The Association of Photographers (AOP) supports the future of photography, and this year, as it has for more than 40 years, it has selected the best emerging talent. Photography students studying in the UK at FE or higher level were eligible to enter to one of the best student competitions, with works accepted in three distinct categories: People, Places and Things.

From the 50 entries, the judges selected an overall winner as well as a gold and a silver winner for each category. In 2026, the Best inShow Overall Winner was Rupert Allen for his large format series Church of Coal, documenting coal miners in the last working drift colliery in Western Europe in South Wales. Allen studied Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at the University of Gloucestershire. He receives a £2500 Fujifilm UK kit prize and a one year Capture One Studio subscription.

All gold category winners receive a one year Capture One subscription and a tailored AOP membership package to support the start of their professional careers.

To see all the winning images in person, visit the Free Range Show in London, hosting not just the AOP Awards but also hundreds of talented student works from UK Universities in the Truman Brewery, 15 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR between 16 and 26 July.

See the full list of winning images from the 2026 AOP Photography Awards:

Best in Show Overall Winner and Gold Winner in People Category: Rupert Allen – Church of Coal series

Rupert-Allen-Ukrainian-Coal-Miner-Aberpergwym-Colliery-from-the-series-Church-of-Coal-Rupert-Allen.j
Ukrainian Coal Miner Aberpergwym Colliery from the series Church of Coal by Rupert Allen
Rupert-Allen-Ron-Stoat-Ex-Miner-at-Britannia-Cwm-and-Penallta-from-the-series-Church-of-Coal-Rupert-Allen
Rupert Allen Ron Stoat Ex Miner at-Britannia Cwm and Penallta from the series Church of Coal by Rupert Allen
Rupert-Allen-Ray-Stoat-Ex-Miner-at-Britannia-Cwm-and-Penallta-from-the-series-Church-of-Coal-Rupert-Allen
Rupert Allen Ray Stoat Ex-Miner at Britannia Cwm and Penallta from the series Church of Coal by Rupert Allen
Rupert-Allen,-Ron-Stoat---Ex-Miner-at-Britannia,-Cwm-and-Penallta,-from-the-series-Church-of-Coal--Rupert-Allen.
Ron Stoat Ex-Miner at Britannia, Cwm and Penallta from the series Church of Coal by Rupert Allen

Silver Winner in People Category: Anthony Porter – Silent Burden from the series Seeing The Unseen 

Silver winner people category AOP Awards 2026
Silent Burden from the series Seeing The Unseen by Anthony Porter

Places Category Gold Winner: Lorena Bujalance Jimenez – Swan Lake

Swan Lake by Lorena Bujalance Jimenez, gold winner AOP student awards
Swan Lake by Lorena Bujalance Jimenez

Places Category Silver Winner: Gemma McNaughton – 3, from the series Against the Grain

Silver-Winner-Gemma-McNaughton-3-from-the-series-Against-the-Grain- Gemma-McNaughton
3, from the series Against the Grain by Gemma McNaughton

Things Category Gold Winner: Ed Butty – Handyman from the series Looking Down

Handyman from-the series Looking Down by Ed Butty, AOP awards 2026
Handyman from the series Looking Down by Ed Butty

For all the shortlisted images and more information visit aopawards.com.

Lead image: Caption (left to right): Rupert Allen, Aberpergwym Miners, from the series Church of Coal © Rupert Allen. Courtesy The AOP [Best in Show Winner and Gold Winner, People]; and Rupert Allen, Ray Stoat – Ex Miner at Britannia, Cwm and Penallta, from the series Church of Coal ©
Rupert Allen. Courtesy The AOP [Best in Show Winner and Gold Winner, People]

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Do you want to win some great prizes for your photography? Enter your photos in our International Amateur Photographer of the Year competition. Free entry for photographers aged 13-21.

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