Ceci n’est pas une pipe – My Photo of the Year 2025

First of all, I really don’t like it when people ask me what my favourite thing is in any category. I dread when I have to answer what my favorite food is, my top 1 movie of all time or my favorite holiday destination. Even as a kid, I would always reply what the person before me replied to the question or say what I thought most people would choose.

So this choice was quite a challenge for me and I can already tell you it is not my favourite photo of the year (ceci n’est pas mon photo préférée). My favourite changes day to day based on my feelings at that given time. I also let my idea of others’ opinions overwhelm my decision. Will people think this is a weird choice? Would they expect a photo of family, something that has a stronger bond? Or should I be choosing something more recognisable?

No, I keep reminding myself. I should be picking whatever I want to. I have family photos I feel a strong relation to, I have travel photos of famous places, but this photo fell into place the way I like it on my photo walks, where my photography hobby feels most at home.
Now, I haven’t shown this one photo to anyone before. I took it on one of my photo walks in spring; the hint of emerging leaves in the background signals a time of warmer weather, more daylight, and higher shutter speeds.

I had an expired roll of Fuji Sensia 100 loaded in my Leica M6 when I saw this elderly man from afar sitting in front of the Town Hall in Aarhus. Dressed in suit pants, a long coat and sunglasses, he coolly had his arm resting on the bench, gazing at nothing in particular. His calmness was one you only gain through a lifetime of confidence, and what really caught me was the majestic pipe hanging from the side of his mouth, a rare sight in modern Denmark.

I knew immediately how I wanted to photograph him. Backlit, silhouette of the pipe and hopefully his face. I rushed down the lane, passing him in the hope that he would look my way. And to my luck, no more than a second later, when I turn around, his gaze shifts to the left, exactly where I needed him to look.

One click on the shutter button, and I ended up with this photo. Wonky colours due to the nature of expired slide film. High contrast due to the backlit scene. Maybe not the best film for the job, and maybe the subject doesn’t fill the frame, but I am happy with the experience and the result nonetheless.

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