We are delighted to announce the winner and runner-up of our 2025/26 Student Photography Competition. Open to student photographers from around the world, it attracted hundreds of entries from students across Asia, Europe, the USA, Australia and the UK. This showcased an inspiring breadth of creativity and technical excellence in analogue photography and darkroom printing.

Winner: Jamie Plater, Stamford College

The overall winner is Jamie Plater from Stamford College. Jamie’s striking wildlife image was captured on ILFORD FP4+ film. It was printed on ILFORD MULTIGRADE RC Deluxe Pearl darkroom paper. The judges were impressed with its technical mastery and composition.

Natural World ILFORD Photo student competition winning image shot by Jamie Plater

Reflecting on his achievement, Jamie said:

“When I saw the brief for the competition, I was over the moon. Wildlife photography has been a big inspiration and something I have practiced for years. To win an international competition was a massive shock and I am so proud that all of my hard work has paid off and I am so grateful from all the support I have had from my lectures and student mentor.

“What I love most about the dark room is the time and care you get to put into your prints. Patience is key and it feels very rewarding when you get a successful print and I love having a physical outcome.

“In the future, I hope I can progress in my wildlife photography and earn awards like this that make me feel proud of my work.”

As part of his prize, Jamie will receive an Olympus OM2 spot program with a Zuiko 50mm f1.8 lens donated by Vintage Camera Hut, along with a comprehensive selection of ILFORD Photo film and darkroom products to support his continued practice. In addition, his winning image will be professionally printed and mounted by HARMAN Lab. (harmanlab.com). It will also be exhibited at this year’s Photography and Video Show, giving audiences the opportunity to experience his work in person.

Runner-Up: Zhujun Jiang, University of the Arts London

The runner-up prize has been awarded to Zhujun Jiang from University of the Arts London. His compelling image was shot on ILFORD DELTA 100 film. It stood out for its refined tonal range and thoughtful visual narrative.

Natural World ILFORD Photo student competition runner up image shot by Zhujun Jiang

Zhujun will receive a selection of ILFORD Photo products to further develop his analogue workflow. He will also receive a Nikon F55 with 2 lenses donated by Camera Crib. In addition, his work will also be displayed at Photography and Video Show exhibition alongside the winning image and ten other shortlisted entries.

Celebrating Global Analogue Talent

The ILFORD Photo Student Photography Competition continues to champion the next generation of analogue photographers, and darkroom printers, encouraging students to explore traditional photographic processes while developing their own visual voice. The high standard of entries from across the world demonstrates the enduring relevance and excitement of film photography within contemporary creative education.

Both the winning and runner-up images will be exhibited at this year’s Photography and Video Show, offering visitors the chance to see the award-winning prints up close and celebrate the achievements of these talented student printers.

Thank you

Our thanks go to the lecturers and technicians who are committed to providing such a high standard of photographic education. This competition could not run without their support.

Next Competition

The 2026/27 ILFORD PHOTO student competition will be announced on the website and @ilfordphoto social media channels shortly.