We are pleased to announce the winners of the Borders Calling photography competition. The competition, which ran from 15 December 2025, to 31 January 2026, invited high school students aged 15-19 across Europe to explore and photograph "borderlandscapes"—spaces where human-made and natural elements meet to create divisions and tell stories about identity, history, and community.
The jury awarded first place to Tobias Maňák from Slovakia for "Between Two Shores," a contemplative image capturing the Danube River as a natural boundary near Devín Castle. Second place went to Yekateryna Buslova, also from Slovakia, for "Slovak strength," which reflects on memory and loss through the ruins of Bratislava's historic Vydrica district. Ojo Moses from Nigeria received third place for "This is Badagry," documenting two boys at a historic site shaped by the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and colonial borders.
In addition to the three prize winners, the jury selected ten honourable mentions from submissions across Europe, including works from Portugal, Albania, Denmark, Cyprus, and beyond.
All winning photographs and their accompanying descriptions can be viewed on the competition website at enrs.eu/borders-calling. The competition was part of the B-SHAPES project's broader initiative to encourage young people to examine how borders influence local landscapes, communities, and identity formation.