@photonewspn | photographynews.co.uk
INSPIRATION / 23
Hook, line and winner as LCE serves up its annual gongs the wonderful friendships I have made along the way. To be recognised in this competition means a great deal, as it shows my work resonates with others.” Now in its third year, the free-to-
The LCE Photographer of the Year has confirmed its growing status as one of the UK’s most exciting photographic showcases, with 14,500 entries for 2026 – a huge 40% increase on last year. Taking home the overall prize is Sophia Spurgin for her image Fish Eyes , a spontaneous and playful portrait of a fisherman taken in Hoi An, Vietnam. Shot on a Canon EOS R5 Mark II, it stood out for its storytelling, blending humour with a strong sense of place. Spurgin, a retired teacher, also claimed the travel and wildlife classes. She said: “Photography has brought me immense joy – not only through the places it has taken me, but also through
Millie Melvin from the Royal College of Art, impressed with a deeply personal project. Imprint was inspired by an old family photograph and created using botanicals from her garden. Melvin, who has aphantasia and is unable to visualise objects, uses images to make a visual archive. Entry trends reflect the wider industry. Landscape remains the most popular category. Street and events saw significant growth. But perhaps the most crucial development is LCE’s commitment to authenticity. Stricter verification measures ensure images are genuinely taken, not AI-generated. lcegroup.co.uk
enter competition spans 14 categories, plus a people’s choice award. A total prize fund of £10,000 is shared across the winners. Each category’s champion gets £500 in vouchers. In 2026, Andrew Scott took the people’s choice award for his stylised photo of Lincoln. The rise of new talent is very encouraging. Over 30% of entrants were first-timers, while the emerging talent category continues to highlight the next generation. This year’s winner,
VICTORY THREE Sophia Spurgin’s ‘fish eye’ image (left) won, while Andrew Scott's cityscape (top) was people's choice and Millie Melvin's portrait (right) was also honoured
Inside the mind’s eye
The winners of the All About Photo Awards 2026 – The Mind’s Eye provide a powerful snapshot of what contemporary photography looks like. Now in its 11th year and judged by legendary photographer Steve McCurry, the competition brought together 45 winning images from 15 countries, reflecting a wide spectrum of styles from documentary realism to conceptual and poetic work. Out of more than 500 image makers, Matt McClain won for Window to the Past , a quietly cinematic image he captured at Colonial Williamsburg, a museum in Virginia. Other standout winners are Brooke Shaden’s Obscura , which explores identity in the digital age via conceptual self-portraiture, and France Leclerc’s I , a visually striking study of ritual and culture. Plus, three women placed in the top five, reflecting the growing influence of female voices. all-about-photo.com
JUDICIOUS EYE Steve McCurry judged some of the world’s top photographers in The Mind’s Eye contest
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