Every year, the TIPA World Awards gives photographers and videographers a clear look at where the industry is heading. These awards aren’t just about gear. They reflect how creators are working, what matters to them, and what trends are shaping photography and video right now.
If you shoot professionally or create content regularly, this is one of the few industry announcements worth paying attention to.
What the TIPA World Awards represent
The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) is made up of leading photography and imaging publications from around the world. Every year, editors and industry specialists evaluate new equipment and trends across the entire imaging market.
The awards are widely considered one of the most recognised benchmarks in the industry. They highlight the best cameras, lenses, accessories, software, and imaging technology released during the year.
For photographers and videographers, that means one thing, these awards are not based on hype. They’re based on real testing, real use cases, and real-world performance.
camerAmore 2026: The creator-focused part of the awards
Alongside the product awards, TIPA runs a creator-focused competition called camerAmore. The 2026 edition focuses on something simple but powerful: the relationship between photographers and their gear.
The competition includes three practical categories:
- My Camera and I
- Camera in Action
- What’s in my camera bag
Here’s a clear breakdown of the main winners and what made them stand out.
Grand Prize Winner
Julien Gidoin - France
The winning image was taken during a Black Lives Matter gathering in Paris and focuses on a very human moment rather than a dramatic one. The photograph reflects a documentary-style approach where the photographer becomes part of the story instead of standing outside it.
What makes this image stand out is the intention behind it. The work focuses on real people, real situations, and long-term storytelling rather than a single striking frame. It reflects a growing shift in photography toward meaningful documentary work instead of purely visual impact.
Category winner: My Camera and I
Gilbert Murray - England
A simple mirror selfie
The story behind the image makes it even stronger. Murray started photography at the age of 11 after receiving a German rangefinder camera from his father. He learned as much as he could about photography at school and in his local library. Growing up in 1960s London, a tough time for people of colour, meant film and developing were luxuries he often couldn’t afford. In the 1970s, working full time gave him the opportunity to spend more on photography and to visit his mother in rural Jamaica, an experience that exposed him to vibrant landscapes and communities that deeply influenced his eye.
As a photographer, he has always carried a camera, documenting events that appeared on national front pages, meeting notable figures like Princess Diana, and winning various competitions. That lifelong dedication and personal connection to photography is exactly what the “My Camera and I” category was designed to highlight.
Category winner: Camera in Action
Claudio Vignola - Italy
Under the moonlight
This image captures a behind-the-scenes moment before a fashion show rather than the show itself. Vignola was there with no assignment and no press card, just a camera and a question that had haunted him for years: what happens before the goddess walks the runway? The backstage was organised chaos, with neon lights, hands adjusting hair, screens recording, and flashes firing. Everything orbited around the model, twenty years old, probably fresh from her mother’s apartment in Eastern Europe, her face still halfway through its transformation. And yet, she was already untouchable.
That’s what makes the image powerful. Vignola captured the imperceptible instant when a girl stops being herself and became the idea that others hold of her. The screens multiplied and fragmented her face, but she existed elsewhere, sealed in a focused silence only those about to step on stage truly know.
This photograph shows the process behind the final image, not just the finished result. It’s a reminder that the most compelling moments often happen before the “main” shot, and that careful observation and timing can transform ordinary chaos into extraordinary storytelling.
Category winner: What’s in My Camera Bag
Binta M’Baye - Poland
My Gear, My Reflection
This category was one of the most creative this year, and the winning image stands out because it turns gear into something deeply personal. Binta M’Baye arranged cameras and lenses on a wooden floor she knows well to form a face. As she explains: “This arrangement is a quiet self-portrait, each piece of gear a part of how I see, how I work, and who I am when I create. It’s intimate and personal: these objects are not just tools, they are extensions of myself, shaping every image I make and reflecting the way I move through the world with a camera in hand.”
What the winners all have in common:
- Real stories instead of staged concepts
- Simple compositions that communicate clearly
- A strong personal connection to photography
- Creative ideas that don’t rely on expensive gear
The 2026 camerAmore winners show a very clear direction. Photography is becoming more personal, more story-driven, and more connected to real life.
If you’re building a photography or video career right now, the takeaway isn’t just to look at the winning images. It’s to understand why they won and how you can apply the same thinking to your own work. Read more.
If you want to learn how to capture more unique shots in your own field, you can also explore our workshops. They’re designed to give photographers real, hands-on experience rather than just theory.
