From capturing the bustling city atmosphere of Tokyo to the cyclical nature of life and death, the Playbook community returned with powerful discoveries of what’s hidden in plain sight. Choosing three winners was no easy task, but now we are thrilled to present the winners of the 2025 Playbook Photo Competition!
We believe creative success requires more than just tools. It demands a supportive community and resources that transform ideas into reality.
That’s why we created the Playbook Photo Series Competition—to unleash photographers' creativity worldwide by inviting them to share perspectives from alternative realities. Today, we're proud to showcase the remarkable talents who turned this vision into breathtaking visual stories.
🥇 First Place - Elsewhere by Marco Serventi
Marco Serventi's journey as a photographer and videographer began in Lugano, a small Swiss town near the Italian border where he was born. His creative path truly took shape in Australia, where his personal work delved into themes of community, the meaning of home, and the ways people uniquely interact with their environments. He calls photography “a tool that requires nothing more than a small camera and your presence to begin telling stories” — a philosophy that shines through in his work.
Elsewhere features White Cliffs, an Australian outback community where Marco lived and photographed for his series that reveals far more than what first meets the eye. Rooted in the traditions of documentary photography, Marco approaches his subjects with curiosity and care. He immerses himself in research to better understand and connect with the subjects he photographs, capturing their stories with depth and empathy. Elsewhere offers a glimpse into life in a place that might seem inhospitable at first glance. The series uncovers the remarkable bond residents have with their rugged surroundings—and how they've managed to build a vibrant, resilient community in one of Australia's most remote corners during an era of increasing urbanisation.
🥈 Second Place - Tragik by Florencia Carcagno
Now based in the Bay Area, Florencia Carcagno— professionally known as Tragik—is a visionary creative director who celebrates the vibrancy of tight-knit communities and authentic stories. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Florencia found her creative calling in Los Angeles, where a transformative experience with a program for underprivileged women impacted by the criminal justice system opened her eyes to the power of storytelling. Through that work, she discovered how creativity can inspire “feelings of beauty, safety, confidence, and strength”.
Florencia’s portfolio submission shines a light on “queer and historically overlooked communities in their most candid, vulnerable states,” offering an intimate exploration of nontraditional beauty that challenges mainstream norms. By centering deep-rooted connections, queer love, and the quiet strength of marginalised communities, Florencia invites viewers to “witness the quiet power, tenderness, and complexity that lives within these communities—hidden in plain sight yet radiantly present”.
🥉Third Place - Ecotone by Jarrett Murphy
Jarrett Murphy is best known for the surreal nature of his photographs, created by “studio lighting applied to the landscape in the darkness of night, with exposures lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours”. Named one of the Top 10 Nature Photographers from Sony World Photography Awards in 2008, his perspective has been shaped by a lifetime of diverse experiences. Along the way, he has cultivated a deep curiosity, appreciation for storytelling, and “a commitment to creating something extraordinary”.
The Ecotone explores the tension between nature’s beauty the the unease of venturing into the unknown. Jarrett’s images “blur the lines between reality and fantasy”, capturing landscapes both shaped and untouched by human hands. This series reflects his own evolving journey to captures the fragility of nature itself. It is in the solitude of the wilderness where Jarrett finds himself able to “navigate discomfort and curiosity, engaging with a world as terrifying as it is beautiful”.
More About Playbook
Hidden In Plain Sight highlights the incredible power of creativity when supported by a strong, vibrant community. These portfolios showcase stories from around the world that challenge conventions and inspires individuality.
At Playbook, we’re building a new home for creative work, and that starts with being a hub for connection, collaboration, and inspiration. Follow for more competitions and join Playbook today.