GJZ PHOTOGRAPHY PRESENTS - The International Photography Awards 2026.

The international photography awards is a competitive event.

For the 2026 program, It attracted over 14,000 entries from over 139 countries.

So quite competitive as you can imagine.

Previously, the highest ranking I have achieved was in 2016 where my photo journal Poggioreale, managed to make it into the top 3. That was a very special moment for me. It was at a time where I predominately did landscapes style imagery and it was deeply personal experience for me to travel back to my mothers village that was abandoned after the earthquake in 1968. It was a hugely collaborative effort that I am very proud off.

This award in 2026 is unique, as it’s the first time a photo that I have taken of a person not a place, has achieved such a high standing. Even though I didn’t make the top 3 , it is a very humbling experience to make the top 20 in my category, especially within such a talented field.

Special thank you goes out to my talent Jade who did this jump through the air at least three times to get it perfect (she actually was the one who made the decision to do it again and again not me as I thought it was perfect the first time), my friend Alison for setting this shoot up, the other ballerina on the day Amber who helped with the material, the judges at the IPA, and everyone who has supported me on my journey.

IPA Honorable mention for 2026

The photo of Amber leaping through the air made it to the IPA Official Selection Criteria.