LensCulture Street Photography Awards 2026

Nanna Heitmann was born in Ulm, Germany, in 1994. She is based in Moscow and covers current events such as the invasion of Ukraine, while pursuing long-term projects that often focus on the way people respond to, and interact, with their environment.

Heitmann has documented the effects of climate change, including catastrophic forest fires and melting permafrost in Siberia (As Frozen Lands Burn), as well as the peatlands complex of the Congo Basin, which serves as the world’s largest carbon reservoir (Beneath The Trees). She has been published by National Geographic, Time, and M Le Magazine du Monde, among others, and contributes to the New York Times and New Yorker. Her visual journalism has been recognized with numerous prizes, including the Olivier Rebbot Award for her work on Russia’s Covid experience and a World Press Photo Award for her story on forest fires.

Heitmann became a Magnum Photos nominee in 2019, an associate member two years later, and a full member in 2023. She joined the agency on the strength of two bodies of personal work that both deal with issues of isolation — physical, social, and spiritual. Weg vom Fenster (Gone From the Window) focused on the inhabitants of Germany’s last operating coal mine. Hiding From Baba Yaga, a project whose title is inspired by the witch of Slavic folklore, involved Heitmann following one of the world’s longest rivers from the Republic of Tuva northward through Siberia, photographing the lives of people living on the remote banks of the Yenisei River. Her gaze conveys the dignity and humanity of these people and allows the viewer to look at them with curiosity and empathy.

www.magnumphotos.com

Eslah Attar is a visual storyteller from the suburbs of Ohio where she studied photojournalism and documented immigration in her community. Prior to joining The New York Times as a photo editing fellow, she worked at National Geographic as an associate photo editor. Before then, she worked at National Public Radio as a photo editor and photographer.

www.nytimes.com

Michael Foley opened his eponymous gallery in the fall of 2004 after fourteen years of working with notable photography galleries, including Fraenkel Gallery, Howard Greenberg Gallery, and Yancey Richardson Gallery.

In 2002, Foley continued his interest in educating and working with artists by serving on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology, and International Center of Photography, where he teaches and lectures on contemporary photography issues at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

He joined Leica in 2023 as the Gallery Director of the New York Meatpacking Store & Gallery.

Foley lives in Manhattan with his wife, Maya, and son, Jack.

leica-camera.com/en-US/Leica-Galleries/Leica-Gallery-New-York

Dr. Rebecca Swift, Senior Vice President, Creative, leads content creation used in award‑winning advertising, design and editorial around the world. Working closely with creators and art creators globally, Rebecca plays a critical role in ensuring that Getty Images is continually evolving and provides fresh relevant content, which in turn engages and inspires communicators around the globe.

With over 20 years of experience in the photography industry, Rebecca was one of the founding members of the creative research team at Getty Images, introducing and steering visual research methodology within the industry.

Rebecca is passionate about the importance of diversity and inclusion in front of and behind the lens, and is particularly interested in evolving visual representation of women. She is the lead on the #ShowUs partnership with Dove that has won over 40 international creative awards including a Glass Lion and two Effies.

Rebecca enjoys sharing the Creative Insights team’s research at industry events as well as working with academic researchers and lectures around the world. Rebecca has been recognized as one of AdAge’s “20 Women to Watch” and is a Campaign magazine’s Female Frontier honouree as well as being awarded the “Most Influential Leader in UK Visual Media”.

Rebecca has a PhD in Photography.

www.gettyimages.com

Audrey Delaporte is a picture editor for the international department at the French daily newspapers Le Monde, working with photographers worldwide with a focus on Middle East, Africa and South America.

After a master degree in geopolitics at the French institute of geopolitics, she began her career at Le Monde’s Infographics department in 2018, mainly working on geopolitical pages. In 2021 after a diploma in photojournalism at the EMI-CFD in Paris she joined the photo desk at the breaking news desk covering live news and sports.

www.lemonde.fr

Scott Hall is the Photo Director at Travel + Leisure magazine. Previously, he was the Director of Photography at Departures and Newsweek, and a Photo Editor at T: The New York Times Style Magazine. His work has been recognized by The Society of Publications Designers, American Photography and PDN. Hall holds a BFA in Cinema Studies from New York University and an MA in Media Studies from The New School.

www.travelandleisure.com

Gulnara Lyabib Samoilova is a photographer, author, and founder of Women Street Photographers. With 40 years’ combined experience as a documentary and street photographer, artist, darkroom printer, photojournalist, and photo editor, Samoilova transformed the successful Instagram account @WomenStreetPhotographers into a global platform. She has launched a website, traveling exhibitions, artist residency, inspirational film series, and photography book, Women Street Photographers (Prestel, 2021). A former Associated Press photojournalist, Samoilova received national and international awards for her iconic photographs of September 11, including first prize in the World Press Photo competition. She holds a certificate in creative practices from the International Center of Photography in New York City and a diploma in photography from Moscow Polytech College. Samoilova lives and works in New York City.

www.womenstreetphotographers.com

Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1985, Sam Ferris completed an Honours degree in the Arts, receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s University Medal, before undertaking postgraduate research at the University of New South Wales School. His relocation to Sydney during this period marked the beginning of his serious engagement with photography around 2010.

A previous Lens Culture winner, his work has been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions in Sydney and New York, and featured in publications such as Reclaim the Street (Thames & Hudson) and 100 Great Street Photographs (Prestel). He is the author of two monographs: In Visible Light (2020) and Rain Rain Go (2024), both of which explore contemporary urban life through a disctictive observational and cinematic style.

Alongside his photographic work, Ferris is an active educator, mentor and festival organiser. He co-founded the Aussie Street Festival in 2018 and joined the international street photography collective Burn My Eye in 2021. He regularly leads workshops, lectures and portfolio reviews internationally, including recently appearing at the Dublin Street Photography Festival. Based in Sydney, Australia, Ferris continues to work across long-term documentary and street photography projects while supporting emerging photographers through education and community initiatives.

samferris.com / @ferriswhiskey

Laura Sackett is the creative director and co-founder of LensCulture, one of the leading sites committed to discovering and publishing the best in the contemporary photography. She leads all aspects of design including strategy, brand, website, print, communications, screenings and exhibitions. Besides leading the creative direction for LensCulture, she also designs and co-curates LensCulture exhibitions and the online galleries. Laura is a juror, reviewer & nominator in several international Photo Awards and Festivals. She is a founding Board Member of PhotoAlliance, and earned an MFA in photography from the California College of the Arts. She currently lives in Oakland, CA.

www.lensculture.com