Best Photos Celebrating Women – AAP Magazine 46 Winners Revealed

Throughout the history of photography, women have often been seen through the lens rather than behind it. Their presence was visible, yet their voices frequently unheard. Cast as muses, mothers, or memory keepers, they were rarely recognized as authors of their own narratives.

Yet from the earliest days of photography, women have been quietly — and sometimes defiantly — claiming space. They’ve turned the camera inward and outward, using it as a tool to explore identity, society, intimacy, and resistance. Their work has challenged conventions, redefined beauty, and expanded the language of photography itself.

With this 46th edition of AAP Magazine, we aim to celebrate the women who continue to shape the photographic landscape — not only as subjects, but as visionaries. The theme of this issue centers on women as the subject, but the winning photographers include artists of all genders, united by a shared commitment to portraying womanhood in all its complexity.

The 25 selected artists come from 16 different countries across 5 continents, bringing with them a multitude of cultural backgrounds, lived experiences, and creative voices. Among them, 17 are women photographers, whose images offer both vulnerability and strength, quietude and confrontation. Whether working in portraiture, documentary, fine art, or conceptual photography, each contributor provides a deeply personal and thought-provoking interpretation of what it means to be a woman in today’s world.

Their photographs are tender, bold, poetic, and political — a testament to the enduring power of visual storytelling and the female gaze. These images elevate untold stories, challenge expectations, and expand how we see and understand each other.

Selecting the final group of winners was no easy task given the outstanding quality and emotional depth of the submissions. Yet we are proud to present this diverse and compelling collection — one that honors the role of women in photography and encourages ongoing reflection on representation, authorship, and voice.

The Winner of AAP Magazine #46: Women is Grace Weston (USA) with the series Reclaiming the Muse

My miniature staged photographic series examines familiar muses from past artworks, stories, and mythology, reframing them in contemporary terms through an intersectional feminist lens.
In my version of the Atlas myth, the housewife is in the role of supporting the whole world, while focusing on the small details, such as, vacuuming the carpet. It seems that women are often the most tasked to clean up the messes of the world, whether global or minute.
graceweston.com
@gracewestonphotography
All about Grace Weston


The 2nd place winner is Valentina Sinis (Italy) with the series ‘Were Afghan Women to Unveil Their Tales’

“Were Afghan Women to Unveil Their Tales” is a project offering an intimate look into Afghan women’s lives, highlighting their struggles in a challenging reality. Since the Taliban’s return, Afghanistan has faced severe issues, including the erosion of women’s rights. Over 70 rules now restrict women’s access to education, work, healthcare, and mobility, deeply impacting their lives from public spaces to their homes, where daily limits stifle movement, opportunities, and decisions. Despite this, Afghan women display remarkable resilience. Their choices—leaving home, running businesses, or organizing in communities—are acts of courage, reflecting a fierce determination to preserve their identity in a society designed to suppress them.
www.valentinasinis.com
@valentinabeijing
All about Valentina Sinis


The 3rd place winner is Patricia McElroy (USA) with the series ‘Between Then and Now’

This body of work, Between Then & Now, traces the personal journey of caregiving for my 94-year-old mother as she lives with blindness and dementia. It explores our shared legacy of migration between Ireland and the U.S., and how that experience has shaped memory, cultural identity, and our evolving relationship to place and belonging. What began as a desire to document her before dementia took hold became a deeper reflection on the intertwined histories that shape our family. As my mother moves between moments of clarity and confusion, I capture the fragile space where past and present, here and there, converge. These images reflect love, loss, resilience, and the ways migration continues to shape who we are and where we feel we belong.
patriciamcelroy.com
@gillarua


MERIT AWARD GALLERY
Andrea Bettancini (Italy)

Portrait of an elderly woman in Jodhpur. Elderly women, especially in traditional families, are considered the main transmitters of customs, guardians of memory, family stories, and cultural practices. They are often the mothers and grandmothers who educate the younger generations, not only passing down values and religion but also preserving culinary, artisanal, and ritual traditions.
@andreabettancini
All about Andrea Bettancini


Markku Lahdesmaki (Usa/Finland)

The IGLTA (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association) Championships, a swimming event in Palm Springs, California. Pictured Rose City Raindrops from Portland.
markkuphoto.com
@markkulahdesmaki


Piotr Skubisz (Poland)

This series of mostly monochromatic portraits, titled Portrait of a Poet – A Journey Through Layers, explores the multifaceted persona of Manka Menga, a Tanzanian poet whose work challenges societal norms and serves as a form of self-expression and therapy.
The lines on her face, from a daily morning ritual in honor of her late grandmother, signify a connection to ancestral traditions. They are also like traces of life experiences that have shaped her as an artist.
It's an intimate journey into the poet's singular world, yet a reflection of the universal human experience, where we all seek to commune with ourselves. Highlighting the paradox of human experience – the unique and the universal intertwined.
piotrskubisz.com
@pietus_photo
All about Piotr Skubisz


Nathalie Rubens (USA)



This image is part of a project entitled Seasons of Time, which comprises a series of self-portraits reflecting my experience as a woman in midlife juxtaposed with images of my daughter as she moves through her teenage years. The images in conversation with each other expose how we both are experiencing a certain coming of age, the inevitability of time passing and the precious liminality of aging.
www.nathalierubens.com
@Nathalie-Rubens
Bahrudin Bandic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

A young girl stands before the installation ‘Mother’s Scarf’ in Srebrenica, a powerful tribute to women affected by war. The scarves, donated by women from Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world, symbolize solidarity, remembrance, and resilience. In this moment, she embodies the strength of generations who carry the weight of history yet look toward the future with dignity and hope. This portrait is a reflection of endurance, identity, and the unbreakable spirit of women.
bahrudinbandic.com
@bandiccc


Michele Zousmer (USA)

MIS[S]UNDERSTOOD explores the pivotal role of women in the Irish Traveller community, highlighting their voices to express they are the cornerstone of family life. In this close-knit, culturally rich community, these women not only hold up traditions but also navigate the challenges of preserving their way of life in a radically changing world. Despite being acknowledged as an ethnic culture they are discriminated against in Ireland both socially and politically. My work humanizes a group often denied opportunities because of prejudice and misconceptions. I do not approach photography as an outsider peering in but rather as a fellow human, willing to listen and engage.
www.michelezousmer.com
@michelezousmerphoto
All about Michele Zousmer


Sandra Hernandez (Mexico)

Chợ Đông Ba Market in Hue, Vietnam, is not just a hub for local produce and crafts but also home to beauty salons that have become vital cultural spaces. These family-run salons, blending modern and traditional practices, offer more than haircuts or manicures—they serve as intimate hubs where laughter, solidarity, and the scent of herbal shampoos mix with local stories. Historically, women have adapted urban spaces to their needs, and these beauty parlors stand as “safe spaces” where self-care and collective empowerment intersect. This photograph is part of a project exploring how women reshape public spaces, turning salons into symbols of resilience and community.
vitaflumen.com
@vita_flumen


Caesar Lima (Brazil)

Proving that beauty is indeed more than skin deep, Caesar Lima’s Unusual Beauty Project concentrates on models and even regular day-to-day individuals that have rare skin conditions, such as congenital melanocytic nevi, or CMN, which involves visibly pigmented proliferations on the skin, and Vitiligo, discolorations of the skin caused by depigmentation. While Lima’s lens is focused the topic on the skin conditions and unusual birthmarks, the intent is not to show them for how different they are, but rather to celebrate the beauty in the unusual.
www.caesarlima.com
@caephoto


Takayuki Tobita (Japan)

This work was created by explaining the concept of the shoot to her and lending her the camera for a while, allowing her to take selfies freely in a place where she felt most relaxed. It was fortunate that I was able to capture such a relaxed and lovely expression.
www.hidasan.com
@snowhawking
All about Takayuki Tobita


Susanne Middelberg (Germany)

I'm passionate about creating portraits of individuals who deeply resonate with me, regardless of their background or label. What matters most is the personal connection I share with them and the mutual willingness to truly connect. Whether it's an actor or dancer captivating me on stage, a homeless person I encounter on the street, or someone with whom I share an unexpectedly inspiring conversation, I seek to capture their essence away from their usual surroundings. Inviting them into my studio allows me to focus solely on the individual, stripping away external distractions. In my portraits, I strive to capture honesty and vulnerability. I believe that embracing vulnerability not only enhances our humanity but also fosters kindness and empathy in our world. When people reveal their vulnerabilities, it creates a space for others to do the same, fostering deeper connections and understanding. What truly fascinates me is capturing the dichotomy of opposing qualities within a person simultaneously. It's in these moments of complexity and depth that the true essence of humanity shines through.
www.susannemiddelberg.nl
@susanne_middelberg
All about Susanne Middelberg


Chris Yan (China)

Beijing is an ancient capital with a history of 3,000 years. Many young people today have rediscovered ancient aesthetics through historical dramas. Qing Dynasty costumes hundreds of years ago have become a fashion again. In many places of interest, many young people wear gorgeous costumes from the Qing Dynasty and take photos. Sometimes, walking here, you will have the illusion of traveling through history.
www.chrisyanyan.com
@chrisyan1981
All about Chris Yan


Robert Moran (USA)

Scarification is a traditional practice in various cultures, including some in Ghana where it holds significant cultural meaning. The scars, often seen as symbols of beauty, identity, and social status, can signify rites of passage or tribal affiliation.
I met the young woman in this photograph as she walked along the roadside in Ghana. Bandages cover the most recent scarification on her cheeks. Her intense gaze and overall appearance caught my eye and she accepted my request to do her portrait.
www.robertmoran.com
@robertmoranphotography
All about Robert Moran


Susan Friedman (USA)

The Edge of Forever has to do with transition in my life and my re-thinking of portraits. The challenge for me was to try to represent my love of animals, strong women, the landscape and my own personal narrative. My house is perched on an expanding landscape. There is a precariousness of life out here, an animal spirit yet one cannot help engage with the land which represents a great deal of mystery to me. Life isn't that simple or straightforward but it's more interesting if we acknowledge there is a mystery underlying it that we can't (yet) explain. In the discovery of a different part of my life I’m attempting to balance on a more hyper real edge.
www.susanfriedmanphoto.com
@susan_friedman_art


Anja Bruehling (Germany/USA)

Tender moment between mother and daughter combing her hair in the brick yards surrounding Banaras India.
www.anjabruehling.com
@anjabruehling


Alena Solomonova (Russia/Slovenia)

This is a self-portrait series where I reflect on the passage of time and the subtle, internal changes that come with age. As I grow older, I feel time accelerating around me—life moves faster, yet inside, something begins to slow down or even freeze.
This series is my attempt to make that inner stillness visible. I find myself becoming more rigid—not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically. I explore how time settles within us, shaping and slowly eroding who we are. These photographs are quiet observations of that transformation.
@solomalena


Marika Poquet (France)

In the arid folds of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, the Suri people live to the rhythm of a world often described as timeless. Yet just beneath the surface, they are among the first to feel the tension between ancestral heritage and the accelerating pressures of climate change, modernization, tourism, education, and infrastructure development. Within this landscape of quiet transformation, women stand as the pillars of continuity. They are the custodians of body painting, scarification, hairstyles, and ceremonial adornment, traditions that are far more than aesthetic. As primary caretakers of their home, women pass down intimate knowledge of the seasons, medicinal plants, and survival. Through everyday rituals, they instill values and traditions in the next generation. Women play central roles in sustaining communal life. As modern pressures mount, they navigate the uneasy terrain between preservation and adaptation. While observing their way of life, I wonder what this tribe will become. Here, photography becomes not only a lens of imagination but of vigilance and questions the future of this tribe.
www.marikapoquet.com
@marikapoquet
All about Marika Poquet


Anqi Hu (China)

Golden is Her Name from the series She, Within Time © Anqi Hu

Amid the shimmer of neon and the hush of rain, she stands—graceful yet unyielding. Draped in intricate patterns and golden silk, she is more than a figure of elegance; she is the embodiment of the Chinese woman through time. With quiet strength and enduring beauty, she carries the legacy of generations, blending ancient heritage with modern spirit. She, Within Time is a tribute to Chinese femininity—timeless, powerful, and ever-evolving.
@anqihuphoto
Jennifer Baron (Netherlands)

Whispers of Authenticity – from the series Unveiled Layers. A visual journey on identity and vulnerability. Layers peel back in light and shadow, revealing fleeting glimpses of the self. This work invites the viewer to pause between what’s visible and what’s felt and embrace imperfection as truth.
www.jenniferbaron.nl
@jenniferbaronphotography
All about Jennifer Baron


Martina Holmberg (Sweden)

When Melanie (Mel) was two years old, she stayed in the car with her older sister while her mother went to buy something small at the convenience store. When the mother returned, the car was on fire. Her sister died tragically but Mel survived with severe burns. Throughout her life, she has lived with the aftermath of the accident and a deviant appearance. Despite difficulties in life, Mel has lived her dreams and graduated as a lawyer. She wants to encourage others with a visible difference to follow their dreams.
www.martinaholmberg.com
@ina_h


A'ja Dotson (Germany)

This photo project celebrates Black women's strength, beauty, and divine essence through synchronized movement and powerful imagery. Each frame honors their resilience, grace, and unity—reflecting their power in stillness and motion.
@theajafoto
Aja-Dotson-Portfolio


Ingetje Tadros (New Zealand)

A woman from the Hausa tribe embraces the vibrant tradition of Bori, a captivating spiritual practice that combines elements of animism, magic, and spiritual possession. Bori ceremonies welcome spirits, allowing them to communicate with humans through possession. Niger, 2024
www.ingetjetadros.com
@ingetje_tadros
All about Ingetje Tadros


Vicky Martin (United Kingdom)

Becalmed’ draws inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of ‘The Little Mermaid’ as well as evoking the mythical figure of the siren who lures men to join her beneath the waves with her voice. The siren as captivating and beautiful while simultaneously possessing a deadly voice, a reversal of the mute princess, is depicted by the wave-like curls that hold the ship-in-a-bottle firmly in their grasp. It is now the woman who commands the waves, who looks to the new horizon fully in charge of her destiny, capable of charting the course she chooses to follow.
www.vickymartinphoto.co.uk
@vickymartinphoto
All about Vicky Martin