Submissions Are Now Closed - Winners Announced!
Submissions Are Now Closed -
Winners Announced!
When Michael Lütge learned that his photograph had been named Photo of the Year at the 2025 Architecture Photography Awards, he could hardly believe it. “I had to read the message three times” he recalls.
I never expected my images to reach that far. It’s a wonderful feeling to receive recognition from people who didn’t know my work before, yet still found it compelling.
The photograph that earned Lütge this year’s top honor was taken on a cold winter evening in Hamburg in January 2024. The subject: a former petrol station in the Grindelviertel district of Harvestehude, built in the early 1950s and listed as a protected building since 1999.
“The building is glazed on three sides, contains two small rooms and was once characterised by a wide, curved canopy – today a clearly recognisable architectural feature,” he explains.
For Lütge, the appeal was immediate.
“I am fascinated by places where architecture speaks a clear language - minimalist, powerful and yet full of tranquillity. With this image, I wanted to visualise the harmony of form, space and light, while also showing how architecture unconsciously influences us in our everyday lives.”
Lütge first began exploring photography in 2018. What started as a balance to his professional life quickly became a passion. “It gave me time just for myself. Most of the time, I head out alone, which means I don’t have to consider anyone else’s preferences,” he recalls.
Architecture soon emerged as his focus. “It is a blend of art, structure, and everyday life. A few years ago, I made a conscious decision to focus on architectural photography, as it reflects my passion for shapes, clarity, and minimalism.”
What inspires him most is the silence that architecture can convey. “Buildings tell stories – about the people who designed them and about those who move within them. Making these stories visible through clear, minimalistic images is what motivates me.”
Asked to describe his style, Lütge chooses three words: “Minimalistic, clear, and reduced. For me, it’s not about showing everything, but about bringing out the essential.”
Like many architectural photographers, patience plays a central role in his work. “Architectural photography often means waiting: for the right light, the right emptiness, or for the place to reveal the perfect moment. In the end, patience makes the difference.”
Yet technique alone is not enough. “The technique is the foundation – without precise work, clear images cannot emerge. But the art lies in using this foundation to create something that evokes emotions. Because some photos only truly come to life once they have received the necessary, personal touch from me.”
He admits he is drawn not only to perfection of form but also to atmosphere. “A building can be perfectly constructed - but only when light and mood come into play does an image emerge that truly moves you.”
Winning the award, Lütge says, is both an affirmation and an inspiration. “Personally, it is a great affirmation of my passion. Professionally, I don’t feel the need for any changes at the moment. Maybe later it will give me the opportunity to integrate photography even more into my life and take my hobby to a new level.”
His future plans are as thoughtful as his images. Each year he embarks on a solo photo tour across Europe, often to cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, or Malmö. “Scandinavian architecture really is impressive,” he notes. He also publishes an annual architecture calendar and hopes to one day organize exhibitions or publish a photo book.
At the heart of it, though, his goal remains simple: “I simply want to keep going: traveling, discovering, and creating images that move people.”
For Lütge, photography is more than just a creative outlet; it is a way of seeing and a source of peace. As he puts it:
“Photography for me is finding peace in the chaos – a moment of clarity, captured in shapes and light.”
The Architecture Photography Awards were founded to celebrate the intersection of creativity, design, and visual storytelling. They recognize photographers who capture not only buildings, but the emotions, atmospheres, and human experiences that architecture creates.
By honoring images from around the world, the Awards aim to highlight the importance of architecture in our daily lives, inspire new perspectives, and give visibility to talented photographers whose work might otherwise remain unseen. At their core, the Awards are about more than prizes – they are about building a global community united by a shared passion for architecture and the art of photography.
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