In this special episode of the SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast, Angela Nicholson brings together five remarkable photographers recognised at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026. Each conversation reveals not just how their images were made, but the deeper stories, experiences and ideas that shaped them.
The episode features Dafna Talmor, Elle Leontiev, Isadora Romero, María Fernanda García Freire and Vilma Taubo, representing a diverse range of photographic styles, subjects and approaches.
Dafna Talmor, winner of the Landscape category, explains how her long-term project Constructed Landscapes emerged from frustration with her archive. By physically cutting and reworking her negatives, she creates entirely new, imagined landscapes that blur the line between reality and fiction.
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Open Photographer of the Year Elle Leontiev shares the powerful story behind her portrait of a volcanologist living beneath Mount Yasur in Vanuatu. Battling extreme conditions, acid rain and even a camera failure, Elle relied on instinct and experience to capture a striking image that reflects both human resilience and the raw force of nature.
Isadora Romero, winner of the Environment category, discusses her multi-year exploration of cloud forests in Ecuador. Her work challenges the idea of nature as separate from humanity, weaving together science, history and cultural understanding to present forests as shared, living spaces shaped by both people and ecosystems.
María Fernanda García Freire offers a deeply personal perspective, sharing how motherhood and her son’s fascination with birds inspired her shortlisted project. Blending instinctive image-making with thoughtful composition, her work reflects themes of care, freedom and cultural identity rooted in Andean traditions.
Vilma Taubo, winner of the Still Life category, reveals how everyday objects can carry powerful political meaning. Her series transforms items such as umbrellas, paperclips and inflatable ducks into visual symbols of protest, highlighting the subtle ways photography can communicate complex ideas without words.
Alongside these stories, Angela brings in questions from the SheClicks community, prompting honest reflections on finding your style, overcoming self-doubt and staying motivated through challenges. The conversations offer valuable insight for photographers at every stage of their journey.
This episode is a celebration of creativity, resilience and the many ways women are shaping contemporary photography today.
Dafna Talmor
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Elle Leontiev
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Isadora Romero
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María Fernanda García Freire
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Vilma Taubo
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