Results are in for TECNO’s 2026 Shot On CAMON global photography contest, which attracted over 13,000 entries from more than 40 countries and was co-hosted with Lonely Planet.
This year’s contest used the theme “Seeing is Believing” and had five categories. A total of 16 photographers won prizes worth $38,000. The top winner received $8,000, while other prizes included cash, travel trips, and TECNO smartphones.
Nigerian Photographer Wins Top Prize With CAMON 50 Pro
The top award, TECNO Photography Master, went to Nigerian photographer @dominic_films for Weightless Voyager. Taken in Lagos with the CAMON 50 Pro, the photo uses sunset light to show a feeling of freedom and movement.
The photographer said the photo is about letting go of the past, expectations, and fear. The winner received the top prize of $8,000.
Five Categories Recognize Different Photography Styles
The contest featured five categories, each with Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners. The categories covered portraits, culture, night photography, snapshots, and AI-assisted creativity.
One category, Faces · Unfiltered, focused on portraits and emotions. Unvarnished, a portrait taken in Nigeria, won Gold. A Glimpse of Joy, from the Philippines, received Silver.
In Culture · Unscripted, A Dance of Faith won Gold for its scenes of a festival in the Philippines. Harvesting the Lilies, from India, took Silver.
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The Night · Unveiled category explored nighttime photography. Painting Night won Gold for its light trails. Light Beyond Darkness, from Bangladesh, received Silver.
In Snapshot · Unspotted, The Courage to Let Go won Gold with a photo of a skateboarder in Jakarta. A Playful Moment, showing a boy and a goose, took Silver.
The AI · Unimagined category showed AI-assisted creativity. Where Hope Still Perches, from Nigeria, won Gold. The Spiral Within took Silver.
Cultural and Traditional Themes Highlighted in Winning Photos
Threads of a Master received Bronze for documenting a third-generation Ilocano weaver using a 120-year-old wooden loom. The Night · Unveiled category also featured cultural elements, with Theater of Shadows capturing traditional Malaysian shadow puppetry to earn Bronze.
The Snapshot · Unspotted category also touched on cultural themes, with Childhoods receiving Bronze for its image of children playing with motorcycle tires in the evening. This photo captured a universal aspect of childhood while reflecting a specific cultural context.
TECNO Promotes Mobile Photography
A Lonely Planet representative said the winning photos stood out because they captured the mood and feelings of a place, not just its sights.
The contest offered $38,000 in prizes, including cash, travel experiences, and CAMON 50 Series smartphones. Readers can explore the winning photographs on the official Shot On CAMON 2026 website.