Derry Ainsworth named Architecture Photographer of The Year at the 1839 Awards 2026 for his series Dragon Gates of Hong Kong.
Derry Ainsworth Named Architecture Photographer of the Year at the 1839 Awards 2026.
The 1839 Awards, named after one of the most formative years in the history of photography, is a global contest and platform celebrating the art of photography and all those who continue to explore the medium's capabilities. As announced in the official Press Release:
, the organization revealed the winners of its 2026 Photographer of the Year Contest on November 4, 2026. The prestigious competition recognized exceptional photographic artistry from a diverse global field of submissions spanning 79 countries.
Welcoming both professional and non-professional photographers across 22 categories, the winning works were carefully selected by an international jury. This panel consisted of distinguished industry professionals from leading cultural institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, Bonhams, Phaidon Press, and Dwell. Together, this year's honourees reflect the extraordinary breadth of contemporary photography and the distinctive creative perspectives shaping the medium today.
Against this accomplished international field, Derry Ainsworth's recognition stands as a particularly distinguished achievement. Ainsworth took home the top honour, being named the Photographer of the Year in the Architecture category. Winning entry link here: https://1839awards.com/contests/winners/photographer-of-the-year-contest?entry=dragon-gates-of-hong-kong
A Historic Year for the Hong Kong Photographer
This latest win at the 1839 Awards marks an unprecedented milestone in Ainsworth’s career. With this victory, Derry now holds an incredible six Photographer of the Year titles awarded in 2026 alone. This achievement brings his combined total to 108 international photography awards across multiple disciplines and categories, officially making him the most awarded living photographer from Hong Kong.
About the Winning Series: 'Dragon Gates of Hong Kong'
He was awarded this title for his stunning visual series, "Dragon Gates of Hong Kong". "Dragon Gates of Hong Kong" explores a unique Feng Shui design principle prevalent in the city's coastal skyline. The series focuses on massive architectural voids, known as "dragon gates" (龍門), which are intentionally built into towering residential high-rises. According to local belief, these gaps are left open so that spirit dragons can fly unimpeded from the mountains down to the sea, ensuring good fortune and positive energy flow.
In his award-winning work, Ainsworth uses these architectural voids to frame isolated scenes in the background, such as the serene ocean, sandy beaches, and passing cargo ships. By framing these distinct views through the center of the buildings, Ainsworth creates a powerful and mesmerising contrast between the overwhelming density of modern urban architecture and ancient cultural traditions.
Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth Dragon Gates of Hong Kong - Derry Ainsworth
Comments