Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Tdot Shots Photo Contest presented by London Drugs and Tdot.com
Wow, so many entries and lots of talent in the Toronto photography community. It was hard to pick winners! We whittled the hundreds of images down to a short list of 24 which out judges then narrowed down to these 9 winners and some very deserving honourable mentions.
Tdot Shots Photo Contest Winners: An Overview
Our thanks to judges Paul (@to_shots) Michele (magpie_n_moo) and Kurt (@kurt.wang) for their dedication and enthusiasm. Their comments about the winning images and photographer are included in the article.
The Tdot Shots photo contest celebrated winners across three main categories—Colourscape, Moody, and Community—with the winning images showcasing a striking array of perspectives. There was significant overlap in subject matter, with aerial drone shots being a notable trend.
COLOURSCAPE
Above: contrasting scenes and uses of colour in the minimal but beautiful sunset captured by Kotsy above Rogers Centre and the overwhelming glow of a gradient sunrise shot by Deep. Kotsy’s image could have crossed over into the moody category with that brooding sky. Deep’s image has a rich palette of tones crossing the entire warm colour spectrum.
In the Colourscape category, the top photo by Kotsy (@itsonlykotsy)—Aerial Skydome, CN Tower—was highly praised as an “impressive winning photo [that] captures the Rogers Centre from the unique perspective of a drone, glowing amid a Blue Jays baseball game” (Paul).
The second-place winner, Deep (@deepbhavsarr)—Aerial Fall Sunrise Haze—had an image that “captures ‘colourscape’ perfectly, reflecting fall’s vibrant hues and the soft glow of golden hour” (Paul).
In the Colourscape category, the third-place image by Snow (@snowychateau)—Aerial Trees, Fall Oval—was described as an aerial photograph that “beautifully balances structure and the fall season,” with the oval of red trees forming “a striking focal point”.
The Honourable Mention in this category went to Sanket (@themesoflight)—Canoe Paddlers, Golden Light—whose image was noted for beautifully capturing “a serene autumn moment, rich in color and storytelling” with the human element adding warmth” (Comments by Michele).
MOODY VIBE
The Moody Vibe category recognized works that excelled in atmosphere and composition. The winner, Sanket (@themesoflight)—Foggy Ship, Human Factor—achieved a “double win” in the contest, with his photos standing out by “placing the human factor inside a moody, beautiful setting, resulting in a compelling narrative” (Kurt).
For more goodness in the Moody Vibe category, Kotsy (@itsonlykotsy)—Gooderham Reflection Puddle—secured second place, praised for demonstrating “remarkable skill in both aerial and cityscape photography” and a “keen eye for leveraging ideal weather conditions”.
The third-place shot by Ben (@bthomas.photography)—Old Couple, Red Streetcar—was lauded as a street capture that “showcases those tender moments in the big city… It shows a slice of life moment” (Mike).
The Honourable Mention was awarded to Simon (@simonhoffsphotography)—Arch Bridge, Black & White—a photo that was an “exceptionally well done” standout entry due to its “striking symmetrical composition” and masterful conveying of moody photography
COMMUNITY VOTE
The Community category winner, Manoj (@manojklohar)—Umbrella Woman, Rainy Night—captured a scene where the rain, reflections, and ambient light “create an atmosphere that feels intimate and cinematic” (Michele).
Alison (@itsalisonsouto) secured second place with an image—Blue Night Streetcar Trails—that was “a great image from a classic Toronto location for streetcars mixed with CN Tower and long exposure photography” (Mike).
The third-place winner, Sayantan (@justsayantan)—Lone Cyclist, Golden Road—contributed a photo that was an “expertly composed” scene illuminated by “golden autumn light” (Paul). Honourable mention
In a successful contest for multiple winners, Kotsy (@itsonlykotsy) and Sanket (@themesoflight) both achieved double win plus win and honourable mention. It was an outstanding achivement for both.
All the entrants demonstrated skill in aerial, landscape / cityscape, street and architectural photography and presented powerful edits for our judges and audience. Congrats all for your hard work and continued success with your creative endeavours.
👤 Photo Credits: Photographers and Usernames
Credit for the featured photographs belongs to the following individuals and their Instagram accounts:
- Kotsy – @itsonlykotsy 13
- Deep – @deepbhavsarr 14
- Snow – @snowychateau 15
- Sanket – @themesoflight 16
- James – @henebreezy 17
- Ben – @bthomas.photography 18
- Simon – @simonhoffsphotography
- Manoj – @manojklohar 19
- Alison – @itsalisonsouto 20
- Sayantan – @justsayantan 21
Thank You
Thanks a lot for supporting the 2025 photo contest. We will see you again next year for our 8th contest! To our creative friends in the GTA we say keep shooting and practising your craft!
Gratitude for support by our sponsors London Drugs Photolab and Tdot.com. Our sincere thanks to judges @magpie_n_moo @kurt.wang and @to_shots.
Mike Simpson
Tdot Shots and Tdot.cc
