Winners of the reFocus Awards 2023 photo competition (21 photos)

The reFocus Awards were launched only last year, but have already established themselves as a stunning showcase of global photography talent. It is awarded to both professional and amateur photographers. Here are the best of the best, according to the jury.





The title of International Photographer of the Year went to Thai photographer Jatenipat Ketpradit for his stunning series of photographs depicting the “mud people” of the Asaro tribe in Papua New Guinea. Ketpradit spent a year preparing for this shoot and lived with the tribe for three weeks to gain their trust.

“I want people who see my images to be aware of the fact that in remote parts of the world there are tribes who still preserve the culture of their ancestors,” he says. “These tribes often feel that their culture is outdated and backward.” So I wanted to photograph them as elegantly as possible so that they could be proud of themselves and their wonderful traditions.”

In the non-professional category, Angolan photographer João Coelho was named International Discovery of the Year. His "Freedom of Nudity" series is an artistic look at the joy of summer and the simplicity of children's play.



"Ghosts of Asaro" by Jatenipat Ketpradit. International Photographer of the Year (Pro)

“Mount Gurupok in Papua New Guinea is a land of ghosts! They slowly came out from behind the trees. Terrible heads were attached to the gray bodies... These were Asaro warriors.”



"Freedom of Nudity" by João Coelho. International Discovery of the Year (Amateur)



"Ghost World" by Cody Cobb. Photographer of the Year in the Landscapes category (professional)



"Aquatonda" Brad Walls. Photographer of the Year in the “Aerial Photography” category (pro)



"50th Anniversary of La Muralla Roja Apartments" by Jonathan Ducrest. Photographer of the Year in the Architecture category (professional)



"CYGNET FUEL" by Leila Grian Middleton. Discovery of the year in the category “Analogue/film photography (amateurs)”



No Parking by Heike Willers. Discovery of the year in the category “Pets” (lovers)



“Snowfall”, Krakow, Poland, Beata Zawzel. Photographer of the Year in the category “Street Photography” (pro)



“His Majesty the Dragon Tree”, Socotra Island, Guillaume Peterman. Photographer of the Year in the Tourism category (professional)



"Erupting Earth", Mauna Loa Volcano Eruption, Cody Roberts. Photographer of the Year in the Events category (pro)



"Cows and Kites" by Andrew Lever. Discovery of the year in the Nature category (amateurs)



"Teamwork", view of the rowers from the bridge, Peter Zarkob. Discovery of the year in the “Sports” category (amateurs)



"Contrast" by Thomas Freier. Discovery of the year in the Fashion and Beauty category (amateurs)



"Dancing Stingrays" by Mia Stawinski. Underwater Photographer of the Year (Pro)



"Field of Dreams", SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Jacques Garnier. Photographer of the Year in the Abstraction category (pro)



"Shanghai Street" by Jiabing Zhu. Discovery of the year in the “Street Photography” category (amateurs)



"Scale of Space", Mario Tarantino. Photographer of the Year in the Minimalism category (pro)



"The Ties That Bind" by Michael Pachis. Discovery of the year in the Nature category (amateurs)



"The Nectar Bat" by Gianni Maitan. Photographer of the Year in the Nature category (professional)