Award-winning photography exhibition showcases powerful stories of family and resilience

A photographic series documenting one woman’s experience of breast cancer treatment is among the winning works now on display at a new free exhibition in Covent Garden.

FUJIFILM House of Photography has unveiled the winners of its 2026 photography competition, Look Up and Show Us Life As You See It, celebrating photographers who have captured deeply personal stories through the lens.

Selected from more than 1,000 entries from across the UK, the winning projects explore themes of resilience, family, identity and human connection, demonstrating how photography can reveal extraordinary stories hidden within everyday life.

Taking first place, Elisa Tonini was recognised for They Started To Fall On a Monday, an intimate self-portrait series documenting her experience of breast cancer treatment. Through honest and thoughtful imagery, the project captures moments of vulnerability, change and resilience.

Also recognised was Ilaria Grasso’s Camilla and Marcella: Welcome and Goodbye, which documents the poignant meeting between her newborn niece and elderly great-grandmother, while Aaliyah Mohammed’s Ode to Sincerity celebrates authentic moments and the quiet joy found in everyday life.

The winning works, alongside shortlisted entries, are now on display at the FUJIFILM House of Photography, on Long Acre in Covent Garden, as part of a free public exhibition.

Judges Praise Emotional Storytelling in Free Public Showcase

Commenting on the winning work, judge Andrew Sanigar, Editorial Director of Photography at Thames & Hudson, said: “Each of the three bodies of work in different ways dealt with how photography deals with capturing our existence.”

Fellow judge, Dazhané Leah, a content creator and former fashion photographer, commented: “Each finalist had a through line story when you looked at each individual picture and then looked at them as a cohesive set - it felt like really strong storytelling.”

Third judge, Nicky Hamilton, a Fujifilm X-Photographer, added: “There was one project which gave me goosebumps. It was deeply personal and beautiful, and made me think about my own life and family connections.”

Theo Georghiades, Commercial Director at FUJIFILM UK, said: "The FUJIFILM House of Photography Photo Competition 2026 was created to celebrate the power of photography to help us see the world differently.

“We were inspired by the imagination, honesty and creativity shown by every entrant, and our winning photographers demonstrated how a simple shift in perspective can reveal extraordinary stories hidden within everyday life.

“We're delighted to showcase their work at the FUJIFILM House of Photography and encourage visitors to experience these powerful visual narratives for themselves."

The exhibition is now open at the FUJIFILM House of Photography, Covent Garden, where visitors can explore the shortlisted entries alongside the winning projects, and will run until 18 October. Admission is free.

Both the competition and exhibition form part of FUJIFILM House of Photography's ongoing commitment to making photography accessible to everyone, championing visual storytelling and providing a platform for emerging and established photographers alike.

For more information about FUJIFILM House of Photography, visit FUJIFILM House of Photography.