2015 Miami Street Photography Festival Winners Announced

2015 Miami Street Photography Festival Winners

The winners for the 2015 Miami Street Photography Festival have been announced and this year’s grand prize goes to Swapnil Jedhe for his masterfully layered shot of kids at play. Swapnil goes home with a brand new Leica Q and a bunch of other prizes in addition to the pride of winning the most respected street photography contest on the planet. Hit the jump for more info on all of this year’s winners!

2015 Miami Street Photography Festival Winners Announced

2015 Miami Street Photography Fetsival Winners
David Alan Harvey At 2015 MSPF Finalists Exhibition

The Miami Street Photography Festival is an international event showcasing the best of contemporary street photography. The festival’s competition is judged by street photographers for street photographers and this year’s judges included David Alan Harvey, Bruce Davidson, Peter Turnley and Maggie Steber in addition to the two featured street photography collectives, Spontanea and The Street Collective.

The list of finalists for this year’s competition reads like the who’s who of the street photography world so the judges had a tough job choosing the best of the best. Here are the 2015 Miami Street Photography Festival winners:

First Place – Swapnil Jedhi

2015 Miami Street Photography Festival Grand Prize Winner
2015 Miami Street Photography Festival Winner – Photo © Swapnil Jedhi

This year’s grand prize was awarded to Swapnil Jedhe from India for his outstanding image of children at play. The windows of the structure create several frames within the frame and Swapnil’s expert command of layers and composition creates a multitude of little stories that play out in harmony with each other.

As the grand prize winner, Swapnil received a Leica Q from the Leica Store Miami, a leather ONA camera bag, and a 2 year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Do yourself a favor and check out more of this amazing photographer’s work on Flickr:

Swapnil Jedhe on Flickr.

Second Place – George Marazakis

2015 Miami Stret Photography Festival 2nd Place - George Marazakis
2015 Miami Stret Photography Festival 2nd Place – George Marazakis

Second place was awarded to George Marazakis from Greece for his school of fish swimming in murky waters. It’s a strangely compelling image that speaks of the bond shared by the swimmers as much as the murky water seems to draw them apart. Nicely done!

As the second place winner, George picked up an ONA camera bag and one year of Adobe Creative Cloud which isn’t too shabby at all!

George has a ton of truly excellent work in his Flickr stream so be sure to check it out:

George Marazakis on Flickr.

Third Place – Lauren Welles

2015 Miami Street Photography Festival Winners Lauren Welles
2015 Miami Street Photography Festival 3rd Place – Photo © Lauren Welles

Third place goes to Lauren Welles for her black and white beach work out. The apparatus separates the frame as the many subjects push and pull themselves in a varitey of poses. But the many varied workouts are miraculously harmonious in the frame and the multiple stories someone speak to each other in spite of themselves. Really well shot!

For her third place shot, Lauren gets an ONA camera bag and a one year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.

You can see more of Lauren’s work on her website:

Lauren Welles Photography.

People’s Choice Award – Marcin Ryczek

2015 Miami Street Photography Festival People's Choice Winner - Marcin Ryczek
2015 Miami Street Photography Festival People’s Choice Winner – Photo © Marcin Ryczek

Marcin’s simple yet elegant shot captured the hearts of everyone in attendance and picked up the people’s choice award. The stark landscape sets the stage and the swarm of swans makes it seem as if the land is exploding into the dark water. Beautifully seen!

Check our more of Marcin’s minimalistic street photography on his website:

Marcin Ryczek Photography

A gallery of finalists from the 2015 Miami Street Photography Festival is available on the MSPF website:

StreetShootr’s Take

The Miami Street Photography Festival contest stands out for the quality its judges (real street photographers) and the prestige associated with the event. The festival is run by Juan Jose Reyes who has dedicated countless hours to promoting street photography for its own sake – this isn’t just another rights grab!

All four shots in this year’s winners are amazing but I keep getting drawn back to the 2nd place winner by George Marazakis. There’s something about the men thrashing about in the dark waters that draws me in. Their expressions each tell a story and their proximity to each other creates as much tension as it does a sense of cummunal bathing. Took me a couple of views before it really started to shine but that’s a mighty fine shot!

However you look at it, the Miami Street Photography gives us all a chance to be exposed to the work of some outstanding street photographers. I can’t wait for next year!!

What’s your take on the 2015 Miami Street Photography Festival winners? Amazing shots that keep your attention? Or are you just tired of street photography contests in general? Post your ideas in the comments below and keep the conversation going!

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