The shortlist for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2025 showcases the pinnacle of photographic narrative artistry
The 2025 Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) has announced its shortlist, showcasing an impressive array of photo series that delve into emotionally powerful and socially impactful topics. The finalists' works, to be exhibited post-announcement in prominent Leica venues and festivals, emphasize human struggle, resilience, and socio-political realities.
One highlighted series by American photographer Lynsey Addario, titled "Mom, I Want to Live," centres on the story of a young Ukrainian girl diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer at age two in 2020. The girl's access to essential cancer treatment was blocked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, intertwining the struggles of life-threatening pediatric cancer with the horrors of war. This series depicts the family’s resilience amid war and illness.
While the detailed topics of the other 11 finalists' photo series were not fully provided in the search results, they are collectively described as striking, emotionally powerful works that push the boundaries of photography’s impact.
The shortlisted series for the LOBA are available to explore online, offering a reminder of photography’s ability to illuminate pressing stories of our time. The winners of the 2025 Leica Oskar Barnack Award will be announced on October 9 at Leica's headquarters in Wetzlar.
The selection spans personal, political, and cultural narratives, with Frederik Rüegger's project, "I Am a Stranger in This Country," chronicling English and Irish Traveller communities fighting to preserve their way of life. Xiangjie Peng's black-and-white series documents the emergence of underground LGBTQ+ spaces in China, while Alejandro Cegarra's project, "The Two Walls," explores Mexico’s shifting role in the migration crisis.
Kalum Carter, a photographer, filmmaker, creative director, and writer, has over 10 years of experience in visual storytelling. Carter, who has a strong focus on photography books, curation, and photo editing, blends a deep understanding of both contemporary and historical works. Carter will no doubt play a significant role in the exhibition and accompanying catalog that will be released alongside the announcement of the winners.
Felix Hoffmann, Artistic Director at Foto Arsenal Vienna and a member of this year's jury, notes a noticeable increase in cultural diversity and perspectives in the competition. Together, these projects underscore the sheer breadth of this year’s LOBA shortlist.
Leica is celebrating its centenary year with special edition Leica 100 cameras, and a book covering the last 100 years of Leica photography is also being released. Winning the LOBA brings recognition to photographers, elevating how people perceive and engage with their work.
As we eagerly await the announcement of the winners on October 9, these projects stand as a testament to the power of photography to shed light on the world's fractures and its resilience.
- The 2025 Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) showcases captivating photo series delving into emotionally profound and socially significant topics.
- Lynsey Addario's series, titled "Mom, I Want to Live," tells the story of a Ukrainian girl's struggle with eye cancer amidst war.
- Other finalists' photo series, yet to be fully disclosed, are described as powerful works that challenge photography's boundaries.
- The Leica Oskar Barnack Award shortlisted series are accessible online, serving as a reminder of photography's potential to highlight critical issues.
- The winners of the 2025 Leica Oskar Barnack Award will be announced on October 9 at Leica's headquarters in Wetzlar.
- Frederik Rüegger's project, "I Am a Stranger in This Country," documents English and Irish Traveller communities preserving their way of life, while Xiangjie Peng's black-and-white series explores underground LGBTQ+ spaces in China.
- Kalum Carter, a multifaceted visual storyteller with a focus on photography books, curation, and editing, will contribute significantly to the exhibition and accompanying catalog of the award.
- Leica, celebrating its centenary year, is releasing special edition Leica 100 cameras and a book chronicling the last 100 years of Leica photography, with winning the LOBA conferring recognition and influencing public perception of photographers' work.
