Global Photography Competition Highlights Concrete's Role
The winners of the Concrete in Life 2025/26 global photography competition have been announced. The top prize was awarded to Celbert Palaganas from the Philippines for his photograph ‘Pillars Across the Sea’. This striking image highlights the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway, the longest bridge in the Philippines, set against a backdrop of lush coastal plants.
Organized by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), the competition attracted over 20,000 entries from professional and amateur photographers worldwide, including smartphone users. It aims to demonstrate the vital role concrete plays in everyday life, infrastructure, and design. Concrete is the world’s most used substance after water.
In Cebu City, Palaganas’s winning photograph captures the coexistence of engineering and nature. He expressed, “I am deeply honored and truly grateful to be the winner of this year’s competition. What inspired me was the contrast I witnessed in a single moment.”
Competition judge Chris George, Content Director at Digital Camera World, praised Palaganas’s photograph for its “brilliant image with great colour,” noting the effective use of depth of field available with a smartphone.
Category Winners and Prizes
In addition to the overall winner, several category awards were given. Ralph Emerson De Peralta won the Urban Concrete category for ‘Dubai Rising’, capturing the city’s dynamic skyline. Rafly Rinaldy’s ‘Hidden Connection’, depicting the MRT Rail Tunnel in Jakarta, emerged victorious in the Concrete Infrastructure category.
‘Time and Space Travellers’ by Naitao Li in Harbin, China, took the Concrete in Daily Life category. Marcel Van Balken’s ‘Triangles’ from Antwerp, Belgium, won in Beauty and Design. Each category winner received a prize of USD$2,500.
The People’s Vote prize, decided by public voting, was awarded to Aung Chan Thar for ‘Rhythm on Concrete’ in Hanoi, Vietnam. This award came with a USD$5,000 prize.
According to Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the GCCA, the competition highlights concrete’s positive impact worldwide. He stated, “The spectacular images submitted this year show concrete’s positive impact on people’s lives all over the world – sometimes practical, sometimes almost hidden, and sometimes very beautiful.”
Winners, along with a gallery of 100 shortlisted images, are available on the GCCA’s website. The competition not only celebrates the beauty of concrete but also its indispensable presence in modern life. The gallery showcases the diversity and creativity of photographers who have captured the essence of concrete in varied contexts.
Last updated: 22 April 2026, 10:34 pm
