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One thing that unites us all is food. It’s a key element not only to survival but to tradition, celebration, and community. This year’s winners of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year awards showcase the customs and stories woven into how we cook, eat, and play with our food

About the contest

Inaugurated in 2011, the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year awards acknowledge excellence in food photography and film. From submissions that recall the glossy pages of cookbooks and magazines to documentary-style shots of festivals, harvests, and street vendors, the winners take you on a journey around the world as you experience food through the eyes of the people who create and share it. 

Since its inception, the contest has received over 80,000 submissions from 96 countries. The Royal Photographic Society displays the winners’ work in a public exhibition in Bristol from November to December. Prizes vary by category and range from cash awards to gear giveaways and gift certificates. Each category winner also receives a trophy.

Below are our favorites of the 27 category-winning works. You can see all the winners and finalists here.

Bring Home the Harvest

strands of noodles stretch across the frame and across poles as a woman hangs them to dry in china's fujian province
“Movement of noodles.” Winner of the “Bring Home the Harvest” category. Chang Jiangbin

Related: Tricks that commercial photographers use to make dishes look delicious

Taken in Fujian Province, China photographer Chang Jiangbin offers a peek into the world of noodles, a regional favorite. The way the photograph is framed by the cooling strands gives it a clandestine feeling as the viewer peers in. 

Food for Celebration 

a family folds red dumplings
“Traditional skill.” Winner of the “Food for Celebration” category. Chen Ying

The repeated use of the color red adds a vibrancy to the task at hand: Dumpling folding. 

“A family gathers around to make rice or mung bean-filled dumplings. They use a wooden seal to stamp the word ‘fortune’ or ‘happiness’ into the red dough, and steam the dumplings in a large steamer,” says winner Chen Ying. “This tradition means that the New Year will be welcomed with reunion and the coming year will be prosperous.”

Wedding Food Photographer

a wedding party cuts into the cake
“Lemon cake.” Winner of the “Wedding Food Photography” category. Isabelle Hattink

The range of emotions and the expert framing of the cake make for a compelling (and potentially humorous) story, as shot by Isabelle Hattink of the Netherlands. 

Award for Women Photographers

a girl sits at a dinner table next to a big arrangement of flowers
“At the table.” Winner of the “Award for Women Photographers.” Marguerite Oelofse

“Celebrating African heritage, fused with a touch of inspiration from French Post-Impressionist artist, Henri Matisse,” is how winner Marguerite Oelofse describes her work. “The painter-like aesthetic in my photography creates a three-dimensional feeling by using bold colors, form, and textures. These elements are native to our diverse South African culture.”

Wine Photographer of the Year—People

a man gathers fallen branches in a vineyard at sunset
“Gathering prunings on Corton Hill.” Winner of the “Wine Photographer of the Year—People” category. Jon Wyand

Jon Wyand, representing the United Kingdom, captures a worker at the break of day in a Burgundian vineyard, gathering clippings against a striking, sun-soaked landscape.

Wine Photographer of the Year—Places

a curved bridge frames the landscape of vineyards
“Architecture and wine.” Winner of the “Wine Photographer of the Year—Places” category. Marina Spironetti

There’s a lot going on in this photo: Leading lines take the eye to the still-desolate vineyard—likely captured in the winter or early spring—and the human shadow adds an element of mystery and liveliness to the scene. 

Wine Photographer of the Year—Produce

grapes tumble into a vat to be processed. dry ice inhibits fermentation.
“On ice.” Winner of the “Wine Photographer of the Year—Produce” category. Suzanne Becker Bronk

To inhibit the start of fermentation, freshly-picked grapes are packed with dry ice which swirls around and creates an otherworldly effect as the fruit tumbles into a tank. Suzanne Becker Bronk, representing the United States, captured this one at Caldwell Vineyard in Napa, California. 

Food for the Family 

a family prepares traditional food in china
“Traditional food.” Winner of the “Food for the Family” category. Weining Lin

“During the Spring Festival, the Tujia people in western Hunan will make tuansa, a special local delicacy which is made of glutinous rice and tastes light and sweet,” says winner Weining Lin. “Most local people take tuansa as a gift or an offering.”

Food in the Field 

drone bird's eye view of apple orchards covered in snow
“Agricultural art.” Winner of the “Food in the Field” category. Paolo Crocetta

Paolo Crocetta, from Italy, took this abstract shot on a snowy day.

“After a heavy snowfall I raised the drone to take some photos of my country covered by the whiteness of the white coat; after a few minutes of flight, I noticed the particular shapes that the apple plots created in contrast with the snow on the ground,” Crocetta shares. 

Food Stylist Award

blood orange madeleines decorated with orange glaze
“Blood Orange Madeleines.” Winner of the “Food Stylist Award.” Carolin Strothe

Carolin Strothe’s series of five photographs took the top prize in the styling category. From deceptive brioche pumpkins to Proust-inspired madeleines and a summery vegetable tart resembling a painting, the collection is truly a feast for the eyes. 

Fujifilm Award for Innovation 

a model of central park constructed with box graters and broccoli
“Central Park.” Winner of the “Award for Innovation.” Yuliy Vasilev

Closer inspection reveals that this is not actually Central Park, but rather a clever recreation with broccoli and box graters. “The image is part of my ongoing project called ‘Foodtopia,’ a miniature world created with food items,” shares winner Yuliy Vasilev.

Marks & Spencer Food Portraiture 

watermelon and feta salad arranged in tetris-like cubes
“Watermelon and feta salad.” Winner of the “Food Portraiture” category. Daniela Gerson

This photograph just screams joy with the multitude of fruits in every color. It’s like melon Tetris.

MPB Food Influencer 

a person drains pasta by the kitchen window on a gloomy and cloudy day
“Draining pasta by the window.” Winner of the “Food Influencer” category. Elisa De Cecchi

Photographer Elisa De Cecchi adds character, perspective, and story to Italy’s beloved dish, capturing a gloomy day made a bit more comforting by the prospect of a warm bowl of pasta. 

“Draining pasta by the window sink on a gloomy day, moisture fills the air, condensation forms on the windows and droplets slide down the glass,” De Cecchi says. “It is an activity that seems quite mundane, but I find it evocative.”

On the Phone

cod fish hang to dry in the freezing cold
“Drying stockfish.” Winner of the “On the Phone” category (for images made with a smartphone). Kasia Ciesielska-Faber

At once both fun and shocking, Kasia Ciesielska-Faber captures the spirit of the region by framing a cluster of bright red buildings with drying fish, their mouths agape. 

“In the Lofoten archipelago, stockfish racks have become part of the landscape,” Ciesielska-Faber notes. “The cod is preserved by drying on large racks with no salt or smoke required as the temperatures are just below freezing. The climate is perfect for outdoor stockfish production.”

One Vision Imaging Cream of the Crop

carrots underground
“Carrot field forever.” Winner of the “Imaging Cream of the Crop” category. Paolo Grinza and Silvia Vaulà

Forget about The Beatles and their endless strawberry fields. With this winning image, Paolo Grinza and Silvia Vaulà invite you to hang out in the carrot field. 

Street Food

A street vendor cook kebabs.
“Kebabiyana.” Winner of the “Street Food” category. Debdatta Chakraborty

Of all the winning images, it’s this smokey street scene, snapped by Debdatta Chakraborty in Sri Nagar, India, that has us the most hungry. You can almost smell those perfectly charred kebabs.

How to enter next year

Stay up to date with contest happenings here. The deadline to enter 2023’s contest is February 6. For participants aged 18 and over, the entry fee is 30 GBP ($37.50) to submit five photos or one film. Every additional image is 6 GBP ($7.50). Those under 18 may submit up to five images for free.