December 17, 2025

2025 Photo Award: Three powerful winning images from research and everyday life

This year, the German Primate Center's Support Association once again awarded their photography prize, and once again the photographers demonstrated how much passion and creativity goes into our daily work. Twenty-six photos submitted from a wide variety of areas within the GPC were up for selection. The three winning photos have now been chosen in the categories of originality, science, and aesthetics.

Selfie! — Smile? Check. Hair in place? Well... Male baboon Sheriff is still practicing taking selfies.

Originality: “Smile? Check. Hair in place? Well...”

In the Originality category, first place goes to a picture that simply puts you in a good mood: Sheriff, a male baboon from our animal husbandry department, looks directly into the camera as if trying out a selfie—an amusing and at the same time very charming moment. The photo was taken by animal keeper Vicky May Schröder, who captured with a sure eye how distinctive and humorous animal behavior can be.

Science: Male-infant-male interaction in Barbary macaques

Male-infant-male Interaktion — Thermal image of a “male-infant-male interaction” between two male Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). They “teeth chatter” to the few-weeks-old infant while holding it up.

The scientific winner shows an impressive scene within a group of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus): two adult males are holding a young animal that is only a few weeks old, made visible by thermal imaging technology. The motif offers an insight into social bonds and care between males and offspring. It was photographed by Carina Bruchmann, whose image impressively shows how research and visual power work together.

Ein junger Affe spielt im Wasser, spritzt mit der Hand. Andere Affen sind im Hintergrund. Grün bewachsener Sumpf umgibt sie. Die Szene zeigt natürliche Affenaktivität und -umgebung. — The big paddles in the rainy season are great opportunities to play for the Guineababoons at Simenti field station, Senegal.

Aesthetics: “Splashing” in Simenti

In the aesthetics category, an image full of dynamism and joie de vivre won the day: Guinea baboons jump through large puddles at the Simenti field station in Senegal during the rainy season, splashing water into the air. This moment, captured by Judith Stoll, wonderfully captures the energy, lightness, and special atmosphere of the place.

The winning photos were selected from a shortlist of 26 possible images by DPZ staff. All of the photos that were up for selection can be viewed here. Every year, the Photo Award by the DPZ Support Association shows how diverse the view of the world of primates can be – from playful moments to scientifically valuable situations to aesthetic images of nature.

Congratulations to the three winners—and a big thank you to everyone who participated, voted, and supported the competition. We are already looking forward to the 2026 photo competition!