Top 15 Award-Winning Submissions from the 2025 World Food Photography Awards

🎨 Capturing Humanity Through Cuisine:
A Glimpse into the 2025 World Food Photography Awards Sponsored by Bimi®

The timeless saying “we eat with our eyes first” has never resonated more than when admiring the stunning, varied, and profoundly human images showcased in the 2025 World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Bimi®. This year’s contest gathered nearly 10,000 submissions from over 70 nations, with each image narrating a distinctive story of culture, connection, and culinary artistry through the universal medium of food.

Emphasizing the ability of photography to intertwine narratives of tradition, community, and identity, this esteemed international competition relentlessly honors those who utilize their cameras to portray food in imaginative and significant manners. From modest street food snapshots to elaborate drink presentations, each photograph is a fusion of artistry, emotion, and storytelling.

🥇 The Overall Winner: “The Elderly Having Delicious Food” by Xiaoling Li

This year’s Awards are highlighted by an endearing image from Chinese photographer Xiaoling Li. Entitled “The Elderly Having Delicious Food,” this striking photograph captures five elderly women in Shuangliu Ancient Town, Sichuan Province, joyfully relishing Sichuan spring rolls. Dressed vibrantly in warm hats and colorful jackets, these women gather together in a classic “Dragon Gate formation”—symbolizing friendship and unity in Chinese culture.

Their delight is palpable as they enjoy spring rolls brimming with fresh vegetables and topped with spicy, sweet sauces. The composition conveys more than just a moment of food enjoyment; it communicates themes of happiness, dignified aging, and the communal ties fostered over shared meals.

Caroline Kenyon, the founder of the World Food Photography Awards, hailed it as “a perfect image for our times,” underlining how this visual narrative bridges generational and cultural gaps through the universal language of food.

🏆 Winners Across Numerous Categories

In addition to the overall winner, the 2025 competition celebrated remarkable talent across various categories, each highlighting different themes and showcasing extraordinary creativity.

Some standout winning entries encompass:

🍷 “Window in the Vineyard” by Alessandro Anglisani (Italy) – Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year – Places
A dreamy portrayal of an Italian vineyard in Lombardy, emphasizing nature’s synergy with agriculture.

🍞 “Flour Swirl” by Dorien Paymans (Netherlands) – Winner, Cream of the Crop
Part of her “Perfectly Imperfect” sourdough collection, this photograph serves as a visual reflection merging Zen principles with the art of baking.

🐖 “Hogging the Limelight” by Susan Lang (UK) – Winner, Food in the Field
A delightful representation of Britain’s rare Large Black pigs, showcasing the humor and unpredictability of capturing animals on camera.

🍝 “La Matassa. A Real Work of Craftsmanship” by Diego Marinelli (Italy) – Winner, Food in Action
A tribute to the artistry of handmade pasta in Irpinia, Southern Italy, narrating a tale of craftsmanship passed down through generations.

🍹 “Sunshine Gin” by Alessandra Bartoloni (Italy) – Winner, World of Drinks
An evocative image of a refreshing gin and tonic, perfectly embodying a lazy, sunny summer afternoon.

🧺 “Laundry Day” by Pieter D’Hoop (Belgium) – MPB Award for Innovation
A playful, surreal shot featuring an octopus inside a washing machine, pushing the creative limits of food photography.

🕌 “Buddhist Offerings” by Ryan Kost (USA) – Winner, The Bimi® Prize
Captured at Angkor Wat, this photograph underscores the spiritual connection between food and faith through carefully arranged ritual offerings.

Moreover, young talents were honored through Jamie Oliver’s Youth Prizes for photographers under 12 and aged 13–17, fostering a new wave of visual storytellers.

📱 On-the-Go Artistry: Photography in the Digital Era

The Awards also acknowledge smartphone photography, exemplified by the winning “Squash Blossom” by Linda Repasky (USA). Her image of twisting tendrils in an agricultural context highlights that the beauty of photography isn’t restricted to high-end equipment—it’s all about vision, light, and timing.

🌐 Food As a Global Dialogue

Dave Samuels, brand director of Bimi®, aptly stated: “These remarkable images remind us of the essential role food holds in diverse communities.” Whether gathered, plated, celebrated, or shared in the quiet moments of daily life, food grounds us—across cultures, continents, and ages.

These photographs remind us that despite the fast changes in the world, food continues to unite us—to our pasts, to the earth, and most crucially, to one another.

🎨 Explore More

To view the complete gallery of winners and finalists, encompassing the many categories not covered here, visit:
👉 Official Website: https://www.worldfoodphotographyawards.com