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Triptych of a stone hand sculpture at night, birds in a circle, and cowboy hat silhouette.

Marcin Giba’s ‘The Last Winter’ Wins Top Honor at 2026 Minimalist Photography Awards

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-08-30

The 2026 Minimalist Photography Awards recognized the austere beauty and evocative simplicity in works from around the globe. Amongst the international entries, Polish artist Marcin Giba stood out, earning the title of Minimalist Photographer of the Year. With over 6,200 submissions from nearly 70 countries, Giba’s distinction carried a prize of €2,000, approximately $2,300.

Icy landscape with dark shapes and textures from 'The Last Winter' collection.
‘The Last Winter’ by Marcin Giba — Minimalist Photographer of the Year 2026

Minimalist Photography Awards: Giba’s evocative series captures fading memories

Giba’s award-winning series, The Last Winter, was crafted in Rybnik, Poland. The collection, which also triumphed in the Aerial Photography category, brilliantly translates the abstract patterns of ice and snow into a visual narrative that invites deeper contemplation. Shapes like eyes and a heart emerge as the observer engages with the imagery, offering an introspective journey through nature’s canvas.

Additionally, appreciate the power of narrative and emotion in photo series by exploring these stunning close-up photos that have captured viewers worldwide.

Minimalist winter landscape featuring patterns and contrasts from 'The Last Winter' series.
‘The Last Winter’ by Marcin Giba — Minimalist Photographer of the Year 2026

The event highlighted the seamless blend of landscape and abstraction in Giba’s work, encouraging viewers to find personal connections within the icy landscapes. Echoing his childhood memories of harsh winters, Giba reflects on the warming climate and the possibility that such winters may become only recollections.

Snow and ice formations create stark contrasts in 'The Last Winter' photo.
‘The Last Winter’ by Marcin Giba — Minimalist Photographer of the Year 2026
Dark, abstract patterns in a wintry scene from 'The Last Winter' by Marcin Giba.
‘The Last Winter’ by Marcin Giba — Minimalist Photographer of the Year 2026

Diverse interpretations of minimalism

The competition featured diverse expressions of minimalism across twelve categories. Winning entries included haunting scenes of deserted structures and an awe-inspiring sculpture beneath the Milky Way. These images demonstrate that while minimalism is a shared thread, its interpretations can vary widely—from textureless compositions to those harnessing subdued color palettes.

For those intrigued by how minimalism can manifest in photography, explore the benefits of mirrorless over DSLR cameras for capturing minimalist shots.

Milad Safabakhsh, the founder and a jury member of the contest, emphasizes, “The 2026 edition showcases photographers who discover beauty in simplicity and light. Each artist’s approach highlights how minimalist photography continues to evolve and inspire.”

Circular cluster of starlings with a star-shaped crack against a bright sky.
A dark, circular cluster of thousands of starlings against a bright white sky, with a small, star-shaped crack in the center.
Heart-shaped melting ice patch on snow, with animal tracks crossing the surface.
An aerial view shows a heart-shaped patch of dark, melting ice surrounded by white snow, with animal tracks crossing the surface.
Star-shaped crack in a frozen lake, surrounded by circular footprints in the snow.
An aerial view shows a dark, star-shaped crack in a frozen, snow-covered lake, surrounded by a circular pattern of footprints.

Celebrating category winners

For more insights and visual experiences, the competition’s website hosts a full gallery of this year’s winners. The resounding message is clear: minimalist photography’s strength lies in its ability to convey profound stories through simplicity and restraint.

Smooth, flowing rock formations with deep shadows and bright highlights, abstract.
Abstract black and white view of smooth, flowing rock formations with deep shadows and bright highlights.
White fetal figure in swirling dark pattern resembling a nebula or fluid.
A small, white, fetal-shaped figure lies in the center of a dark, swirling, abstract pattern resembling a nebula or fluid.
Colorful geometric building with cantilevered orange section behind manicured hedge.
A modern, colorful building with geometric shapes and a cantilevered orange section stands behind a manicured hedge and lawn.
Black-and-white portrait with woman holding a mirror fragment reflecting her face.
A black-and-white portrait of a woman holding a mirror fragment that reflects a partial view of her face and hands.
White chapel set against massive concrete cooling towers under a cloudy sky.
A small, white chapel stands in front of three massive, towering concrete cooling towers under a cloudy sky.
Tall cypress trees atop rolling landscape with a big, billowing cloud above.
A small cluster of tall, thin cypress trees stands atop a rolling, barren landscape beneath a massive, billowing white cloud.
Curved bridge with blurred light trails from vehicles on foggy night.
A long-exposure shot of a curved bridge at night, with blurred white and red light trails from vehicles moving through thick fog.
Stone hand sculpture in desert night scene under the Milky Way.
A large stone sculpture of a hand rises from a desert landscape under a starry night sky featuring the Milky Way.
Deer's head and antlers peek over snow ridge in expansive white landscape.
A deer’s head and antlers emerge from behind a snow-covered ridge in a vast, white landscape.
Person with red hair and large oval torso hole holds a yellow bird.
A person with red hair and a large, empty oval hole through their torso holds a small yellow bird in their hand.
Silhouette of person in cowboy hat against blue sky with white buildings.
A person in a cowboy hat and red shirt stands in silhouette against a bright blue sky and white buildings.
Spiral structure silhouette against cloudy sky, with three people visible.
A silhouette of a spiral structure against a dark, cloudy sky, with two people standing on a middle level and one person at the top.

Source: petapixel.com

Frequently asked questions

Who won the Minimalist Photographer of the Year 2026?

Polish artist Marcin Giba won the title of Minimalist Photographer of the Year at the 2026 Minimalist Photography Awards.

What inspired Marcin Giba’s series ‘The Last Winter’?

Giba’s series ‘The Last Winter’ was inspired by his childhood memories of harsh winters and reflects on the warming climate, illustrating the possibility that such winters may become only recollections.

How many submissions were there for the 2026 awards?

There were over 6,200 submissions from nearly 70 countries for the 2026 Minimalist Photography Awards.

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