The Best Photos from GuruShots’ ‘The Power of Minimalism’ Challenge

Michael Zhang

Three flamingos stand in shallow water, their reflections visible. They are bending their necks toward the water. The image is in black and white, with a "Top Photographer Winner" badge in the top left corner.

GuruShots, the “World’s Greatest Photo Game,” has announced the winners of its “The Power of Minimalism” challenge, which received thousands of entries and over 35 million votes. The “Top Photographer” winner of the contest is Cécile Rivet of France (whose photo is seen above).

The “Top Photo” winner is Konstantin Slobodchuk from Russia:

A small brown bird with light underparts is perched on a thin branch against a blurred green background. There's a "Top Photo Winner" badge in the top left corner.

The “Guru’s Top Pick” winner is Martin Ivanov of Bulgaria:

A person with long red hair stands confidently in a doorway against a pastel blue wall, wearing a beige trench coat and sandals. The wall features a "Guru's Top Pick Winner" emblem in the top left corner.

Full disclosure: This sponsored article is brought to you by GuruShots.

Here are some of the other top photos from the “The Power of Minimalism” challenge:

A small bird perched on tall, dry grass in a field. The bird is facing left, surrounded by a soft, blurred background of beige and gold hues, giving a warm, late summer feel to the scene.
Ivan Miksik – Czech Republic
A small boat with "ALBUFEIRA" written on its side floats on calm, mirror-like water, creating a perfect reflection. The scene is minimalist, with a stark, expansive white sky taking up most of the composition.
Cristina Vicente – Portugal
A white egret stands gracefully in shallow, calm water, its reflection mirrored below. The background is a soft, misty gray, giving an ethereal, serene atmosphere.
John Slawik – United States
Pink flowers with long stems grow on a mossy rock. The background is blurred, showing a soft horizon, creating a tranquil and natural scene.
Daiva Alisauskiene – Lithuania
A lone swan glides across a calm lake at sunset, creating gentle ripples in the water. The sky and water reflect warm orange and pink hues, adding a serene ambiance to the scene.
Roy Egloff – Switzerland
Yellow daisy with slender green stem in focus against a blurred green background and foliage.
Jess Guidry – United States
A close-up of a vibrant, pink-orange flower with red stamens set against a blurred green background. The flower is slightly tilted, and its thin stem is visible, creating a delicate and serene composition.
Bryony Herrod-Taylor – United Kingdom
Close-up of budding pink flowers on a slender green stem against a blurred green background. The petals are tightly closed, with hints of red and yellow on the tips. The composition is off-center, highlighting the delicate buds.
George Williams – UK
A solitary tree stands on a snowy hill against a vast, overcast sky. The landscape is monochromatic, with the stark silhouette of the tree contrasting with the pale, smooth snow and the soft, cloudy horizon.
Peter Merz – Canada
Close-up of a single clover flower with white petals and hints of pink and red, set against a blurred green background. The petals form a spherical cluster at the top of the stem.
Joanna Nowaczyk – Poland
A small yellow snail crawls along the edge of a bright green leaf against a blurred green background. The snail's antennae are extended as it explores the leaf's surface.
Ash Fielding – United Kingdom
A silhouette of a bird flying against a vibrant orange sky with the sun glowing brightly in the background.
Fred Kowalo – United States
A close-up of a ladybug on a green leaf. The ladybug has a shiny, orange shell with black spots. The leaf is slightly blurred, and the background features a soft green gradient, creating a natural, serene setting.
Lukasz Szubartowicz – Poland
Close-up of a pink orchid with delicate petals and subtle veining against a black background. The flower is brightly lit, highlighting its vibrant colors and intricate details.
Susana Belenkova – United States
Close-up of an insect, possibly a beetle, with long antennae perched on the edge of a serrated green leaf. The background is a soft, blurred green, emphasizing the detailed texture of the leaf and the insect's features.
Valdis Kundzins – Latvia
A solitary, leafless tree stands on a snowy landscape, with patches of bare ground visible. The backdrop features soft, hazy mountains under a clear blue sky, evoking a sense of tranquility and isolation.
Simona L. Neumann – Romania
A vintage gold pocket watch with a white face and Roman numerals is partially tucked into a textured, striped gray fabric. A chain is attached to the watch.
Alain Rochecouste – Ireland
A small, colorful hummingbird with iridescent orange and red plumage perched on a thin twig against a light gray background. The bird is facing slightly to the right, showcasing its vivid throat feathers.
bobpalmer – United States
Close-up of a globe thistle with a spherical, spiky purple bloom against a soft-focus green background. Other blurred thistles are visible in the background, enhancing the central flower's prominence.
DrRaj Rajnish – UK
A solitary white bird stands perched on a bare, twisting tree branch against a minimalistic white background. The scene is serene, with the bird looking downward, its long legs and beak prominent against the stark environment.
Porter Wiseman – United States
Close-up of a dry thistle against a blurred, muted background. The thistle has sharp, spiky leaves radiating outward and a light, wispy center, creating a dramatic contrast with the soft focus backdrop.
David Brinkman – United States
A solitary, weathered wooden shack stands tilted on a snow-covered field under a clear, pastel sky at dawn. The soft gradient of pink and blue hues enhances the serene, chilly atmosphere.
Eva-Maria Rajamaki – Finland
A vibrant feather with a blend of red, orange, and yellow hues, featuring black edges and red polka dots, set against a solid black background.
Luca Sharabidze – United States
Close-up of a dried Queen Anne's Lace flower against a blurred green background. The intricate, brown skeletal structure of the flower head is prominently visible, creating a delicate, natural texture.
Mike Russell – France
A silhouetted hand holds two stems of grass against an orange and yellow sunset sky, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Nina Novella – South Africa
Close-up of a small, round flower bud with magenta petals at the top. The stem is slender and covered in fine hairs. The background is blurred, featuring a soft, uniform green color, emphasizing the flower.
Norma George – UK
A small fish with a golden hue swims in murky, yellowish water, creating circular ripples on the surface as it moves. The sunlight highlights its shiny scales, and the fish is seen just below the water's surface.
Marcia Mueller – United States

And here’s a slideshow with a much larger collection of photos from the challenge:

Since it was founded in 2014, GuruShots has become a popular platform for photography lovers to share and compete with their work. Over 50 new challenges are launched every month, and they rack up billion of votes every month. Over $800,000 in prizes have also been awarded. Head on over to the GuruShots website if you’d like to try your own hand at winning one of its challenges.

Full disclosure: This sponsored article was brought to you by GuruShots.

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