Celebrating the Power of Visual Storytelling in Science and Health
The Wellcome Photography Prize, an esteemed platform for image-makers to highlight the profound impact of science and health on people’s lives globally, has announced its 2025 winners. This year’s laureates include UK-based artist Sujata Setia, Bangladeshi documentary and street photographer Mithail Afrige Chowdhury, and UK-based electron microscopy specialist and science photographer Steve Gschmeissner. Their compelling works delve into themes such as domestic abuse, climate migration, and the hidden dangers of cholesterol.
Each winner received a £10,000 prize at a ceremony held at the Francis Crick Institute in London, celebrating their contributions to visual storytelling in the realm of science and health.
A Thousand Cuts by Sujata Setia
Sujata Setia was honored for her project “A Thousand Cuts,” a portrait series developed in collaboration with survivors of domestic abuse within South Asian communities. Each image is a composite of personal testimony, visual symbolism, and traditional craft. Setia worked closely with the women and with the charity SHEWISE to create portraits that protect anonymity without erasing identity. She used the Indian paper-cutting technique known as sanjhi to overlay each photograph, adding a layer of cultural significance and artistic expression.
Setia expressed her deep emotional connection to the project, stating, “This is a monumental recognition. A Thousand Cuts being selected for the Wellcome Photography Prize affirms that health cannot be separated from the histories that shape it.” She emphasized the long-lasting effects of domestic abuse, noting that it leaves a trans-generational imprint on health.
As someone who grew up in a home where violence was a daily occurrence, Setia shared, “I carry that trauma like another limb.” Her work aims to spark deeper dialogue and scholarship around the interrelation between domestic abuse and health, hoping to raise awareness and promote change.
Urban Travel by Mithail Afrige Chowdhury
Mithail Afrige Chowdhury’s winning entry, “Urban Travel,” captures a deceptively gentle image of a mother and daughter on a rooftop picnic in Dhaka. With few parks left in the city due to rapid urbanization, this staged moment becomes an act of resilience. The image highlights the everyday consequences of climate change, such as the loss of green space, childhood rituals, and access to nature.
Chowdhury reflected on the significance of the award, saying, “When I got the news, the first thing I did was charge my camera— not to take a photo, but to restart something I thought I’d lost.” He described how the recognition has reignited his passion for his work, providing him with a renewed sense of purpose.
He added, “I made this image two years ago, as part of a major project on climate change, urban sustainability, and public health. Then life intervened, and fear slowly pulled me away from the work I loved. But now, I can wake up with an objective. Because someone has my back.”
Cholesterol in the Liver by Steve Gschmeissner
Steve Gschmeissner’s winning image, “Cholesterol in the Liver,” showcases cholesterol crystals (shown in blue) forming inside lipid-laden liver cells (purple). These microscopic shifts, invisible to the naked eye, can have deadly consequences: when cholesterol hardens from liquid to crystal, it damages blood vessels and contributes to heart disease and strokes.
Gschmeissner’s colorized SEM image transforms this biological process into something visually striking, blending data with art. With a career spanning over four decades and more than 10,000 images published in scientific journals, stamp collections, fashion collaborations, and music albums, his work exemplifies how imaging can bridge science and culture.
Gschmeissner expressed his excitement about the award, stating, “When I discovered that Wellcome had reintroduced the Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging category, I was delighted to enter such a prestigious competition. I was thrilled to be shortlisted, and winning first prize is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my 50-year career of trying to bring the wonders of the microscopic world to all.”
Exhibition and Further Information
The top 25 entries are on display in the Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 exhibition, which is free and open to the public at the Francis Crick Institute in London, running from 17 July to 18 October 2025. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of science, health, and visual storytelling through the lens of talented photographers from around the world.
Wellcome supports discovery research into life, health, and wellbeing, addressing three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease, and climate and health. Through initiatives like the Photography Prize, the organization continues to foster a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between science, health, and society.