Rotterdam21 May 2022

One of the themes at the first race in Rotterdam, in 2017, was 'Niet lullen maar poetsen' (stop talking and start working). Five years later, on Saturday 21 May 2022, the race returned to the city, with its harbour, its contrasts and the atmosphere that makes Rotterdam such a good place to photograph.

It was a race of eight hours, from 11:00 to 19:00, with five checkpoints and four themes on the way: Wereldburgers (citizens of the world), Geestverruimend (mind-expanding), Geen woorden maar daden (actions, not words) and Grenzeloos (without borders). Racers sent their twelve photographs before 13:00 the next day, and a jury of three women read every series.

What the jury looked for

Before the race we asked the jurors what they look for. Diana Bokje looked for coherence, three photographs in one theme that belong together and make each other stronger, and for the overall winner a photographer she can recognise across all the themes. She also looked for originality, a view of the theme that the other racers did not have, for photographs that touch her, make her laugh or make her think, for the theme itself and, of course, for good technique.

Simone Peerdeman looked for series of three in which form, function and content are in balance, for photographs that leave something to her imagination and avoid clichés, because there are enough 'beautiful' pictures already, and for photographs that show a little courage: close, involved and always with respect for the subject.

The winners

Niels van de Laar won Best Photographer, ahead of Özgür Abacì and Patrick Dreuning. Patrick also won the theme Geestverruimend, and the other themes went to Ronin de Beelde, Daniel Porter and Marion Hofman. The jury favourites were Niels van de Laar, Jacob van der Hijden and Patrick Dreuning.

There was more than €700 in prize money: €250, €120 and €70 for the three best photographers, €50 for each theme winner and €25 for each juror's favourite.