“All in all, it was not only an impeccably run event but also a deeply human one—an experience that left me humbled, inspired and full of wonderful memories.” – France Leclerc, Honorable Mention, Street Photography, Siena Awards 2025.
A hush came over Piazza del Campo as a digitally projected countdown clock appeared on the side of Siena’s famous tower, Torre del Mangia. In honor of the tower’s 700th anniversary (yes, you read that correctly, 700!) Siena Awards 2025 organizers had prepared a special art installation, “Ars Lucis,” likely a surprise to many tourists and members of the public gathered in the square that evening. Soon, as the sun set on the medieval city on September 26, and as visitors and locals alike gathered in the World Heritage Site famous for architecture, integrity, and the city’s summer horse races, the façade would be transformed into a modern work of art as the video-mapped production directed by Marco Boarino with an original score by composer John Metcalfe came to life.
Nearby, inside the Piazza’s historic Teatro dei Rinnovati, world-renowned photographers had just completed stunning presentations, including Ester Horvath, Ami Vitale, Steve Winter, Pascal Maitre, and Muhammed Muheisen, in addition to a panel on photojournalism, including Jabin Botsford, Salwan Georges, Ziv Koren, Adrees Latif, and Christopher Occhicone, moderated by Sarah Leen, former director of photography for National Geographic magazine.
Shortly after the spectacular launch of Ars Lucis, an interview with acclaimed photojournalist Steve McCurry hosted by Italian broadcast influencer Gianluca Gazzoli would commence back inside the theater, a show-stopping cap on a day already filled with unforgettable moments.
At last, the clock counted down and the façade of Torre del Mangia came to life with images spanning centuries. Music filled the space, echoing off ancient stones. The visual narrative threaded ancient Sienese art with current faces and landscapes, depicting scenes of “good and bad government,” including award-winning photographs from this year’s competition. At its conclusion, the crowd clapped and cheered wildly in response to what organizers described as “a stirring tribute to art, photography, and the timeless cultural soul of Siena.”
In fact, the description perfectly characterizes Siena Awards itself.
In 2016, I attended the Siena Awards for the first time when it was still a fledgling event, founded by Siena photographer and civil engineer Luca Venturi in 2015. Street Photography Magazine editor Bob Patterson happened to attend the first edition and was highly impressed, and urged me to go. I had never been to Italy. In fact, in January of that year, I had made my first-ever trip to Europe. In late October, I took an overnight train from Paris and emerged in sun-soaked Tuscany full of curiosity and anticipation. These days, the festival’s awards ceremony is held in late September, with the exhibitions and cultural festival extending into late November. Exhibitions and tours are also now held outside of Siena in other nearby communities such as Castelnuovo Berardenga and Sovicille.
From the beginning, Siena Awards captured my heart as a global gathering that was so much more than an awards event. That first experience, including meeting people from around the world who value art, cross-cultural connection, and travel, and feeling so intensely welcomed, kept me coming back. Each year, Venturi and his team add more layers to the magic. The 2025 edition left me feeling even more satisfied, inspired and optimistic about all that is positive about the human spirit than ever, thanks to multiple days of events, including tours, talks and exhibitions, that create a level playing field, allowing participants at all levels of skill and interest to engage with one another and celebrate together in one of the most spectacular settings possible. Members of the Siena community (and surrounding villages where some exhibitions, tours, and public art installations are held) are also incredibly welcoming.
Following this year’s event, I contacted Marcel van Balken, an award-winning architectural photographer, with whom I chatted following the black-tie awards ceremony for his reflections. His thoughts echo the sentiments of many who experience the Siena Awards.
“As one of the winning photographers, it felt very special to come together with so many talented creators from around the world, all united by the same passion for photography. The moment I stepped onto the red carpet in my tuxedo and entered the theater, there was a palpable tension and anticipation in the air. Images of the nominated works were projected in large format, making the power of photography feel even more vivid,” he recalls. “When my name was announced as a winner, ‘Marcel van Balken, the Netherlands,’ it felt almost surreal—a mixture of pride and gratitude.”
Something more, the true “win” of this event, is what really struck him, though.
“What stays with me most is the feeling of connection. Winning an award is wonderful, but being part of a gathering with so many passionate people made the evening unforgettable. The Siena Awards are not only a recognition of individual work, but also a celebration of the power of images to open worlds and hearts.”
Venturi expressed his satisfaction with the 2025 edition and said he is already looking forward to 2026.
“We were very happy with the outcome this year, both for the Ars Lucis video mapping show and for the SIPA Talks, including the interview with Steve McCurry. It was wonderful to see photographers once again coming from all over the world (43 countries represented in Siena for the awards this year, with entries from 138 countries), bringing with them such energy, stories, and creativity.”
The sense of community and cultural exchange was “truly special,” he added.
What’s next? “It’s still a bit early to talk about new developments for 2026, but we’ll certainly keep exploring new expressive forms of photography,” Venturi says. “Our goal is to engage an even broader audience, not just professionals and insiders.”
For award-winning Canadian street photographer France Leclerc, currently based in Chicago (Honorable Mention, Street Photography), the Siena Awards were more than she had imagined, despite high expectations.
“I had been told that the Siena event was unique—beautifully curated and well worth the trip—but even so, I wasn’t prepared for just how impressive it would be. The professionalism with which everything was organized and executed was remarkable. Every detail, from the talks and social gatherings, performances, and awards ceremony, was handled with such care and precision that the entire experience felt seamless,” she says.
Leclerc’s take-away sentiments reflect those of many other attendees.
“What stood out most to me was the spirit of the festival; the genuine enthusiasm of participants and the strong sense of community that grew over those few days. I was also blown away by the quality of work presented—across all categories, but especially in photojournalism. Some of these images were so powerful, they will stay with me forever. Equally memorable was the diversity of the participants. It was inspiring to see extraordinary work created by photographers from all over the world. All in all, it was not only an impeccably run event but also a deeply human one—and an experience that left me humbled, inspired, and full of wonderful memories.”
American photographer Brian Clopp (Commended, Animals in their Environment) also attended for the first time this year.
He described his time in Siena as “an amazing life-changing experience.”
“It felt like being with college friends rather than competitors,” he says. “Everyone was so supportive of each other and rooting for someone else to win … I took away new friends and found my tribe of photographers. I also have inspiration to do some photojournalism stories on a few subjects when I return to the U.S.”
Filmmaker Michelle McConville, based in New York, won a Highly Commended award for Timbure, her short documentary film on protecting panthers in South America’s Pantanal. She also departed Siena feeling buoyed and inspired.
“I really had an unforgettable time at Siena. It was a wonderful experience all around … the tours, exhibits, SIPA Talks, and the welcoming staff. A big takeaway for me was meeting all the other photographers who are making an impact, risking their lives, and using their talents to tell powerful and meaningful stories. Spending time with everyone was meaningful and motivating! I hope to make it again in the years to come.”
On my final day in Siena, I met with Daniela and Alizzardo, the affable innkeepers of my Bed and Breakfast, Palazzo Masi, located so close to Piazza del Campo that I could hear repeat performances of Ars Lucis from my room at night. Their home, Alizzardo’s birthplace, constructed around 1200, pre-dates the welcome inscription added to Siena’s Porta Camollia entryway in 1604, but the message and sentiment are the same: “Cor magis tibi Sena pandit,” Latin for “Siena opens its heart to you more than this gate.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gina Williams is a journalist, poet, and visual artist based near Portland, OR, USA. She writes about photography and photographers internationally.
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