The 12 Best Analog Photos From Around The World That Won The Analog Sparks Awards 2023

The winners of the 2023 Analog Sparks International Film Photography Awards have been announced—these images will blow your minds!

Join us in applauding the diverse world of visual storytelling and the remarkable talents behind these captivating analog images. Here is the finest selection of analog photography from the 2023 Analog Sparks International Film Photography Awards.

More info: analogsparksawards | Instagram

12 PHOTOS

#1 Parallel Worlds (2nd Place In Nature)

"The Parallel Worlds Series offers a unique perspective on the relationship between humans and the environment, inspiring viewers to contemplate their own impact on the world. Using analog photography, Nibera shows what the world would be like if humans respected nature."

Bernarda Nibera Conič, Slovenia

2023 is the inaugural year of the Analog Sparks contest. The creation of the awards was inspired by the Analog Sparks Instagram community created by Reka Koti, a platform where thousands of emerging and established analog photographers from all around the globe have a chance to showcase their work and interact.

#2 Manō (2nd Place In Nature )

"I took these photos of the sandbar and Galapagos sharks on a glassy morning off the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. They were taken with a Nikonos V camera and Kodak Tri-X 400 film."

Maddie Alohilani, United States

#3 Three (2nd Place In Life Style)

"Photo taken with the Ikonta camera (6x9) on one of the main streets of the city of Pozna in Poland"

Krzysztof Ludwig, Poland

In its first year, Analog Sparks received more than a thousand outstanding submissions from around the globe in eight Categories - Architecture, Fine Art, Human, Lifestyle, Nature, Photojournalism, Technique, Zines, and Photobooks. 

We asked each judge to use the same criteria when reviewing the photographs: originality, creativity, excellence of execution, and overall impact. The identity of the photographers is not shown during the voting process to ensure fairness and the integrity of the competition.

#4 Back In Time (Human Best New Talent)

"There is something very precious about the atmosphere shown on film. The people captured on it take me back to my childhood years. People are exactly the way I remember them from the past. An atmosphere that is precious to me."

Vladimir Karamazov, Bulgaria

#5 Mars On Earth (Photojournalism Photographer Of The Year)

"With prototype space suits and diets consisting only of freeze-dried food, science fiction has become reality for people who choose to simulate living on another planet. Space simulations and analogs are the scientifically funded frontier to test the psychological ramifications of space exploration directly on humans and our robot counterparts."

Cassandra Klos, United States

We love the diversity of the winning entries. As we don't apply a time limit regarding when the images were taken, you can find winning series even from the seventies that are still relevant today (for example "Three" by Krzysztof Ludwig, Poland, 2nd Place in Life Style). It's great to highlight images from archives and showcase the work of photographers who are underrepresented.

#6 Young Land (Nature's Best New Talent)

"Young Land" is a series on the natural and social landscape of Iceland."

Gleb Simonov, United States

#7 From Africa With Love (2nd Place In Fine Art)

"This series is made with images that overlap and mix like those of dreams, like those of memories. The real and the imaginary merge, memories fade and change shapes. These overlays are imaginary postcards of a West Africa that I started photographing over 20 years ago."

Jean-Claude Moschetti, France

The contest aims to celebrate the renaissance of analog photography and provide an opportunity to showcase the winning images not just on social media but in art galleries for a wider audience.

We love how timeless film photography is and how it connects different generations and talents from all parts of the world.

#8 Cold Square (2nd Place In Architecture)

"I spent some time in Longyearbyen. Because of the polar bears, space of movement was a bit limited. I didn't feel like carrying a gun, which would have given me more freedom. But on the other hand, it gave me a different freedom. To concentrate on a defined area. I shoot too much film anyway. So I walked around in a cold but colorful square. Shot on expired Portra with Hasselblad 500c."

Dominik Gottwald, Germany

#9 Varna (2nd Place In Architecture)

"The main street in the maritime capital of Bulgaria."

Vladimir Karamazov, Bulgaria

#10 Testament '22 (2nd Place In Photojournalism)

"Testament '22" is a personal study of war's human cost. Using medium-format analog photography, the project aims to create a sense of history and timelessness while documenting the stories of those affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and showing how they're rebuilding their lives. The project intends to contribute to the body of work from colleagues documenting ongoing crimes in the region. The title references Taras Shevchenko's poem "Testament" to pay tribute to the victims and the courage of the survivors."

Byron Smith, Greece

#11 Where Beauty Prevails (Nature Photographer Of The Year)

"Contemplating the beauty and free movement of flowers as a refuge from reality. 'Where Beauty Prevails' is a photographic series of what human beings embrace to feel good and fight against fear. Wanting to capture ephemeral moments to treasure them forever and live in peace. In short, a life in constant search of beauty."

Andrea Rosemercy, Spain

#12 Spirit On The Water (2nd Place In Technique)

"Pinhole Photography - Camera: Zero 810 - Positive Paper: Ilford Harman Direct Positive Paper 8x10” - Exposure: 4 minutes and 30 sec. - Bergeggi (SV) Italy 2019 - That day at sea there was a large patch of whitish foam. With the long exposure, it created a special ghost effect on the water!"

Aurelio Bormioli, Italy