The results of the eighth round of our prestigious International Amateur Photographer of the Year 2025 competition are in! Azim Khan Ronnie wins the top place in the Movement category with the photograph ‘Leap of Faith’, of a graphic and dynamic silhouette of a person leaping. Meanwhile, Matteo Botta, came first place in the Young APOY competition. Here are the top 10 images uploaded to Photocrowd from Round Seven, Animal Kingdom, with comments by the AP team and our guest judge…
Action is one of the trickier rounds in APOY to judge, perhaps because it encompasses so many subjects. Everything from sports to wildlife to street photography can make a great action shot, but imbuing the image with imagination and creativity is where the challenge lies. We want to see more than just great panning technique coupled with an ultra-fast shutter speed. As with every round in APOY, we want something memorable that fuses technical skill and originality – be that shooting from an unusual angle, a treatment of a subject that we may not have seen very often, or glorious light that lifts a shot out of the ordinary. Narrowing down the images to create this top ten was no mean feat, but we hope you enjoy the images.
International Amateur Photographer of the Year 2025, Movement winner
Leap of Faith by Azim Khan Ronnie, France, 100pts
Canon EOS R5, 16-35mm at 16mm, 1/1250sec at f/11, ISO 200
Guest judge Jon Nicholson says: ‘For me this picture says it all. When choosing images I always ask myself whether I would put it on the wall, and this image is a clear yes. It’s graphic, the person is perfectly positioned and more importantly the photographer is working a situation. To capture the fleeting moment needs agility and concentration; it’s all too easy to just take lots of images and hope for the best.
The theme of movement is obvious to see in the image, but it is also calm, and almost motionless, before the boy crashes down on the train – it’s like watching a pole vaulter as he lets go of the pole, pushes it away and falls to the mat. Split-second failure or success. I think this image is made stronger thanks to the heavy contrast – it’s much more powerful. There are no identifying clues to where it was taken (I didn’t even think it was taken in Bangladesh) – it sings on its own merit and is a clear winner for me.’
2. Tug of War by Phil Tomlinson, UK, 90pts
Canon EOS R, 24-70mm at 70mm, 1/250sec at f/2.8, ISO 250
Phil has captured the intensity and focus on the face of the main competitor in this women’s tug-of-war match in Hanoi extremely well. The diagonals created by the ropes and the lines of women only serve to increase what is already a frame that is full of energy. The proximity of the spectators and the expressions on their faces run the gamut of emotions and the viewer here can almost hear the roar of the crowd. Although Phil added the motion blur in postproduction, he has done so with skill and sensitivity.
3. Leaves on a Breezy Day by Sara Williams, UK, 80pts
Sony RX10 IV, 24-600mm at 60mm, 1/10sec at f/11, ISO 100
Photographs that make you feel as well as see are few and far between, but Sara’s shot achieves this – the viewer can imagine how that strong breeze would feel on their face, and can also conjure up with ease how it might sound. That’s before you even get to the gorgeous tones – the jewel-like red is the main focal point, with hues of green and yellow forming the backdrop. Sara combined a slow shutter speed with movement of the camera to create her image, and has ably demonstrated how successful this kind of experimentation can be. There’s a strong chance that she had to delete a few, but that doesn’t matter because all you need is one successful shot, and this is certainly it.
4. Zooom by Vernon Katz, Israel, 70pts
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 150-600mm at 205mm, 1/1000sec at f/9.5, ISO 1000
Vernon has made superb use of the zoom-burst technique here, and has managed to get it absolutely right, with a pin-sharp capture of the rider’s face (you can actually see his laser-focused eyes) and the rest of the frame telling us everything we need to know about the speed and dynamism of the moment. Composing from a low viewpoint enhances the power of the shot, and the kick of sand behind the rear wheel is the perfect finishing touch.
5. Leap into the Abyss by Roy Egloff, Switzerland, 60pts
Canon EOS R5, 35mm, 1/1600sec at f/4.5, ISO 500
An apt title, where Roy’s perspective means it’s impossible for the viewer to tell just how far the woman has to dive. The tension of her tightly controlled shape contrasts entertainingly with the more relaxed spectators behind.
6. Crosby Birds by Norman Raine, UK, 50pts
Fujifilm X-T2, 16-80mm at 80mm, 1/10sec at f/8, ISO 200
Norman has captured a breathtaking moment, full of movement and beauty, and balanced with the perfect stillness of the bird on the post. The softness of the gorgeous watery light sets everything off to perfection. Lovely.
7. Rhythms of the Plains in Botswana by Bircan Harper, UK, 45pts
Nikon Z9, 400mm f/2.8, 1/2500sec at f/9, ISO 2500
There’s something slightly surreal about this superb image by Bircan, where the pin-sharp clarity of the flying flock against the softness of the elephant in the background almost verges on being disconcerting. We are accustomed to seeing safari images of either birds or elephants separately, but combining both in the same frame with intelligence and originality means this image really stands out. Shooting in low light has only served to increase the three-dimensionality of this excellent photograph. Well done, Bircan.
8. A Surprise Flight by Louise Norris, UK, 40pts
Canon EOS R6 Mark II, 100-500mm at 363mm, 1/800sec at f/5.6, ISO 20,000
Louise has captured one of the most impressive and dramatic acts that nature has to offer – an osprey capturing its prey. Her technique is impeccable, with pin-sharp focus on the bird of prey’s incredible eyes, and her timing is superb, too, with those splashes of water helping to tell the story of the osprey and its hapless catch. She took a bit of a risk with the 1/800sec shutter speed, but it paid off, with the slight movement in the wing tips revealing something about the power required for the bird to move away from the water. Any slower, and the detail of the head would have been lost, and the image would only have been suitable for the delete button. The result is an excellent balance of craft and creativity.
9. Shower Time by Lucas Pereira, Czechia, 35pts
Fujifilm X-T3, 18-55mm at 20mm, 1/250sec at f/5.6, ISO 160
The APOY judges are always looking for original interpretations of the category briefs, and that’s why Lucas’s image stands out. The low viewpoint, the high-contrast black & white and the composition – with the wooden post on the left and the disembodied arm on the right – all come together extremely effectively. The actual movement part – the arc of water hitting the horse’s neck – only takes up a small part of the frame, but it’s no less successful for that. This image was taken when Lucas visited his home in southern Brazil, and we hope this is just one from a full set that documents the life of the gauchos there.
10. Boy in the Bubble by David Read, UK, 30pts
Sony A6300, 114mm, 1/1600sec at f/8, ISO 1000
A photograph that makes the viewer stop, ponder, question and ultimately potentially be left unsure of what it is they’re actually looking at – and that’s a big part of why it made this round’s top ten. There’s strength and dynamism in the boy’s pose, intrigue at what he’s doing, and the split between cool and warm colours works very well to enhance the slight unease of the frame. The boy is in fact inside a sphere that allows him to travel across water – but we didn’t need to know that, did we? We’ll leave you to decide!
International Young Amateur Photographer of the Year 2025, Movement winner
The Flying Horse by Matteo Botta, Switzerland, 100pts
Canon EOS 2000D, 24-70mm at 27mm, 1/400sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600
What a spectacular shot Matteo – a regular entrant to Young APOY – has captured. The stillness of the rider against the frenetic emotion – possibly even fear – of the horse has been captured with assuredness and confidence. It’s almost as if the spectators are reacting with some kind of religious fervour to the rearing animal, which only adds to the overall intensity of this image.
Camera Club competition
Each round, we shine a spotlight on a selection of excellent entries from the many camera clubs that enter APOY
Squirrel Kit by Gary Clements, Mid-Somerset Camera Club
Canon EOS R6 Mark II, 70-200mm at 200mm, 1/5000sec at f/2.8, ISO 3200
We see a lot of action photographs of squirrels, but this one stands out for the excellent use of the reflections – and, of course, the timing, which is spot on.
Head First by Annette Murty, Visions Photography Club
Nikon Z7, 28-400mm at 400mm, 1/320sec at f/11, ISO 320
A well-balanced composition, thanks to the triangle the three surfers create. The upside-down one adds comedy value!
Changing Course by Pedro Landers, Launceston Camera Club
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, 100-400mm at 400mm, 1/320sec at f/40, ISO 400
An image that’s about slow movement, as opposed to being action packed. The B&W treatment makes it timeless.
Stormy Waves by Jane Jones, Stafford Photographic Society
Google Pixel 9, 6.9mm, 1/2500sec at f/1.7, ISO 21
This image is pleasingly monochromatic, and the softness of the clouds melting into the waves is well seen and nicely captured.
Samba by Rachel Domleo, Bristol Photographic Society
Camera details not supplied
An image that fizzes with energy and wildness. Despite being almost entirely one colour, it’s clear and coherent.
The 2025 leaderboards after round eight, Movement
We have a bit of a fight on our hands at the top of the leaderboard this month, with Bircan Harper, who has led for the past two months, being ousted by regular contestant Azim Khan Ronnie. Philip Tomlinson and Erika Howard aren’t too far behind, so there’s plenty still to play for with two rounds to go. In Young APOY, Ben Hancock-Smith is edging away, so we can’t wait to see whether he retains his lead as we head into the final rounds of this year’s competition. In camera clubs, Plymouth CC’s lead is significant but not unassailable. Watch this space!
Winning kit from Camera Centre UK
What gear did our top ten photographers use?
In first place, Azim Khan Ronnie used a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM for his excellent action shot. When reviewed in AP, it was described as ‘light and narrow, and for the architectural or landscape photographer, it provides a very useful focal range’, as well as being ‘designed to withstand the rigours of constant use in all conditions’. It features 4 stops of image stabilisation and Canon’s Ultrasonic Motor (USM), for quick, accurate and near-silent autofocus operation. This lens can be purchased at Camera Centre UK for £1,099.
Taking sixth place, Norman Raine shot with a Fujifilm XF16-80mmF4 R OIS WR lens. Receiving four stars when reviewed in AP, this versatile lens is constructed of 16 elements in 12 groups, and features up to 6 stops of image stabilisation. The review concluded that it is ‘robust enough to endure daily use and it’ll serve to be a great long-term partner for Fujifilm’s weather-sealed X-series cameras.’ Find it at Camera Centre UK for £539.
Bircan Harper’s seventh-placed shot used a Nikon Z9. In its five-star review in AP it was said to ‘set new standards for full-frame mirrorless cameras’, thanks to its extraordinary continuous-shooting ability, excellent image quality in both JPEG and raw, groundbreaking AI subject-detection autofocus, robust build quality and pro-level handling. This camera can be bought at Camera Centre UK for £4,149.
To see the full range, visit www.cameracentreuk.com
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