The 32 Best Analog Photos From Around The World That Won The Analog Sparks Awards 2023

Digital photography is amazing, yes. It’s also the photography equivalent of having infinite snacks in your backpack:
convenient, addictive, and sometimes you forget what you actually tasted.
Film photography? Film makes you commit. You load a roll, you pick an ISO, you shoot, and then you wait.
It’s like sending a postcard to your future selfexcept the postcard might come back slightly underexposed and covered
in dust specks you swear were not there five minutes ago.

That’s why the Analog Sparks Awards 2023 are so fun to look at. The winners span architecture and
street scenes, nature and photojournalism, and even hands-on processes like camera obscura, wet collodion, and double
exposures. And instead of “perfect,” the images celebrate what film does best: texture, tone, atmosphere, and
storytelling that feels handmade.

What Are the Analog Sparks Awards?

The Analog Sparks Awards are an international film photography competition highlighting the craft of analog image-making.
In 2023, the awards recognized winners across major categories (like Architecture, Fine Art, Human, Lifestyle, Nature,
Photojournalism, Technique, and Zines/Photo Books), with top honors such as Photographer of the Year and
Best New Talent of the Year.

A key point: the awards aren’t just about “nice pictures.” They’re about photographic choiceshow a frame is built,
how light is handled, how a subject is communicated, and how analog techniques are used intentionally rather than
as a vintage filter cosplay.

Why Film Winners Feel Different (Even Before You Know the Camera)

Film rewards decision-making. Unlike digital, where you can change ISO shot-to-shot and “fix it later,” film tends to
nudge you toward consistency and patience. Color negative film is famously forgiving with exposure compared with slide
film, while slide film demands precision. This practical reality shapes how winners shoot: many lean into stable light,
purposeful contrast, and compositions that don’t require a thousand micro-adjustments in post.

1) Exposure choices that support the story

Great analog photos don’t just “avoid mistakes.” They use exposure to guide emotion: gentle highlights for softness,
deep shadows for mystery, or balanced midtones for realism. Many photographers learn quickly that underexposure can
get ugly fast, while slight overexposure (especially on color negative film) often produces cleaner, more printable
negatives.

2) Composition that survives the “no-chimping” lifestyle

When you can’t review every frame on a screen, you start building compositions you trust: strong lines, intentional
foregrounds, and subject placement that reads instantly. That’s why award-winning film work often looks “designed”
even when it’s candid.

3) Texture and tone that feel earned

Grain isn’t the goal; it’s a consequence. Winners tend to treat grain like a seasoningpresent, meaningful, never
dumped in like you’re trying to hide bad focus. Same with tone: film can render highlights and color transitions in
ways people love precisely because it’s not clinically perfect.

4) Technique that adds meaning, not gimmicks

Double exposures, instant film, camera obscura, and wet collodion aren’t “look what I can do” tricks at their best.
They’re storytelling tools. The Technique category winners especially show how process can become part of the message.

The 32 Best Analog Sparks Awards 2023 Photos (A Curated Winner’s Tour)

The Analog Sparks Awards include many winning entries across placements and subcategories. The list below curates
32 standout award-winning photographs and projects from the 2023 professional winnersfour per major
categoryso you can get a world-spanning feel for what impressed the judges.

Architecture (Structure, Geometry, and Big “Hold-My-Tripod” Energy)

1. Not An Exit Austin Irving (Wilding Cran Gallery) Architecture Photographer of the Year / Gold (Interiors).
   
   Why it sparks: Interior architecture winners often succeed by controlling lines, perspective, and visual rhythmturning space itself into the subject.
2. Cold Square Dominik Gottwald (Godsforrest Photography) 2nd Place / Gold (Buildings).
   
   Why it sparks: Building-focused frames usually win with clean geometry and confident tonal separationespecially when film’s highlight roll-off keeps hard edges elegant.
3. Hotel Monte Rosa Paula Abreu Pita Gold (Large-Format).
   
   Why it sparks: Large-format architecture work tends to reward precision: careful framing, detail, and a deliberate pace that film practically insists on.
4. Pinhole Towers Stanislaw Chomicki Bronze (Buildings).
   
   Why it sparks: Pinhole and experimental approaches can make familiar structures feel dreamlikeproof that “sharp” isn’t the only way to be strong.

Fine Art (Concept, Still Life, and Film as a Mood Machine)

1. A Crack In The Mirror Cristina Fontsare Photographer of the Year / Gold.
   
   Why it sparks: Fine art winners usually pair a clear concept with disciplined executionfilm adds an organic texture that supports emotional ambiguity.
2. Coming Through Ayanah George Best New Talent of the Year / Gold.
   
   Why it sparks: Breakout work often feels confident and specific; the best new talent winners tend to show a point of view that’s already fully formed.
3. The Rocketgirl Chronicles Andrew Rovenko Gold (Conceptual).
   
   Why it sparks: Conceptual film work shines when the idea reads instantly, but the details reward a longer lookset design, gesture, and timing all matter.
4. Ode to Everyday Objects Miltiadis Igglezos Gold (Still life).
   
   Why it sparks: Still life winners elevate the ordinary through lighting and arrangementfilm’s tonal smoothness can make simple objects feel iconic.

Human (Portraits, Culture, and the Quiet Power of Real Moments)

1. Last Day of School Marko Risovic (Kamerades) Human Photographer of the Year / Gold (Youth).
   
   Why it sparks: Youth-centered work often wins by balancing immediacy with respectcapturing personality without turning people into props.
2. Mujeres Medicina – The Soul Healers Marta Kowalska 2nd Place / Gold (Other).
   
   Why it sparks: Human-category winners frequently succeed through trust and accessimages that feel lived-in rather than “captured.”
3. Blind Students Through My Camera Lens Gita Montazer Silver (Culture).
   
   Why it sparks: Cultural stories stand out when they show nuance and dignityfilm’s slower workflow can encourage deeper engagement with subjects.
4. Twins Eleonora Collini Bronze (Portrait).
   
   Why it sparks: Portrait winners often nail expression, posture, and lightsmall decisions that turn a face into a narrative.

Lifestyle (Street, Travel, Weddings, and Life Happening at Full Volume)

1. The Hot Water Christo Stankulov Life Style Photographer of the Year / Gold (Street).
   
   Why it sparks: Street winners usually combine timing and structurefilm pushes you to anticipate the moment instead of chasing it.
2. Modern Tribe Shahriar Mazandi 2nd Place / Gold (Culture).
   
   Why it sparks: Lifestyle culture images win when they feel specific and honestdetails, gestures, and context do the heavy lifting.
3. Biker Wedding Alain Schroeder Gold (Wedding).
   
   Why it sparks: Wedding storytelling stands out when it avoids clichés and leans into characterfilm adds a timeless sensibility without forcing nostalgia.
4. Musica Mexicana. Benjamin Elwes (Ben Elwes Photography) Bronze (Street).
   
   Why it sparks: Music-and-street scenes tend to win by translating sound into visualsrhythm, motion, and crowd energy in a single frame.

Nature (Land, Sea, Plants, and Wildlife Without the “Disney Narrator” Voice)

1. Where Beauty Prevails Andrea Rosemercy Nature Photographer of the Year / Gold (Plant).
   
   Why it sparks: Plant-focused winners often succeed through pattern, closeness, and toneturning small natural details into big visual statements.
2. Parallel Worlds Nibera Conič (Nibera Bernarda Nibera Conič) 2nd Place / Gold (Landscape).
   
   Why it sparks: Landscape winners tend to feel layeredforeground, middle ground, atmospherefilm handles gradual tonal transitions beautifully.
3. Black-Browed Albatross Tom Beldam (PAX 6 Media LTD) Gold (Animal).
   
   Why it sparks: Wildlife winners often pair patience with clean framing; film rewards photographers who can pre-visualize and wait.
4. Tri-X John Santoni Gold (Sea).
   
   Why it sparks: Sea images win when they make motion readablewaves become design elements, not just background chaos.

Photojournalism (Evidence, Emotion, and the Ethics of Being There)

1. Mars On Earth Cassandra Klos Photojournalism Photographer of the Year / Gold (Other).
   
   Why it sparks: Strong photojournalism images explain a place or event visuallycontext matters as much as the decisive moment.
2. Testament ’22 Byron Smith 2nd Place / Gold (Conflict).
   
   Why it sparks: Conflict reporting demands restraint and clarity; winning frames often communicate stakes without sensationalizing.
3. Recovery of North Aral Sea Angel Navarrete (33520221K) Gold (Environmental).
   
   Why it sparks: Environmental stories win when they visualize changescale, contrast, and human impact become instantly understandable.
4. Kids of Kibera Andrea Lavaria Silver (Other).
   
   Why it sparks: Community-centered work stands out by showing daily life with dignity, complexity, and a clear relationship between photographer and subject.

Technique (When the Process Is Part of the Point)

1. Self-Storage Krisztina Fazekas (Cvpics) Technique Photographer of the Year / Gold (Camera Obscura).
   
   Why it sparks: Camera obscura work often wins because it feels like seeing for the first timesoft geometry and uncanny perspective can be incredibly expressive.
2. The Polaroid Exerperience Paul Delpani (Atelier Nunartig) 2nd Place / Gold (Instant).
   
   Why it sparks: Instant film winners frequently nail spontaneity and design at oncefast feedback, but still unmistakably analog.
3. Carnival Jose Ney Mila Espinosa Gold (Double Exposure).
   
   Why it sparks: Double exposure winners balance chaos and controltwo images, one frame, and no “undo” button.
4. Den Svarta Damen Anders Andersson (Anders A Bildreportage AB) Gold (Wet Collodion).
   
   Why it sparks: Wet collodion work carries a distinctive presence; winning images often combine historical process with modern intent.

Zines and Photo Book (Sequencing: The Hidden Superpower)

1. Minnelied Margrieta Jeltema Zines and Photo Book Photographer of the Year / Gold (Culture).
   
   Why it sparks: Photobook winners often succeed through pacingimages that become stronger when they’re in conversation with each other.
2. The Opéra – Anniversary Issue Matthias Straub (The Opéra Photography) 2nd Place / Gold (Other).
   
   Why it sparks: Editorial and publication projects win when the design supports the photographylayout, rhythm, and narrative cohesion matter.
3. 1999 Diaries Laya Rahman Silver (Other).
   
   Why it sparks: Diary-style work wins by feeling specificmemory, place, and time are built through repetition and small variations.
4. The Bull, The Last Gladiator. Jose Ney Mila Espinosa Silver / Bronze.
   
   Why it sparks: Cultural photobook projects stand out when they provide context and continuitysequencing turns images into understanding.

How to Shoot “Award-Ready” Film Without Becoming a Gear Goblin

You don’t need rare cameras, expensive scanning rigs, or a darkroom hidden behind a bookcase (although that would be
extremely cool). You need a repeatable approachsomething you can execute consistently.

Start with film that matches your tolerance for chaos

If you’re learning or shooting mixed light, color negative film is usually more forgiving than slide film. Slide film
can look stunning, but it tends to demand accurate exposure. Pick the medium that supports your goals, not your ego.

Meter thoughtfully (or learn a reliable rule)

A handheld meter is great, but you can also build confidence with exposure rules like Sunny 16 for predictable daylight.
The winners across categories show something in common: intentional light. Whether it’s street, portrait, or landscape,
the frame reads because the exposure supports the subject.

Build projects, not just “good singles”

Zines and photobooks in particular reward sequencing. Even if you’re submitting single images, working in a series
helps you define a voice: recurring subjects, consistent light, or a clear theme.

Use technique as a language

If you love double exposures, make them about meaningmemory, motion, contrast between worldsnot just “two pictures
got married.” If you love camera obscura or wet collodion, lean into what those processes do uniquely and build your
subject choice around them.

Experience: What It’s Like to Chase the Film “Spark” (About )

There’s a moment, right after you load a roll of film, when everything feels possible. The camera clicks into readiness,
the rewind knob (or lever) sits there like a tiny promise, and your brain immediately starts negotiating with reality:
“This time I’ll be careful. This time I’ll write down settings. This time I definitely won’t accidentally shoot an
entire roll at the wrong ISO.” Sure.

Shooting film changes your relationship with time. You walk a little slower. You watch light longer. You learn the
difference between “pretty” and “useful.” Pretty light is nice; useful light tells the story. Film also encourages a
different kind of confidenceless “spray and pray,” more “wait and aim.” Street photographers often describe it as
listening with your eyes: noticing gestures, anticipating intersections, and choosing a background that will still
matter when the subject finally arrives.

Then there’s the waiting. Digital gives you instant confirmation; film gives you suspense. While the roll is being
developed, your memory edits the photos into masterpieces. You picture perfect timing, flawless focus, and the kind
of composition that makes strangers online comment “THIS BELONGS IN A GALLERY.” When the scans arrive, reality shows up.
Sometimes reality is gorgeous. Sometimes reality is… educational. (Film is very committed to teaching lessons.)

The best part is how that education compounds. You start recognizing patterns: which lighting situations are risky,
how your lens behaves wide open, how your camera’s meter tends to lie to you in backlight. You realize that “good”
is often repeatable and “luck” is frequently just preparation wearing a disguise. And once you begin editingchoosing
which frames deserve attentionyou’re practicing the same skill judges use: reading intent, clarity, and emotional impact.

If you’ve ever dreamed about entering an award like Analog Sparks, the experience becomes even more focused. You stop
asking, “Is this technically okay?” and start asking, “Is this about something?” A strong film photo can be quiet,
but it’s rarely empty. The frame needs a reason: a relationship between elements, a tension, a rhythm, a surprise.
That’s why many photographers end up making small projectsportraits of a community, a personal diary, a recurring street
corner at different times of daybecause projects train your eye to find meaning consistently.

And perhaps the most underrated experience of all: community. Film photographers trade tips, labs, scanning workflows,
and heartbreak stories about airport X-rays and light leaks. They also share joy: the first good roll, the first print,
the first time you nail a double exposure without accidentally layering a traffic cone over someone’s forehead.
Awards are a spotlight, surebut the real spark is the practice: the repeated, imperfect, deeply satisfying act of making
photographs that feel like you.

Conclusion

The Analog Sparks Awards 2023 winners show why film remains irresistible: the images feel intentional, tactile, and
emotionally present. Whether you’re drawn to architectural geometry, human stories, nature’s patterns, or hands-on
analog processes, these award-winning works are a reminder that limitations can be creative fuel. Film doesn’t just
record lightit records choices. And that’s exactly what great photography is made of.