/ 2026 / Special / Night Photography

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Marcel van Beek, Germany
• Date of Photograph
  2025
• Website
  https://www.marcelvanbeek.de
• Instagram
  @_marcel_van_beek_

This work captures a liminal moment of urban isolation where the skyline becomes a theatre of cinematic dread. Beneath an expansive, grain-heavy sky, the illuminated clock tower stands as an ominous sentinel, its glowing apertures evoking a sense of constant surveillance. The composition utilizes a reduced, monochrome palette to heighten the atmospheric tension, transforming a familiar cityscape into a haunting, noir-inspired dreamscape. Through this lens, the nocturnal environment is no longer a place of rest, but a fragile unsettling stage where light and shadow perform an industrial ritual.

Marcel van Beek (b. 1990) is a contemporary fine art photographer whose work explores the intersection of functional landscapes and ecological transformation. His practice constitutes a meticulous study of space, navigating the boundaries between expansive landscapes and densifying cityscapes. In collaboration with scientific institutions like the UFZ Leipzig, he translates complex environmental systems into a reduced, painterly visual language. Van Beek’s work transcends traditional photography, offering a tactile, cinematic meditation on a world in flux.

Awards Curators' Pick, Artsy (2025)
Featured in "In Focus" programme, Singulart (2025)
2nd, 3rd Place Subcategories, Phi Photo Awards 2026
Multiple Platinum & Gold Winnings, MUSE Photography Awards 2026
2 Nominations, Fine Art Photography Awards 2026
Editors' Picks, LensCulture: Critics' Award (2026) & Minimalist Photography Awards (2026)