The Outstanding Maternity Award has completed its 36th season, highlighting exceptional maternity and family photography from around the world. With photographers representing 15 countries, the competition continues to demonstrate the universal language of familial love through visual storytelling. This year's jury, comprising internationally acclaimed photographers Elif ES from Germany and Mariana Bontempo from Brazil, selected images that powerfully communicate familial bonds.
Elif ES, a master's degree holder in International Photography, and Mariana Bontempo, whose work has been exhibited at prestigious venues like the Carrousel du Louvre, brought extensive expertise to the selection process. The winning photographs represent diverse cultural perspectives, capturing moments from pregnancy through everyday family life. Photographers from Portugal, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, the United States, Cyprus, India, Italy, France, Martinique, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Canada contributed to this global artistic dialogue.
Founded in 2014, the award has spent a decade celebrating photographers who capture authentic, emotionally resonant family moments. Eliane Pellegrini, the award's founder with 12 years of international photography experience, emphasized the significance of cultural diversity in this year's submissions. The competition goes beyond a traditional photography contest, serving as a platform for photographers to showcase their work and reach broader audiences.
By highlighting the nuanced, intimate moments of family life, the Outstanding Maternity Award continues to elevate the art of family photography on an international stage. The award's decade-long commitment to celebrating family bonds through photography has established it as a significant platform for visual storytellers worldwide, fostering cross-cultural understanding through shared human experiences of family and parenthood.
