The winners of this year’s Z6III challenge revealed

Winner: Nikon Europe 

Stuart Clapp

Skateboarding, fashion and music photographer

Kitbag: D500, FM2, NIKKOR AF-S DX 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR, NIKKOR AF DX Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED and Nikon SB-26 speedlight flash

@stuartjclapp

The story: “This is Umar – he goes big on tricks. And high! I saw him trying this trick (a boneless) at City Mill Skate Park in London during a charity event. I knew I had to get a photo. I love photographing subjects into the sun, and in this case, I had the flash on full power to counter the sun. I put Umar high in the frame and aimed the flash at him with my other hand. I had the flash on a cable. I love supporting charities whenever I can – later, I realised the significance of what’s written under Umar’s skateboard: Karma.”

Winner: Nikon France 

Aurelie Guisiano 

Street and reportage photographer

Kitbag: Nikon Z8, D7500, D810, D850, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S

@globalworming

The story: “Cirque du Soleil artist and freestyle athlete Abou Traoré jumps in front of the Moretti Tower at La Défense, Paris. I made continuous adjustments in angle and composition to freeze the precise moment of Abou and the ball mid-air. Using a high shutter speed was crucial to eliminate any blur, especially with the moderate lighting. The colourful tubes of the Moretti Tower in the background enhances the sense of movement, reinforcing the dynamic impression of the frozen jump.”

Winner: Nikon Germany 

Hannes Schwessinger

Travel, documentary and portrait photographer

Kitbag: D750 and NIKKOR AF-S 35mm f/1.8G ED

@hannes_schwessinger

The story: “Skateboarder Gereon Hecht and I were visiting the Alexander the Great monument in Thessaloniki, Greece, near the harbour. The light, colours, and architecture captivated us immediately, and, at that same moment, a young girl rode her scooter down the promenade. With my friend on the skateboard in the foreground and her in the background, it offered the perfect composition. Skateboarders, regardless of time and place, are a common sight in many cityscapes – they do, of course, use the city’s existing features for their sport. They are perfect examples of everyday athletes.”

Shortlisted entries

Santiago Arias-Franco

The story: “A Paris Olympic Games volunteer cycles under the Pont de Bir-Hakeim creating a striking moment when light, setting and subject are all aligned. I wanted to highlight the bridge’s leading lines and architecture, while keeping the cyclist as the focal point. Using a NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens and Z5, a 1/400 sec shutter speed and f/2.8 aperture gave me a sharp, yet soft, depth of field focused on the cyclist. The golden light of the sunrise filtering through the colonnade added warmth to the scene. It was a stroke of luck that the cyclist veered slightly into the centre of the lane, which created a balanced composition.”

Lukas Dekkers

The story: “In the early mornings in Datça, Turkey, locals use the sea for swimming and sports activities. I liked this – people integrating movement into their daily rituals, their own way. As the sun rose, casting the landscape in soft, warm colours, I noticed a lone paddleboarder moving slowly through the calm sea, far from the swimmers. I waited for a moment until he had drifted past the rising sun, perfectly framed against the incredible mountain backdrop. To me, the paddleboarder embodies an everyday athlete taking advantage of the early hours to move amid the beauty of nature. It’s not about performance but about integrating sports into daily life, in harmony with the surroundings and one’s own capabilities.”

Sylvain Guionnet

The story: “I’ve been waiting to take this shot for so long. On a multiple-days boat trip on Mentawai Island, I searched for the perfect barrel wave with no one in the water except surfer Vincent Primel. One session the light wasn’t the best, so I moved closer to capture Vincent’s emotion and water details using a NIKKOR AF DX Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED – with this lens, I like to photograph above and below the water’s surface, although that’s trickier inside the wave. I was thrilled to see the end result.”

Claudio Zingarello

The story: “My goal was to capture not only Syrian Olympic swimmer Alaa Maso’s athletic skills, but also the quiet moment of reflection and strength that embodies his journey. Alaa (who represents the Olympic Refugee Team) is taking a break during his almost four-hour ‘Swim for Good’ fundraiser across Lake Geneva – a challenge bringing awareness to the dangerous 12km refugee route from Lesbos to Turkey. The photograph embodies a journey of survival and resilience. Early morning light reflects off the lake, casting a soft, almost serene, glow on Alaa’s face.”

Thomas Hubener

The story: “I took this photograph celebrating my reunion with my 3-year-old daughter after a long international tour as a Cirque du Solei artist, in my home in Hossegor, France. I love to take self-portraits. I set my camera on a tripod and select self-timer mode. My favourite sunsets are cloudy as they add depth and colour in the shot. The light and weather were perfect. It was as if all the elements aligned to create a beautiful reunion.”

Anna Kuczyńska

The story: “My energetic and playful dog Sparta had to be my ‘everyday athlete.’ Sparta was in her element in a heather field, running around and playing with boundless enthusiasm. My aim was to freeze the moment that truly showed her playful nature and her connection to the people around her. The sun was setting and the natural light fading, so I had to balance capturing her in a sharp, dynamic pose while ensuring the exposure was well-controlled, especially with diminishing light. This photo represents not just an action shot, but a moment of joy and spontaneity.”

Richard Gill

The story: “In August, sleepy Chamonix in the French Alps transforms into a hub of activity hosting the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc – one of the largest trail running races in the world. The day after my race, I witnessed the elegant – and somewhat mad – paragliders take flight at 1000m. I found the morning light, cool hues and calmness drew me to their impressive skill and adrenaline-fuelled craft. My aim was to catch a glimpse of the light hitting the wing, which made a nice contrast to the background, as the light rays lead your eyes to the subject in question.”

Bachar Alnaser

The story: “Captured on a cloudy day in Sweden, my aim was to photograph the moment the heron opens its wings, a symbol of both strength and precision. The reflection in the water adds a serene balance to the dynamic motion, showcasing the bird’s mastery of flight and landing. Using a fast shutter speed of 1/1000 sec at f/8 and ISO 1100, I was able to freeze the motion and capture the stunning symmetry of its wings and reflection. The murky background posed a challenge, so I edited the photo in a high-key style, which allowed the heron to stand out further”

Jolanda de Leeuw

The story: “One August morning, I visited the Kalmthoutse Heide in Belgium. We took a gamble on the weather – but soon after we arrived there was ground fog. Just as the sun was breaking through the clouds, a shepherd came with her dogs and flock. A big dream came true unexpectedly: the spot where I was standing was exactly where the sheep were led to go out onto the heath. I had to quickly switch camera settings and composition the moment the flock came towards me. My ultimate goal, though, was to enjoy the moment and try to capture everything as beautifully as possible.”  

Damaris Abigt-Meyer

The story: “My photography captures emotions and mood, and I love to include nature and natural light. I followed a big air kitesurfer at Bloubergstrand in Cape Town, South Africa. I photographed the first time he walks over the dune, blinded by the sun and feeling the strong wind, as he approaches the wild Atlantic Ocean. I love the combination of the beautiful view of Table Mountain and then the excitement of the kitesurfer.”

Marie-Elodie Place

The story: “Every outing in Paris feels like a new source of inspiration. I came across a street dancer performing an improvised Lindy Hop while exploring the Notre Dame area. She instantly grabbed my attention, and I felt compelled to capture the moment with my Zfc. There was something captivating about her energy that words couldn’t quite express, and my main goal was to capture the emotion and the intricate footwork in her dance. I wanted the movement and precision to come through clearly in the photo.”

Ramona Baskurt

The story: “I’m a sport and animal photographer and for this photo, I wanted to do something unusual: use colour run powder to capture the speed of my husband, Yunus, cycling. Captured on my D750 and AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, I set my settings to f/2.8, 1/3200 shutter speed, 195mm focal length and ISO 100. My main challenge was to capture the fast speed and then to clean up all the powder afterwards!”

Yvonne Gosch (neé Spiegelhauer)

The story: “My photography combines art, nature and authentic human moments, captured in natural light. Here, I aimed to photograph the sensuality of two professional ballerinas at Dance Masterclass school, while working with a simple location and the low light and harsh shadows in the room. I especially love the contrast between the cold, industrial hall and the warmth expressed by the two dancers.”