Astounding Winners of the 2020 All About Photo Awards Highlight Diversity in Our World

Black and White Photo of Boy Sitting on a Boat

“Across the River, Burma” © Monica Denevan. Winner, All About Photo Awards

For the fifth year, the All About Photo Awards shines a spotlight on high-caliber international photography. The 2020 edition is packed with exceptional work and, in particular, five photographs were selected as the year's top images. Notably, the contest shows that photography isn't always male dominated, with female photographers winning four of the top five slots.

American photographer Monica Denevan won the photo contest with a striking image from her series, Songs of the River: Portraits from Burma. Since 2000, Denevan has traveled extensively to Burma and spends her time documenting life outside the cities. Her photo of a man sitting on a fishing boat, with his back turned to us as he looks out into the river, is a masterfully balanced work.

Denevan shares her place in the top five with many other worthy photographers. This includes Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti, whose portrait of a woman posing outside her Tampa home with her firearm collection is either unsettling or empowering depending on your thoughts about gun control. Galimberti's is the only glimpse of color among the winner's circle, with the rest of the top 5 rounded out with remarkable black and white photographs.

Along with the winners, the expert jury, which includes professional photographers, curators, and gallery directors, also selected 35 photographs worthy of particular merit. These photographs show the rich diversity of our planet, with images ranging from a portrait of a Suri woman in Africa to underwater views of marine life. The winners will have their work featured in a special print issue of AAP magazine and are awarded $10,000. A selection of other photographers from the top 40 will also be invited to display their portfolios on All About Photo.

The winners of the 2020 All About Photo Awards each share their unique perspective on the world.

Woman Posing Outside of Her House with Her Guns

“Avery Skipalis (33), outside of her house, posing together with all the firearms she owns, Tampa, Florida” © Gabriele Galimberti. 2nd Place, All About Photo Awards

Close Up Black and White Portrait of Young Girl

“Philomena” © Rebecca Moseman. 3rd Place, All About Photo Awards

Aerial Black and White Photo of San Dunes

“Sustenance 4” © Nadia De Lange. 4th Place, All About Photo Awards

Jumping Herd of Wildebeest

“Jump of the wildebeest” © Nicole Cambre. 5th Place, All About Photo Awards.

Check out this selection of honorable mentions from the 2020 All About Photo Awards.

Workers Making Soy Sauce

“Making soy sauce” © Azim Khan Ronni. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Wallace’s Flying Frog

“The Wallace’s Flying Frog” © Chin Leong Teo. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Asian Women Carrying Baskets on their Backs Up a Hill

“Step by Step” © Mustafa AbdulHadi. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Portrait of Suri Woman in Traditional Dress

Untitled © Yoni Blau. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Men Doing Tribal Dance in Africa

“Happy Dancer” © Xiangli Zhang. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Mursi Women

Woman Mursi © Svetlin Yosifov. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Man Being Bucked Off a Bull

“Break away” © Tony Law. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Portrait of a Modern Woman in Traditional Dutch Costume

“Portrait of Lorca” © Peyman Naderi. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Colorful Photo of Swimmers in Pastel Bathing Suits

“The Lost Swimmer” © Elena Paraskeva. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Monkeys in Japanese Hot Springs

“A monkey entering a Japanese hot spring” © Kosuke Kitajima. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Black and White Photo of Van Swarmed By People in a Crowd

“The Grand Procession 2” © Lori Hawkins. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Kids Having a Potato Sack Race

“The Sack Race 1” © Francisco Diaz & Deb Young. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Baby Napping on the Lap of Its Parent

“Newest Cowboy in Town” © Rory Doyle. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Abstract Photo of White Wall

“Beyond the wall” © Francesco Pace Rizzi. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Surreal Photo of Woman with Black Hair Facing Window as Black Cat Walks By

Windows Of Our Soul © Hardijanto Budiman. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Underwater View of a School of Fish

“Eye sea” © Anuar Patjane. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

Man in a Wheelchair Holding His Cat

“Perfect Binding” © Andre Fonseca. Particular Merit Mention, All About Photo Awards

All About Photo: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by All About Photo.

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Incredible Winners of the 17th Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

World’s Largest Photo Contest Announces This Year’s Amazing Winners

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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