Summary
A photograph taken at the boundary between sea and sky stood out among 23,611 entries, earning Mayumi Takeuchi the Grand Prix at Nikon’s 74th Nikkor Photo Contest.
Nikon announced the results on October 21, 2026. The photographer from Kanagawa, Japan, won with “水面下の生存競争” (“Survival Competition Beneath the Surface”), entered in the Web – Nature category.
The photograph awarded the Grand Prix
The winning image brings together the world above the sea and the action below the surface: birds in the sky, breaking waves, and marine life in motion, all in one composition. The waterline connects these two visual stories.
Takeuchi receives 500,000 yen and a Nikon Z8. An eight-member jury selected the Grand Prix from the full pool of entries.
Seven photographic works from the contest
These seven supplied images cover a broad range of subjects: wildlife, human moments, daily life, action, and landscapes. Their sequence here is not presented as an official ranking of awards.
Six categories and exhibitions in Tokyo and Osaka
The contest offered three Web categories (Free, Nature, Under 35) and three Print categories (Free, Nature, and junior/senior high school students). Entries were open to amateur and professional photographers using any camera brand, although the rules restricted eligibility to Japan residents or people able to receive prizes in Japan.
The awards ceremony takes place on November 28, 2026, at Nikon’s headquarters in Tokyo. Winning work will be exhibited at Nikon Plaza Tokyo THE GALLERY from November 24 to December 7, 2026, and at Osaka THE GALLERY from December 17, 2026 to January 4, 2027.
The full award-winning collection is available on the official 74th Nikkor Photo Contest page.
What we think
Takeuchi’s photograph shows that striking nature photography does not necessarily need a rare species or a remote landscape. The story here is the relationship between two worlds, above and below the water, and the instant that joins them.
For wildlife photographers, there is a practical lesson in that approach: recording an animal sharply is only part of the job. The environment, simultaneous action and point of view can turn a sound record shot into a compelling photograph.
We also appreciate that entering this contest does not require Nikon equipment. It is the image and the photographer’s eye that matter, not the badge on the camera.
