The future of photography is bright and these award-winning talents demonstrate why, with images of a shrinking glacier in Iceland and a first-of-its-kind school in Scotland
Celebrating the very best in the new wave of photographers and image makers, the AOP Emerging Talent Award announces its winners
The Association of Photographers (AOP) has announced the winners of its Emerging Talent Awards for 2026. Austin Bradley, a UK graduate, took home the Gold award for his photographs depicting the shrinking glacier in Iceland. Ritchie Elder, on the other hand, won Silver for capturing the final day of the Ukrainian Saturday School at Leith Academy in Scotland, which is the first of its kind.
The AOP's CEO, Isabelle Doran, expressed her admiration for the diverse and compelling human-focused work that made it to the final round. She expressed her excitement for the finalists' future development in their careers.
Bradley's winning image, "57 Metres: Iceland's Shrinking Glacier," uses a highline that spans 57 meters across Sólheimajökull Glacier in Iceland to visually communicate the pace of glacial retreat due to climate change. He worked closely with highliners, a small film crew, and a glaciologist to capture the process on camera. The resulting footage will be featured in an upcoming documentary.
Elder's Silver-winning series, "Saturday School," documents the final day of the term at the Ukrainian Saturday School in Scotland. Established over three years ago, the school offers Ukrainian children displaced by war the opportunity to connect with their heritage by learning the language, culture, and history. The series is part of a broader documentary project, developed in collaboration with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.
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