Winter 2025 Competition Winner

The Winter 2025 edition of the Sony Alpha Universe competition has concluded, showcasing the diverse talents of Sony photographers from across Europe. The competition, designed to capture the essence of winter, drew thousands of entries, highlighting everything from expansive snow-covered landscapes to intimate wildlife portraits.

After careful consideration, we’re delighted to announce that Andreea Selagea (@s3la) has been chosen as our overall winner with a stunning image of a solitary tree silhouetted against a winter sunset in the Romanian mountains.

Living in London, snow isn't something I get to experience often, so I always try to spend at least one weekend in the mountains every year," explains Andreea. "On that particular day, after a rewarding hike to the top of Mount. Ciucas in Romania, it was right after sunset, and I was returning to the cabin. The sky was filled with stunning pink and orange hues, and I was scanning for a perfect scene to capture.”

What makes the image even more remarkable is the serendipitous way it came to be. “On the hike, I caught a glimpse of this tree out of the corner of my eye and had a passing thought that, with the right light, it could make for a stunning shot. But as the day went on, I forgot about it. However, sometimes the stars align, and the moment that was in my mind earlier that day finally materialised.”

Andreea captured the spectacular scene using her Sony Alpha 7R V with a Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS lens, which she describes as “super versatile for hikes and perfect when I want to lighten my camera bag.” As our competition winner, Andreea can now pair her versatile zoom lens with the compact Sony Alpha 7CR.

“I’m really excited about the new camera!” says Andreea. “I’m looking forward to making the most of its smaller size while still benefiting from the 61 megapixels. I plan to explore more street photography around the city and bring it along on hikes. It’ll be a great way to reduce weight and save my back!”

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Jessica Dewyngaert (@jess.dw) secured second place with her captivating image of a Japanese snow monkey in heavy snowfall, taken during a photography trip of dreams.

Last February, I realised one of my long-time photography goals: visiting and photographing the snow monkeys of Japan," shares Jessica. "I've always found them fascinating as they’re expressive and social creatures with unique behaviours. During the harsh winter months, they bathe in the hot springs to stay warm during the day.”

Jessica herself had to brace challenging conditions, but her perseverance paid off. “I spent several days with the snow monkeys, and on the last day, we had an unexpected snowstorm. The conditions were tough, but capturing the monkeys in this extraordinary setting was a moment I had dreamed of.”

Using her Sony Alpha 7 III and Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens, Jessica created an intimate portrait showcasing the animal’s expression and intensity of the winter storm. “I love how the snow clings to their thick coat, it definitely was a scene I was hoping to capture.”

Jessica will receive a Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens as runner-up. “I have only used zoom lenses until now, so I am curious to shoot with the prime lens. Next to photographing wildlife, I also love to document my travels and take portraits. I look forward to isolating subjects thanks to the shallow depth of field.”

Anton Weider (@anton_weider) secured third place with his minimalist image of trees in the snow, taken during a hike on Mount. Vitosha near Sofia, Bulgaria.

At first, I was shooting some wide-angle photos, but then I decided to use my favourite Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens - I never go anywhere without it!“ explains Anton. "There were some lonely trees standing in the snow, and I snapped a quick photo.”

At first, Anton did not think much of the photo. “I wasn’t that satisfied with it, but kept it anyway”, he recalls. When he saw it on his monitor later, he realised what he had captured. “I knew exactly what kind of edit I was after. I wanted a minimalistic and beautiful shot, and I think I got exactly that.”

Anton will receive a Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G lens as his prize, which he’s eager to use on an upcoming trip to Norway. “I’m hoping to shoot some astrophotography images – star trails and shots of the Milky Way. I’m certain the lens will be a permanent fixture in my camera bag!”

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who entered. To participate in future competitions and showcase your talent, make sure you follow @alphauniversebysony.eu on Instagram.