2018 Hasselblad Masters Awards International Photo Contest Winners

Hasselblad Announces 2018 “Masters” of Its Iconic Photography Competition

By Jessica Stewart on January 15, 2018

Aerial winner. Jorge de la Torriente (Miami, USA).

One of the world's most prestigious photography competitions has announced the winners of its 2018 contest. The biannual Hasselblad Masters Awards selects the top photographers across 11 diverse categories. Each category winner is deemed a “Hasselblad Master” and becomes a brand ambassador for the Swedish firm.

Past winners include acclaimed photographers like Anton Corbijn and Lois Greenfield, and with over 30,000 photographs submitted for the contest, the competition level was at an all-time high. The 11 winners come from 9 different countries around the world, but each brought their unique style and skill to the competition. Some names might even be familiar to readers—such as “Art” category winner Maria Svarbova, whose surreal series on synchronized swimming in the past we've featured on My Modern Met.

And from the vibrant hues of Svarbova's work, we pass to the quiet black and white elegance of Michal Baran. The Irish photographer won the Beauty & Fashion category for his silvery photographs that highlight the shape and form of the models' features. The jury, which is composed of past Masters and other image experts, were left impressed by the high quality of the work submitted across the board.

“It really struck me how progressive many of the entries were this year and how far the entrants were willing to push the brief,” said professional Tom Oldham, who is a Master that sat on the jury. “These were the photographers who caught my eye—the ballsy, out-there risk-takers who make compelling pictures that refuse to be ignored. I’m proud to have helped to get this great kit into their hands—their images deserve it.”