the places these cats call home and the communities they share. Today, we're excited to feature another collection of his work.

Scroll down to enjoy these charming photographs, upvote your favorites, and let us know in the comments which feline caught your attention the most!

More info: Instagram

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25 Dreamlike Paintings By Sarah Lee That Offer A Fresh Take On The World Around Us

Aleksandra — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:47:05 +0000

Some landscapes seem to hold more secrets than they reveal. In Sarah Lee’s paintings, familiar elements of the natural world take on an uncanny quality, with glowing moons, luminous skies, and quiet expanses of land and water that feel suspended somewhere between reality and imagination. Born in Seoul, South Korea, and now based in Brooklyn, New York, Lee creates oil paintings that draw viewers into places that feel strangely familiar yet difficult to pin down.

Light plays an important role in Lee’s work, often appearing unexpectedly in otherwise still surroundings. A moon might cast an unusually bright glow, a mountain range might open onto a star-filled sky, or a seemingly calm body of water might conceal something beneath its surface. Her landscapes rarely rely on human figures or recognizable landmarks. Instead, subtle shifts in scale, color, and perspective give these places a life of their own, leaving room for curiosity and uncertainty.

Look more closely at Sarah Lee’s paintings, where familiar landscapes become intriguing glimpses into a world that seems to follow its own rules.

More info: sulhwalee.com | Instagram

#1 The Umber Sea, 2026 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on Canvas, 70 x 60 inches

Working primarily in oil on canvas and linen, Lee combines rich, carefully blended colors with soft edges and striking contrasts between light and darkness. Her paintings draw on the tradition of landscape art while moving beyond straightforward depictions of nature. The scenes often feel slightly unexpected, as though the world has quietly rearranged itself when no one was looking. The result is an atmosphere that feels peaceful at first but carries a subtle mystery beneath the surface.

#2 Ripples Under The North Star, 2026 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 52×60 inches

#3 Supple Shadow, 2025 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 18x20 inches

#4 Lavender And The Moon, 2025 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 52x56 inches

#5 Golden Field In The Wind, 2024 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on linen, 70×80 inches

#6 Under A Lost Star, 2024 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 56x52 inches

#7 Two Moons, 2024 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on linen, 80x70 inches

#8 Path To The North Star, 2024 By Sarah Lee

About: 60x52 inches

#9 Rainbow Over The Emerald Lake, 2024 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 54x50 inches

#10 End Of The Cliff, 2024 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on linen, 80x70 inches

#11 Glacier, 2024 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on linen, 52x56 inches

#12 Snowdrop, 2023 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 70x80 inches

#13 Two Skies, 2023 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 70x80 inches

#14 Black Swan, 2023 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 40x44 inches

#15 Poppies In The Wind, 2023 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 60.5x65.5 inches

#16 Endless Night, 2023 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 70x80 inches

#17 The North Star, 2023 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 54x50 inches

#18 Night Breeze, 2023 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 60x70 inches

#19 Among Trees By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 50x52 inches

#20 Black Tulip, 2021 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 55x50 inches

#21 Emerald Sky, 2026 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 56 x 52 inches

#22 Golden Hour, 2026 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on Canvas, 14 x 15 inches

#23 Blushing Clouds, 2025 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 52×60 inches

#24 Yellow Tree, 2025 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 22x25 inches

#25 Where Two Nights Meet, 2025 By Sarah Lee

About: Oil on canvas, 70x80 inches