Hasselblad Masters 2023 decided: Here are the six winners

In May, Kamera & Bild reported about the 60 finalists who had advanced with their pictures - where the top 10 were presented in a YouTube clip. Now, the winners in each of the six categories Landscape, Architecture, Portrait, Art, Street Photography, and Project have been announced.

Since December 2023, 85,000 images have been submitted by photographers from around the world, which is a 35 percent increase compared to the 2021 competition and a new record.

This Year's Winners

Landscape: Weimin Chu, China - Series: "Tibetan Landscape from the Train Window"

The images by Weimin Chu capture traditional landscapes integrated with modern development in China. Chu creates a frame within a frame, connecting the train carriage's interior with the landscape outside, inviting us to travel along with the photographer through landscapes and time.

Motivation: “These landscapes with a sense of humanity take me on a journey through various places. The color palette is soft and refined, and intensely balanced,” says Anne Farrar, Deputy Editor for Photography at National Geographic and member of the jury.

Architecture: Tiina Itkonen, Finland - Series: Home

Tiina Itkonen's series documents the traditional life of Inuit hunters and their families living in small wooden houses in remote parts of East and Northwest Greenland. Her images exemplify resilience and ingenuity in extreme conditions.

Motivation: “What I love about this series is its freedom to let the building live in a space. There is a softness in the palette that reflects the simple architecture in a quiet landscape,” says Anne Farrar.

Portrait: Panji Indra Permana, Indonesia - Series: Bicycle Street Sellers of Jakarta

Panji Indra Permana's project, “The Cyclist Portrait,” began in 2020 and documents Indonesia's cycling trend during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially focused on lifestyle portraits, it evolved to highlight those who rely on bicycles for their livelihood and those who sell them. Historically, bicycles in Indonesia were a symbol of privilege, owned by officials, aristocrats, and wealthy merchants. Through his work, Permana promotes a healthier lifestyle and a greener planet.

Justification: By using a background and flash, the photographer plays with the historical aspects of studio portrait photography, highlighting elements that remind us of historical paintings,” says Stefan Jensen, curator at the Hasselblad Foundation and chairman of the jury.

Art: Jan Pypers, Belgium - Series: Diorama

Jan Pypers' series explores humanity's lost connection with nature, inspired by traditional dioramas and modern representation. By blending reality with surrealism, Pypers creates images that evoke curiosity and fascination. The series encourages reconnection with and respect for nature.

Justification: "The photographer skillfully balances what appears to be a documentary scene with added elements that make us question their reality," says Stefan Jensen.

Street: Tom Pitts, England - Series: The Commute

Tom Pitts' series captures the unspoken emotions of strangers in transit, photographed at bus stops in England. "I wanted to capture and share the stories and moments that occur every day during people's commutes, and the underlying beauty that we miss," says Pitts.

Justification: "The artist has captured moments that create a sensitivity and narrative, which is crucial for successful street photography," says Andy Saunders, Senior Vice President at Getty Images and member of the jury.

Project: Efraïm Baaijens, Netherlands - Series: Tiny Titans

Efraïm Baaijens' micro images capture the extraordinary beauty and detail in the insect world. "Let us marvel at these tiny faces and remember to respect all life forms, no matter how small they are. Insects are vital to our ecosystem, they pollinate plants and maintain the balance in nature. You don't need to travel far to witness the wonders of nature - just step outside and look closely," says Baaijens.

Motivation: “Beautifully executed, we are drawn into believing that these insects have character and what they might ‘think’,” commented Andy Saunders.

Stefan Jensen, photographer and curator at the Hasselblad Foundation and chairman of the jury, comments on this year's competition:

“Being a jury member for this year's Hasselblad Masters competition has been an exciting and challenging process, as the high quality level of the entries made the selection difficult. A word that comes to me when looking at the winning entries is 'meaning-making'. All but one category contained photographs in their original definition - a subject in front of the camera. They range from documentary to staged images and collages, but what they have in common is that they are a reflection of reality. The competition photographers open doors for viewers to understand and form an image of their surroundings, which shows the strength of the photographic image in contemporary times.”

Jury:

• Stefan Jensen (Chairman of the Jury) - Photographer and curator at the Hasselblad Foundation
• Andy Saunders - Senior Vice President at Getty Images
• Anne Farrar - Deputy Editor for Photography at National Geographic
• Aya Musa - Senior Curator at Foam
• Jianguo Feng - Professor at the Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University
• Kirstie Johnstone - Creative Production Partner at AMV BBDO
• Maria Svarbova - Hasselblad Master 2018
• Marine Merindol - Global Director of Strategy and Operations at Magnum Photos