In the Top 10

©David Soldano

Twelve Team USA images placed as top 10 finalists in eight different photographic categories of the 2025 World Photographic Cup (WPC), the most finalist images from any team in the competition. Team Portugal had 10 images place as finalists, and Teams Australia and Spain each had nine images place as finalists. An image (below) by Team USA’s John Gress, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, was awarded Best of Nation for the United States. 

John Gress
John Gress's image of from a Chicago factory fire won Best in Nation for the USA in the World Photographic Cup.

WPC was founded in 2013 and is modeled after the Olympics. Teams may enter up to three images by three different photographers in each of the 10 categories, which are then reviewed by a panel of international judges. The top three photographers in each category are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals. Teams are awarded points based on placement within the top 10 of each category, and the country’s team with the most points wins the cup. The winning team for the 2025 competition will be announced in Ecuador in mid-March.

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The following Team USA photographers’ images are WPC finalists (category noted):

  • David Soldano, M.Photog., landscape
  • Kenneth Childress, M.Photog., CPP, landscape
  • Portia Shao, M.Photog.M.Artist., CPP, wildlife
  • Amber Damour, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., illustrative portrait
  • Ben Shirk, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., illustrative portrait
  • Richard Sturdevant, M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr., illustrative portrait
  • John Gayler, M.Photog., CPP, reportage
  • John Gress, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, reportage
  • Andrew Bowen, M.Photog., CPP, natural portrait
  • Ellen Nelson, M.Photog., CPP, sports
  • Javon Longieliere, M.Photog.M.Wed.Photog.Cr., CPP, wedding documentary
  • Mario Muñoz, M.Photog.M.Wed.Photog.Cr., wedding open

Amanda Arnold is a senior editor. 

Tags: photography competition 

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