Sophia Spurgin, a retired teacher from Hertfordshire (UK), won the Travel photo category and was honored as the overall winner of the LCE Photographer of the Year 2026 award (LCE POTY).
The work that helped her win first prize is a portrait of a fisherman spontaneously photographed on a boat in Hoi An, Da Nang.
This is a fun moment at the end of the photoshoot, really very interesting. I especially like the way the fishing net appears behind, helping to increase the context and authenticity of the photo," the author shared.
Named "Fish Eyes", the title is a smart wordplay of the author. The interaction between fishermen and international photographers has turned a traveling moment into a memorable photo - and won the overall victory.
Sophia Spurgin shared that she planned her own trip to Vietnam with her family. A Vietnamese photographer took her to meet fishermen in a fishing village in Hoi An, Da Nang.
This is a wonderful country if you have the opportunity to visit," Sophia shared.
She added: "Photography brings me great joy - not only through the places I have set foot in, but also through the wonderful friendships on that journey.
The LCE POTY 2026 photo contest received nearly 14,500 entries from amateur to professional photographers - an increase of 40% compared to 2025. This is one of the leading photography contests in the UK. When the photo "Fish Eyes" surpassed thousands of works to win, the work contributed to spreading the image of Vietnamese people and life to international friends, in a natural and sympathetic way.
