【Judging Results】
The judging for the 86th International Photographic Salon (sponsored by The Asahi Shimbun and The All-Japan Association of Photographic Societies、prizesponsored by Canon Marketing Japan Inc.) has been completed, and we have selected 86 prize-winning entries, consisting of 48 from the OVERSEAS CATEGORY, 38 from the JAPAN CATEGORY. The International Photographic Salon was inaugurated in 1927 with the participation of photographers from 15 countries outside of Japan.
International submissions were accepted through the online channel only, resulting in a total of 3,688 entries from 72 countries/regions. Iran's 1,449 was the highest number. There were 2,329 domestic entries, bringing the total number of entries to 6,017. The works will go on a touring exhibition across Japan from March.
【Judges】
Anju (Photographer)
Shintaro Shiratori (Photographer, APA President)
Tokihiro Sato (Photographer, Director of the Ken Domon Museum of Photography)
Yutaka Matsui (Officials from AJAPS)
Shogo Koshida (Asahi Shimbun Tokyo Head Office, Photo & Multimedia Manager)
Gen Hashimoto (Asahi Shimbun Osaka Head Office, Photo & Multimedia Manager)
Hiroki Hisamatsu (Chief Manager from AJAPS)
【General Review-OVERSEAS and JAPAN CATEGORIES】
In recent years, as post-processing has become widely commonplace in photography, many striking works—both in Japan and abroad—have created a strong impression by expressing the photographer’s intent through a sense of naturalness and originality. Even in today’s digital age, there were also numerous works that sought to make the most of photography’s essential qualities through black-and-white images that emphasize light and shadow. Against this backdrop, the top-ranked works inspired both surprise at the flexible creativity of seasoned photographers and a genuine curiosity to learn more about the ideas behind their images. In every piece, the photographers’ intentions could be felt—through careful, restrained image editing and artistic expression—inviting viewers to expand their imagination.
Overall, entries from overseas conveyed a powerful expressive force, while those from Japan suggested shifts in the photographers’ gaze and interest toward their subjects. Once again, the differences in approaches to photographic expression between Japan and the rest of the world became apparent.
審査委員特別賞=SPECIAL PRIZE
入選=HONORABLE MENTION
▶Please refer to this URL for the traveling exhibition schedule.
The results of The 86th International Photographic Salon are as follows.
SPECIAL PRIZE/「気候変動会議」モハンマド・ラキブル・ハサン (バングラデシュ)
一見すると、何だろうと思わせる非日常的な謎の作品だが、タイトルで作者の意図が見えてくる。ネクタイが印象的で、水平線があることで、画面に変化がもたらされた。
At first glance, this enigmatic, slightly surreal image makes you wonder what you’re looking at, but the title clarifies the photographer’s intent. The tie stands out as a memorable motif, and the horizon line introduces a welcome shift in the frame, adding visual variety.
SPECIAL PRIZE/「希望」ハナーン・マアムーン (エジプト)
様々な方向から撮影して重ねたようだ。光を計算して、建物だけでなく空まで広げ、人の姿も写し込んでいる。非常に目を引く、インパクトのある作品になっている。
It seems to be a composite built from shots taken from multiple angles. The light is carefully controlled, and the frame extends beyond the architecture to include the sky, with figures subtly woven in. The result is a striking, highly impactful image.
SPECIAL PRIZE/「反射」セルゲイ・ブスレンコ (ウクライナ)
芸術という意味で完成度の高い作品になった。赤いドレスの女性が水中を漂っていることで、写真が持っている空気感が伝わり、見るものを穏やかな気持ちにさせてくれる
This is a highly accomplished piece in an artistic sense. The woman in the red dress drifting underwater conveys the photograph’s atmosphere beautifully, leaving the viewer with a calm, gentle feeling.