Image of Newark Skating Community Named Winner of the Penn IUR Photo Contest "Gather"

Submissions for Gather – The Power of Place-based Connection came from around the world

From the electric energy of Indonesian stadiums to sacred rituals in Bangladesh, this year’s Penn IUR Photo Contest drew submissions from across the globe that revealed the many ways cities bring people together. After careful deliberation, we are proud to announce Luke Walter as the Grand Prize Winner for his photograph Newark Skaters, an evocative scene of urban connection captured in a public park in Newark, New Jersey.

“Newark Skaters revolves around themes of community and the importance of shared space, with people of all ages and backgrounds gathering together to celebrate and engage in their common love,” wrote Walter in his artist statement. “This photograph represents a departure from my typical style… Here, I’m offering a much more direct and defined mode of storytelling.”

Walter, who typically focuses on graphic, minimal, and architectural imagery, described this piece as a rare foray into street photography. The image—neutral, observational, and immersive—stood out to the jury for its clarity and warmth in portraying communal life in motion.

“Each image had its own strengths,” noted juror Jamie Diamond, Senior Lecturer in Fine Arts at Penn’s Weitzman School of Design. “This was challenging to narrow down—there were so many wonderful submissions.”

“These photographs all center on the power of human connection and the meaning we find in gathering within public spaces,” added juror Aaron Levy, a Senior Lecturer in English and Art History and the Director of Health Humanities Initiatives at Penn Medicine. “Together, they offer a visual counterpoint to the fragmentation and fraying social fabric of our time.”

Two outstanding submissions were awarded Honorable Mentions:

• Pradityo Bimo, Spectators (Indonesia)
  A vibrant depiction of Indonesian soccer fans mid-chant, packed into a stadium with synchronized movements and booming voices.
• Muhammad Amdad Hossain, Sacred Flames of Devotion (Dhaka, Bangladesh)
  Capturing the glowing light and smoky atmosphere of Rakher Upobash, a Hindu fasting ritual, this image portrays thousands gathered in spiritual unity at Barodi Temple.

“What I found so arresting is the vitality of the moment and the collective energy and unity distilled in the image,” said Diamond. “The act of devotion is isolated, which makes this image intriguing and equally moving.”

“It really is a great group of photographs,” said juror Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, Faculty Director of the Arthur Ross Gallery and Professor of Art History. “I began to feel that the photographer’s presence in the crowd was more impressive… that they were able to get a good picture when they were in the subject’s space rather than ‘spying’ from above.”

Jury member Rebecca Popowsky, Director of the Ian L. McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology, echoed the challenge and joy of the judging process: “What an amazing set of images! This was tough!”

As Penn IUR celebrates its 20th anniversary, Gather affirms our mission to explore the social, spatial, and cultural dimensions of urban life. We thank every participant for sharing their lens on how people come together in cities, and we invite our community to see more submissions on our Instagram page (@penniur).

To learn more about Penn IUR’s annual photography contest, visit https://penniur.upenn.edu/media/photography-contest.