Matthew De Castro, For a Moment, We Flew (PEOPLE 2026)

Captured overlooking Sydney Harbour, this image freezes a fleeting moment of childhood joy and trust against one of Australia’s most iconic backdrops. Suspended between hands and sky, the children appear almost airborne, transforming an ordinary family interaction into something timeless and dreamlike. In the corner of the frame, another figure quietly records the same instant on a phone, adding a second layer of remembrance: a photograph preserving a memory already being preserved. The monochrome treatment strips the scene back to emotion, movement, and human connection.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.