Incredible Image of Ice Climbers Watching an Eclipse From a Glacier Wins Color Photography Contest

Incredible Image of Ice Climbers Watching an Eclipse From a Glacier Wins Color Photography Contest A striking photo of two ice climbers on a glacier looking at a solar eclipse has won the 2025 reFocus Awards’ Color Photography Contest. Liam Man’s exceptional photograph is a study in contrast and color, with the icy blue iceberg illuminated by the orange hue given off by the annular eclipse. Taken in Patagonia during […] READ: Incredible Image of Ice Climbers Watching an Eclipse From a Glacier Wins Color Photography Contest

Incredible Image of Ice Climbers Watching an Eclipse From a Glacier Wins Color Photography Contest

Incredible Image of Ice Climbers Watching an Eclipse From a Glacier Wins Color Photography Contest

Annular solar eclipse over the Glacier Leones

“Ring of Fire, and Ice” by Liam Man. Overall Professional Winner.
“A ‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse reaches annularity as two intrepid ice climbers summit the mighty Glacier Leones. A drone illuminates the ice’s textures and colors, battling fierce winds that whip up plumes of snow that burn in the sun’s rays.”

A striking photo of two ice climbers on a glacier looking at a solar eclipse has won the 2025 reFocus Awards’ Color Photography Contest. Liam Man’s exceptional photograph is a study in contrast and color, with the icy blue iceberg illuminated by the orange hue given off by the annular eclipse.

Taken in Patagonia during the 2024 eclipse, the photo was part of a larger project Man was working on with UNESCO and is a testament to his dedication as a photographer. The moving image he posted to Instagram is even more mesmerizing. However, even the still photo is a clear winner in what was a strong pool of images from photographers in over 80 countries.

In the non-professional division, Mohammed Alim won for his fascinating photo of women in prayer at a mosque in Jakarta. Together, their colorful mukena, a typical prayer-dress worn by Indonesian Muslims, forms a stunning pattern. Alim’s victory is particularly interesting, as he noted on Instagram that he first posted the photo to show off the cropping capabilities of his camera. From there, interest in the photograph grew, surely spurring him to enter the competition.

Both the professional and non-professional divisions also handed out awards in a wide variety of categories. From aerial images to portraits and street photography, all of the winners show the incredible visual appeal of color photography. And more importantly, they demonstrate how the right balance of color can transform a good image into something truly special.

Scroll down for some of our favorite winners and then head over to the reFocus Awards website to see the full winners’ gallery.

The 2025 reFocus Awards has announced the winners of its Color Photography Contest.

Woman in prayer wearing mukena

“Colors of Devotion” by Mohammed Alim. Overall Winner, Non-professional
“A beautiful gathering of women in prayer, their colorful mukena creating a stunning pattern of faith and unity. Each color and design tells a story of devotion, capturing a peaceful moment of togetherness and spiritual grace.”

Sunset over a desert oasis

“Desert Oasis” by Collin Blaney. 2nd Place, Non-professional
“A sunset adventure in an unusual place.”

2025 reFocus Awards Color Photography Contest

“The Lake” by Masoud Mirzaei. 2nd Place Overall, Professional

Thunderstorm supercell in Texas

“The Supercell” by Uwe Schellscheidt. Gold, Non-professional, Nature
“A thunderstorm formed a supercell including a small and short tornado in Texas. The light blue area is where the hail comes out.”

Kristina Makeeva conceptual photography

“Iranian girl” by Kristina Makeeva. Gold, Professional, Conceptual
“A woman is not decoration. A woman is not a shadow. A woman is not a ghost through which one can see the environment. She should not hide in the walls of buildings.”

Dried rose on black background

“Rose Couture” by Patti Gary. Gold, Professional, Still Life
“Rose Couture celebrates the elegance of aging. Dried roses, with petals curled into rich folds, resemble elaborate gowns. Their colors—deep magenta, blush, ochre, seafoam—reveal unexpected beauty. This series honors grace, resilience, and color in transformation.”

Aerial view of a basketball court with the tree in the middle. Urban park, Kharkiv, Ukraine

“Shadow basketball III” by Kateryna Polishchuk. Gold, Non-professional, Aerial
“Basketball court with the tree in the middle. Urban park, Kharkiv, Ukraine”

Photographers from over 80 countries entered this year’s competition, making it the contest’s most diverse pool of competitors.

Abstract photos of water and pigment that look like colorful clouds

“Liquid Soul n°7712 Extinctions” by Gaëtan Changeur. Gold, Professional, Abstract
“I create visual worlds blending abstraction and nature through fluid forms born from the interaction of water, pigments, and light. In a studio setting, I photograph these dreamlike landscapes, questioning the boundary between the natural and the artificial, the real and the imagined.”

Nostalgic photo from Route 66

“Blue Swallow” by Mark Sommer. Gold, Film/Analog, Professional
“Seeing Route 66 change from boom to bust, season to year surviving the loss of the surroundings and the bypass of old routes, The Blue Swallow survives as a living part of history for the nostalgic traveler that seeks the roadside relics that convey of America’s passing culture.”

Portrait of four women across three generations wearing a pink niqab

“Pink Niqab, 2020 De Tweede Sekse” by Jaimy Gail. Gold, Professional, Portrait
“This photo shows four women across three generations wearing a pink niqab. By replacing black with soft pink, the niqab sheds its oppressive image, symbolizing femininity and tenderness. The work challenges stereotypes, humanizes the garment, and sparks dialogue on cultural diversity, and symbolism.”

Woman in front of a classic car

“Crestline Queen” by Elijah Barnes. Gold, Professional, Portrait

Commuters waiting on a train platform

“All the World’s My Stage” by Dmytro Geshengorin. Gold, Non-professional, Street
“Waiting for a train I noticed that the opposite platform looked like a theater stage with all the commuters having arranged themselves perfectly for a brief moment and I quickly took the shot. In the glass door you can even see my reflection taking the photo.”

2025 reFocus Awards Color Photography Contest

“Earth’s Galaxy” by Navaneeth Unnikrishnan. Gold, Professional, Nature
“Beneath the earth lies a glowing realm, where bioluminescent glowworms create a galaxy-like spectacle. This image captures the awe of exploration, blending the soft glow with the cave’s textures, highlighting nature’s fragile, otherworldly beauty in a moment of quiet wonder.”

Honors were handed out across multiple categories in both the professional and non-professional divisions.

Isaac Theatre Royal in New Zealand

“Come Together at The Issac Theatre Royal” by Chris Pegman. Gold, Non-professional, Event
“This image was shot during a spectacular show by ‘Come Together’ (a collective of finest NZ artists) of Led Zep IV. I used my ultrawide non-fisheye lens to capture band, crowd, and venue. The venue is a building that has been rebuilt following the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 & 2011.”

The mahout and his elephant at Ban Ta Klang village of Surin province, Thailand.

“The elephant herder” by Sarah Wouters. 3rd Place Overall, Non-professional.
“The mahout and his elephant at Ban Ta Klang village of Surin province, Thailand. The villagers raise elephants like a friend. They sleep under the same roof as the owner until the elephants become similar to being a part of the family. This has caused a strong bond between humans and the elephants.”

Dozens of caimans lie motionless in a shrinking mud pool, awaiting the return of the rains in the heart of the Pantanal at the peak of the dry season.

“Where Water Once Was” by Octavio Campos Salles. 3rd Place Overall, Professional
“Dozens of caimans lie motionless in a shrinking mud pool, awaiting the return of the rains in the heart of the Pantanal at the peak of the dry season.”

reFocus Awards: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature images by reFocus.

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READ: Incredible Image of Ice Climbers Watching an Eclipse From a Glacier Wins Color Photography Contest

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