Location: Spain

''The title image was created as a teaser visual for the global campaign of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X, produced in collaboration with the creatives Amadeus Weineck and Matthew Page from the advertising agency The Game.

It served as the teaser for the entire campaign, which included more than 120 assets from out-of-home visuals and social media content to press shots - all produced in collaboration with Sterntag Berlin under an all-in-one production approach.

The winning image was shot on the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain, at a beautiful, rounded house located in the hills. We developed the idea of positioning the car behind movable structures to create intriguing teaser visuals that would introduce the upcoming campaign.''

Title: British Summer Time

Location: United Kingdom

''This image for me sums up for me, how much we can learn from children. A moment of pure joy, from the simplicity of a hot day and a sprinkler. ''

Title: Station

"The photo shows the entrance to the Oriente Station in the Portuguese capital, designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

This avant-garde building, whose façade appears in the photo, was designed by Calatrava and inaugurated in 1998 for the World's Fair held in Lisbon that year."

Title: The Caravaggio Girl  

Location: Paris  

''Dressed in a knitted Balmain couture piece, she stands at the edge of light, echoing the dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio, where shadow holds as much weight as illumination. Though simple, this portrait became a cornerstone in shaping my photographic style.    Elizabeth Wood was the very first model I photographed, and in this image, she entrusted me with embodying her as a modern-day samurai.''

Title: Winged Muse

"Part fantasy, part rebellion, Winged Muse is an ode to the makeup artist as visionary. This piece captures the moment where beauty transcends cosmetics and steps into the realm of storytelling.

With wings delicately painted across the face, the work blurs the line between human and myth, daring the viewer to see makeup not as surface decoration but as a language of transformation. At its core, Winged Muse is a celebration of artistic courage. The wings are more than ornament; they are symbols of freedom, defiance, and creative flight. They whisper to every makeup artist: take risks, push boundaries, and step beyond the predictable.

In this piece, the face becomes both canvas and stage, a space where imagination can unfold without apology. Makeup artistry has always existed at the intersection of beauty and identity, but Winged Muse invites us to consider it as rebellion too. It reminds us that makeup can challenge conventions, shift perceptions, and carry powerful narratives. To paint wings across a face is to declare that there are no limits, only possibilities."

Title: Luminous Solitude                          

Location: Atlantis Dunes, Western Cape, SA

''Amidst a surreal white desert, a visual narrative of contrasts unfolds: "Divas of Africa" is a black-and-white photography series that captures the strength and grace of Black women in a minimalistic, almost otherworldly setting. Stefan Gröpper’sphotographs merge fashion, physicality, and the raw beauty of nature into a poetic visual language.  

The sun carves sharply defined silhouettes, transforming bodies into living sculptures. Flowing fabrics, feathers, and sculptural shapes are not mere embellishments but visual manifestations of power and vulnerability. Fashion becomes both armor and liberation – a delicate interplay between revealing and concealing.  

With this series, Stefan Gröpper creates a sensual, timeless interpretation of aesthetics and expression – an encounter between fashion, art, and the pure force of nature. Minimalist yet opulent, raw yet refined. The desert becomes the stage for a new kind of elegance – an elegance that is not only seen but felt.  

"Divas of Africa" is more than an aesthetic study. It is a visual ode to femininity, self-determination, and cultural heritage.''

Title: Pink Tubes 


Location: Basement Studios 


''In this picture I saw an hourglass created by the two tubes. Keeping it simple and letting the product speak for itself. With the help of the light I wanted to create a roughness in the metal to make it a juxtaposition with the smooth calmness of the slow drip créme.  


Huge thanks to Ria Del Rosario at Holly Corbett for styling and Parsley Studio for retouching.''

Title: Martini Sunset

Location: RGB Digital Ltd Studios, London, UK

''Martini Sunset reimagines the classic Martini through the warmth and romance of a setting sun. The aim was to highlight the drink’s iconic elegance while bringing an unexpected sense of movement and drama. By freezing liquid in mid-air, the image reveals sculptural shapes that the human eye would never normally perceive, organic, fleeting forms suspended in time.''

Title: Sharjah

Location: Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates

"This photograph was taken on a warm May morning in 2025, just after sunrise on the coast of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates. Earlier, we had been photographing a group of teenage boys riding their Arabian horses at full speed along the beach, rearing, racing, and showing off their wild energy. Once the saddles came off, the boys led their horses into the sea to cool down.

In this frame, I captured a fleeting moment of play, one boy balancing on the back of his horse in the shallows, silhouetted against the rising sun. 

Just after this shot, he front-flipped into the water. The combination of golden light, movement, and raw spontaneity gives the photograph a sense of freedom and timelessness, one of those rare moments I knew would be special the instant I pressed the shutter."

Connor Langford is represented by NM Productions.

Title: Don't Look Up

Location: Shoaei Studio, Hamburg

“Don’t Look Up highlights what I love about beauty photography: real skin, strong expression, and the artistry of makeup without losing natural texture. The upward gaze feels unconventional, it avoids direct eye contact yet pulls the viewer in with force. The focus is on authenticity rather than heavy perfection, celebrating beauty that feels powerful, modern and human. For me, this portrait is about confidence and presence in simplicity. 

I’m very grateful for this recognition and would like to thank the jury and my team for making this possible.''