© Robert Barcia

The Shutter Hub OPEN 2025 ran 13 January – 21 March 2025, and brought together over 100 international photographers in a selected exhibition promoting the future of photography through diverse and creative imagery – taking over four floors of the ARB building at Cambridge University, transforming the space and covering the walls with hundreds of images printed by our favourite newspaper print partners Newspaper Club.

We were delighted with the positive reaction to the exhibition. It saw visitors from around the world and educational visits from schools, colleges and universities, too!

Our Best in Show award was created as a fun and engaging way to involve more people in responding to photography, it’s very much about audience participation and connecting people through images.

The votes have been counted, and we’re pleased to announce that the Shutter Hub OPEN 2025 Best in Show accolade goes to Robert Barcia, for his image ‘Winding Road’ (shown above). Congratulations Robert!

On being announced best in show, Robert said, “To have my work, ‘Winding Road’, named Best in Show at the Shutter Hub Open 2025 is an incredible and humbling honor. Given the sheer talent showcased in this exhibition, I am truly delighted that this fleeting moment – captured through the window of a moving train – resonated so deeply with everyone who took the time to view it. This honor is a testament to the power of photography that a simple image, reflecting the universal dream of journeying through simpler times, can evoke such connection.

Following up closely in the public vote, our Best in Show second and third place are Gary Catlin and Zara Carpenter.

© Gary Catlin

© Zara Carpenter

If you missed the exhibition in person, you can still see some lovely photographs of the installed exhibition here.

With huge thanks to all of the exhibitors, and visitors, and to everyone who looked, absorbed, and voted in the Shutter Hub OPEN 2025. Until next time!

Shutter Hub OPEN 2025 was printed by: Newspaper Club.