WINNERS

Uisge Spè, River Spey: Where Water Shapes A Nation

  • Photographer
    Ed Smith, United Kingdom
  • Prize
    Gold Winner in Photojournalism/Other

One of Scotland’s iconic rivers, the Spey is a microcosm of global tensions between heritage and globalisation, economy and environmental responsibility. Tracing its 170 km course to document a mosaic where environment, culture, industry, and history converge, the work explores how climate change, water levels, and land management threaten salmon, settlements, and production even as communities & conservationists fight to protect biodiversity. It examines the river’s role in shaping identity and belonging, from local students to global branding and struggles over land, labour, and power.