Architecture is all around us, but a great photograph can make a well-known building seem fresh and new. The first-ever PERSPA Awards 2026 were organized by the France-based Association PERSPA to honor photographers who highlight the built environment using techniques like perspective, light, geometry, and atmosphere. This edition, called “Architectural Perspective 2026,” featured a variety of works, including historic sites, expansive city views, abstract elements, and thoughtfully arranged interiors. Alessia Santambrogio earned the title of Photographer of the Year with her series called “A Historic Italian Theatre From the 1700s,” which also won awards in three categories: Cultural, Historic & Heritage, and Open Color. The competition was judged by architectural photography specialists John Gollings, Glenn McArthur, and Paul Raftery.
Here is a selection of some of the winning and honorable mention photographs from this year’s awards. Readers are encouraged to explore the images and share which one caught their attention.
The first image, “A Historic Italian Theatre From The 1700s” by Alessia Santambrogio, highlights empty seats beneath decorative balconies in an 18th-century Italian theater. Through a central viewpoint, the photograph brings together the painted ceiling and auditorium, using warm lighting to accentuate the repeated balconies.
Next is “Cologne Cathedral” by Hans-Georg Esch, which secured third place in the Historic & Heritage category. This photograph focuses on the intricacies of the cathedral’s upper structure, with warm light emphasizing the Gothic details and guiding the viewer’s eye along the main axis.
“Beacon” by Derry Ainsworth gained third place in the Aerial category. The photo captures the illuminated top of Hong Kong’s International Finance Centre rising above a fog bank. The surrounding city is mostly hidden, allowing Ainsworth to highlight a single tower whose light catches the mist at its base, making it seem distant.
The competition encourages a deeper appreciation of everyday spaces. Photography reveals details, patterns, proportions, and atmospheres of architecture that may often go unnoticed.
Another notable piece is “Colors In The Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque” by Emily M. Wilson, which received an honorable mention in the Historic & Heritage category. This image shows sunlight filtering through the stained glass of the mosque in Shiraz, Iran, creating colorful patterns across columns and rugs, extending the window designs beyond their frames.
Finally, “Suspended Time” by Stephane Navailles earned second place in the Human & Architecture category. This photo features a small figure surrounded by large circular frames beneath a glass roof that allows daylight into the space. Navailles skillfully aligns the frames, creating a layered effect that keeps viewers engaged.
What do you think about these impressive architectural photographs?
Sources:
Source: Bored Panda, by Tarik Velić