Welcome to the GCCA’s Concrete in Life 2025/26 photography competition
WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
Over 20,000 people entered the 2025/26 competition and we are delighted to announce this years winners!
Congratulations to our winners and to everyone that was shortlisted. You can see their pictures and the shortlist below.
As one of the most widely used man-made products on the planet, concrete is essential to our lives: in our houses and offices; our roads and pavements; in the bridges that connect us; the wind farms that provide us with energy; and the sea barriers that protect us. As the sustainable building material of choice, it provides safe, durable and resilient structures as well as providing the basis for renewable energy infrastructure.
Concrete in Life is our annual photography competition, open to all photographers (or anyone with a camera phone) around the world. It tasks you to take photos of concrete in your life for a chance to win up to $10,000.
Stay tuned for our next competiton!
Our Winners
OVERAL WINNER
Pillars Across the Sea by Celbert Palaganas
Cebu City, Philippines
“I am deeply honored and truly grateful to be a winner of the Concrete in Life 2526 competition. This photograph captures the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu, the longest bridge in the Philippines, stretching across the horizon while delicate coastal plants quietly thrive in the foreground. What inspired me to take this image was that striking contrast I witnessed in a single moment, the strength and permanence of concrete infrastructure rising above, and the quiet strength of nature growing below. It made me pause and reflect on how progress is often defined by what we build, yet given meaning by what continues to grow around it. In that frame, I saw not conflict, but coexistence, where engineering and nature share the same space, each enhancing the presence of the other.”
Description: Green coastal plants sit calmly in the foreground while a massive concrete bridge spans the water behind them, creating a contrast between nature and engineering. Watching the cables rise toward the sunset sky makes me appreciate how infrastructure can blend into a landscape while still shaping the way people move and live.
PEOPLE’S VOTE WINNER
Rhythm on Concrete by Aung Chan Thar
Hanoi, Vietnam
“I took this photograph while traveling in Vietnam, where traditional incense making is a well-known cultural craft that attracts many visitors. I was drawn to the sight of incense sticks carefully arranged on a clean concrete floor, showing how concrete supports daily work in a simple but essential way. Winning an award in the Concrete in Life 2025/26 competition is a meaningful honor for me. Through my photography, I am proud to share how concrete quietly supports culture, livelihoods, and everyday life, and I will continue capturing more stories through my journeys.”
Description: On a bare concrete floor, rows of handcrafted incense bloom in red. Daily labor turns an ordinary surface into a quiet landscape of devotion and rhythm.
CONCRETE INFRASTRUCTURE WINNER
Hidden Connection by Rafly Rinaldy
Jakarta, Indonesia
“I took this photo when there was an invitation from the photo community that I am a member of to take pictures at one of the points permitted by the Supervisor of this project. And I am grateful that this photo turned out to win the Photo competition held by GCCA for the category: concrete infrastructure. There is something interesting about this photo for me to enter in this year’s GCCA competition because the construction of this MRT Line is the first of its kind in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta which is increasingly congested with road users, so that with this means of transportation it can reduce the burden on the roads that are already congested with vehicles both cars and motorcycles. With this tunnel made of concrete, it can connect one point to another quickly without obstacles and unite all the people in Jakarta. Now I am enjoying the results of this construction. Thank you GCCA and the judges for selecting my photo, Gracias.”
Description: This photo was taken during the final stages of the MRT Phase 1 project, which connects the north-south line from Lebak Bulus (South Jakarta) to Bundaran HI (Central Jakarta) around length 16 kilometers project was in its final stages of completion.
This project uses four TBMs that continuously drill two tunnels along 16 km. Phase 1 of the MRT consists of seven elevated stations and six underground stations, marking the beginning of modern rail-based transportation in Indonesia.
CONCRETE BEAUTY AND DESIGN WINNER
Triangles by Marcel Van Balken
Antwerp, Belgium
“I am truly honored to have won the Concrete in Life 2025/26 competition in the Concrete Beauty and Design category.
My photograph captures the profound impact of concrete on modern architecture and its vital presence in everyday life across the globe. Taken in Antwerp, Belgium, the image reflects my admiration for the bold creativity and contemporary vision embodied in this striking triangular structure.
The new administrative building of the Province of Antwerp stands as a powerful landmark on the city’s skyline. Rising fourteen storeys to nearly 58 meters, it commands attention at the heart of the city. Its distinctive design – featuring 683 triangular glass panels framed in concrete – creates a dynamic and iconic architectural statement, showcasing the versatility and aesthetic strength of concrete in the modern world.”
Description: The provincial government building in Antwerp is an architectural and technical masterpiece. The building has 14 floors, is 58 meters high, and covers a total area of 33,000 m2. Sustainability was central to the design. What particularly catches the eye is the twisted facade with a varying slope and floor-to-ceiling triangular windows that reach great heights.
CONCRETE IN DAILY LIFE
Time and Space Travellers by Naitaotao Li
Harbin, China
“I took the photo by the Songhua River in Harbin, China. The reason why I want to capture this moment is because I often go to the river to shoot landscapes and bird works. When passing under the bridge, I really like the depth of the bridge piers and the compression brought by the telephoto lens. However, I rarely encounter people rowing boats under the bridge piers, which cannot satisfy the perfect interaction between concrete and human culture in my heart. Fortunately, on that foggy morning, a person rowed a boat from ahead and was about to cross under the bridge. I immediately chased after him on the shore and captured this moment by pressing the shutter button continuously. I am delighted to be a winner of the Concrete in Life 2526 competition! It is my greatest honor to convey the progress of concrete in human social life and the beauty brought by concrete facilities through photographic works.”
Description: Amidst the thick fog, the massive concrete bridge piers stretch into the distance, eventually disappearing, as if, under the early morning slanting sun, they had opened a gateway to time travel for the small boats passing by.
URBAN CONCRETE WINNER
Dubai Rising by Ralph Emerson De Peralta by Ralph Emerson De Peralta
Dubai, UAE
“I am delighted to be the winner of the Concrete in Life 25/26 competition under the category Urban Concrete. My photograph shows Dubai’s central business district during the afternoon golden hour where light transforms its concrete architecture into a warm sculptural landscape. What makes this image unique is the stillness of Sheikh Zayed Road appearing completely free of vehicles. This was achieved using a 10 stop ND filter and a long exposure technique where fast moving traffic disappears from the frame leaving a smooth and almost surreal empty roadway.
The inspiration came from wanting to show a different side of the city that contrasts its usual energy and movement. In this quiet moment a normally busy artery becomes calm and reflective revealing how concrete not only defines the city’s structure but also frames unexpected moments of silence within its constant motion.”
Description: This photograph captures the central business district of Dubai during the afternoon golden hour. What makes this image unique is that Sheikh Zayed Road appears completely free of vehicles. Ever wondered why? It was created using a 10-stop ND filter. During the very long exposure, fast moving traffic vanished from the frame, leaving behind a smooth, empty roadway and an almost surreal sense of stillness. In reality, this stretch is constantly alive and chaotically busy, yet here it feels calm, peaceful, and reflective, revealing a different side of Dubai that rarely shows itself to those who pause long enough.
The Shortlist
Categories (4 Total)
Urban design and use
#UrbanConcrete – images of the city landscapes and buildings around us, both well-known and hidden away
Concrete Infrastructure
#ConcreteInfrastructure – photographs of our infrastructure, in our cities and rural, above and below ground.
Concrete in Daily Life
#ConcreteInDailyLife – the human side of concrete and how it’s used and interacted with daily.
Beauty and Design
#ConcreteBeautyAndDesign – showcasing beautiful uses concrete in the world around us – such as stunningly designed buildings, sculptures or landmarks.
Prizes
Our winning photo will receive $10,000 and our remaining category winners will each receive $2,500.
This year will see another people’s vote, where the public will vote for their favourite photo from our shortlist. The winner will receive a prize of $5000.
(If you win two or more prizes you will only be awarded the value of the highest prize, not both.)
Total prizes:
- Overall winner – $10,000
- Urban Concrete – $2,500
- Concrete Infrastructure – $2,500
- Concrete in Daily Life – $2,500
- Concrete Beauty and Design – $2,500
- People’s Choice – $5,000
How to Enter
Take a photo of concrete in your life and upload it to Instagram. Include the following information
- #ConcreteInLife2526
- The hashtag # of the category you are entering – see above (one per photo)
- The hashtag # of the country where you took the photo
You can also email us your entry concreteinlife@gccassociation.org
You can enter as many photos as you like, but each one can only be considered for one category.
Remember to make your photo public on Instagram or we won’t be able to view your photos.
* There are no amateur or professional categories.
The Judges
Rajneesh Khattar
Senior Group Director – Energy & Construction, World of Concrete/ Informa Markets, India
“Concrete, being the single most widely used material in the world, is everywhere and its impact on our everyday lives is hard to ignore. With construction being the art of making a meaningful whole out of many parts, it’s time to appreciate the aesthetic and architectural appeal of Concrete – the “Unfinished” looking material besides its versatile applications, immense strength and durability.
Competitions like “Concrete In Life” aim to showcase Life in Concrete and sensitise the global stakeholders, consumers and beneficiaries how the responsible use of Concrete can impact our lives purposefully.”
Chris George
Content Director at Digital Camera World
“Concrete is all around us and has a beauty that might not always be obvious to some people. The Concrete in Life global photography competition continues to prove it is possible to take stunning shots of architecture and the manmade environment that show off the beauty of this universal building material.”
Thomas Guillot
Chief Executive, GCCA
“Concrete is a highly versatile material, offering the potential for beautiful design, as well as durability and strength. In our busy, modern world, we don’t always appreciate it, but if we didn’t have it, we’d certainly notice. Our Concrete in Life Competition gives every community across the globe a chance to show just how essential concrete is to our lives.”