Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve finally come to the time of the year when Hasselblad—one of the most prestigious camera companies of our time—unveils the winners of its bi-annual contest, Hasselblad Masters 2023. Like the organizers, the competition is one of the most sought-after awards in the photo community, where the winners—chosen in six categories—receive the honors following the grand jury’s decisions and public votes.
The lead image is courtesy of Jan Pypers for the Hasselblad Masters 2023 competition.
The contest opened in December last year and received a whopping 85,000 submissions worldwide—a 35% increase from the 2021 competition. This year, Stefan Jensen — Photographer and Curator at the Hasselblad Foundation — chaired the grand jury and seven more renowned judges from the industry. It includes stalwarts such as Andy Saunders, Senior Vice President at Getty Images; Anne Farrar, Assistant Managing Editor of Photography at National Geographic; Aya Musa, Senior Curator at Foam; Jianguo Feng, Professor at Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Kirstie Johnstone, Creative Production Partner at AMV BBDO; Maria Svarbova, Hasselblad Master 2018; and Marine Merindol, Global Director of Strategy and Operations at Magnum Photos.
So, what’s in for the winners of the Hasselblad Masters 2023 contest? They earn the title of “Hasselblad Master” and are awarded a Hasselblad medium-format camera, two XCD series lenses, and 5,000 euros. These photographs will also grace the commemorative Hasselblad Masters book and will be published on all of Hasselblad’s digital portals.
Without further ado, let’s look at the 2023 winners:
Landscape Weimin Chu | China Series: Tibetan Landscape from the Train Window
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Through this series, Chu uses trains (one of the significant forms of transport in her country) to portray the scenic beauty of the contemporary landscape and the modern architecture that it adorns like jewels. Using a frame-within-frame composition, Chu invites viewers on a journey with her through space and time.
Speaking about Chu’s work, juror Farrar said, “These landscapes with a sense of humanity send me on a trip across various locations. The color palette is soft and refined and intensely balanced.”
Architecture Tiina Itkonen | Finland Series: Home
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The serene landscapes and colorful wooden houses testify to the challenging life of Inuit hunters and their families, living in extreme conditions in East and North West Greenland. Amidst these moments of silence and uncertainty, Itkonen portrays the community’s resilience and ingenuity, especially when it faces the brunt of inevitable climate change.
Farrar reveals she loves the series for its “freedom to let the building live in a space. There’s a softness to the pallet which reflects the simple architecture on a quiet landscape.”
Portrait Panji Indra Permana | Indonesia Series: Bicycle Street Sellers of Jakarta
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Historically, cycles were considered an emblem of privilege in Indonesia, primarily used by officials, aristocrats, and wealthy merchants. However, with this series, Permana reveals the shift in her country’s culture following COVID-19. Today, cycles have become crucial for millions of livelihoods as they promote a healthier lifestyle and a greener planet.
Juror Jensen said that with the “backdrop and flash,” Permana “plays on the historical aspects of studio photography, bringing out elements reminiscent of historical paintings.”
Art Jan Pypers | Belgium Series: Diorama
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Pypers’ project examines our lost bond with nature through traditional dioramas and modern representation. As reality and surrealism merge effortlessly, his images elicit curiosity, intrigue, a childlike sense of wonder, and the urge to rekindle our relationship with Earth.
According to jury member Jensen, Pypers “skillfully balances what looks like a documentary scene with added elements that make us question their reality.”
Street Tom Pitts | United Kingdom Series: The Commute
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Photographed at bus stops in England, Pitts’ series captures the fleeting moments and emotions of strangers, which otherwise often go unnoticed. Whether it is sorrow or loneliness of individuals, the photographer aimed to capture the “underlying beauty that passes us by.”
To jury member Saunders, these photographs “create a poignancy and narrative, essential to successful street photography.”
Project // 21 Efraïm Baaijens | Netherlands Series: Tiny Titans
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Baaijens’ macro photos depict the immense beauty and peculiarities of the insect world. Through this series, he hopes to spread awareness about their vitality to our ecosystem and how they maintain harmony in the natural world. Moreover, Baaijens reminds viewers that one can avoid traveling, but it doesn’t take the length and breadth of the world to witness these creatures. All one has to do is “step outside and look closely.”
Juror Saunders states that he likes how we are “we’re “drawn into believing these insects have character and what they might be ‘thinking.'”
For more information, visit the Hasselblad Masters website.