/ 2026 / Fine Art / Nudes

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Mika Volkmann, Germany
• Date of Photograph
  27.07.25
• Studio
  Mvphoto
• Instagram
  @mika_v_oto

Created in the Verzasca Valley in Ticino, this work explores the relationship between the human body and the elemental forces that shape the natural world. Seen from above, the figure appears both grounded and exposed, merging with the texture of stone while lying at the edge of moving water. The image examines the tension between stillness and motion, fragility and solidity, and the way landscape can hold, confront, or dissolve the body. It reflects on how human presence becomes part of a larger, ongoing dialogue between form and force.

Mika Volkmann is a photographer based in Cologne, Germany. His work focuses on sport, para-sport, and documentary storytelling, exploring the relationship between human movement, environment, and emotion. With a background in Sports Science, he approaches photography with an observational and empathetic perspective. Volkmann has photographed international sporting events, including the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Beijing, and Paris, and his work has been recognized in several international photography competitions.

Awards Mika Volkmann’s work has been recognized internationally across sports, documentary, and fine art photography. He is a two-time Medal Winner at the Fine Art Photography Awards and has received multiple awards at the kicker Sports Photography Awards in Germany. In 2024, he was honored with the German Paralympic Media Award. His work has been shortlisted and placed Top 30 at the AIPS Sport Media Awards and he was a finalist at the World Sports Photography Awards. Volkmann also ranked Top Ten at the Sven Simon Prize. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his aerial series documenting deserted playgrounds and football fields was published by The Guardian, highlighting human absence and resilience in public space.