Derry Ainsworth claims title of "Architecture Photographer of the Year 2026" at the Muse Photography Awards

Derry Ainsworth has been named Architecture Photographer of the Year 2026 at the 2026 MUSE Photography Awards. His winning work, titled “Containment,” was recogniSed with the competition’s top architecture honour—while also earning a second distinction as a Platinum Award winner in the Fine Art – Architecture category.

The Winning Photograph: “Containment”

“Containment” is described with the following caption:

“A lone container ship passes by the front of a residential building in Hong Kong. The ship can be seen through the building's ‘dragon gate’ - a feng shui design feature said to allow dragons to pass through from the mountains to the sea.”

The photograph brings together architectural composition and cultural symbolism in a carefully controlled visual frame. In the image, the city’s dense built environment functions as more than background—it becomes structure, rhythm, and perspective. Through the residential building’s dragon gate, the passing container ship is revealed as a moving element of scale and continuity, linking the intensities of harbour industry with everyday domestic space.

'Containment' (2020) by Derry Ainsworth wins 'Architecture Photographer of the Year 2026' award.

About the 2026 MUSE Photography Awards

The 2026 MUSE Photography Awards operate under the theme “Crowning Achievements.” The awards present photography as an international practice grounded in vision, precision, and emotional meaning, celebrating images that transform perspective into art and imagination into recognition.

The programme recognizes professionals, emerging talents, and enthusiasts across global photography, positioning each selected work as a “Crowning Achievement” within the wider international photography community.

Recognition Across Two Categories

“Containment” received awards from two areas:

1. Architecture Photographer of the Year 2026 (top prize) (see winning entry here)

2. Platinum Award for Fine Art – Architecture (see winning entry here)

This dual recognition underscores the image’s strength as both an architectural statement and a fine art work—merging formal discipline with narrative depth.

Continued Representation of Hong Kong in International Awards

Derry Ainsworth’s achievement further strengthens Hong Kong’s visibility within international photography. By translating local architectural elements and context into a globally legible visual language, “Containment” demonstrates how Hong Kong’s built environment and cultural reference points can resonate powerfully beyond the city itself.

Award Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur — November 2026

Looking ahead, Derry Ainsworth will collect the awards at the prize ceremony in Kuala Lumpur in November 2026.

Architecture Photographer of the Year 2026 Award - Derry Ainsworth. Hong Kong

Platinum Award - Derry Ainsworth - Containment. Hong Kong

Architecture Photographer of the Year 2026 Award - Derry Ainsworth. Hong Kong

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