Unsplash Awards 2025 Nominee

Sébastien Lavalaye

A concrete spiral staircase with metal railings viewed from above

Looking up into the curved concrete staircase of the south parking garage at Nantes train station. The geometric lines and raw textures create a minimalist urban composition. Shot on medium format film with an Agfa Isolette II using Kodak Portra 400 film.

Stepping stones with red leaves reflected in water

Dreamlike double exposure photograph made at the Japanese garden of Île de Versailles in Nantes, blending red maple leaves with stone stepping posts over water. Shot on 35mm film with a Nikon F3 HP and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 using Kodak Ultramax 400 film.

A pink flower in a green cup on a saucer.

Dreamy double exposure photograph combining pink flowers and a coffee cup scene at the Jardin des Plantes in France. Shot on 35mm film with a Nikon F3 HP and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 using Kodak Ultramax 400 film.

Metal ladder attached to concrete leading into dark water.

Close-up of a metal ladder descending into the seawater pool in Dinard, Brittany. The rough concrete textures and deep blue water create a quiet minimalist atmosphere. Shot on 35mm film with a Nikon F3 HP and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 using Kodak Ultramax 400 film.

Metal ladder descending into calm blue water

Minimalist close-up of a metal pool ladder disappearing into calm water at the seawater pool in Dinard, Brittany. Shot on 35mm film with a Nikon F3 HP and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 using Kodak Ultramax 400 film.

Looking down a modern spiral staircase with blue accents.

Looking up inside a spiral stairwell at CHU de Nantes, France. Shot on film with an Olympus MJU II and Kodak Ultramax 400, highlighting geometric repetition and soft tones.

Abstract architectural detail with repeating curved shapes

Black and white close-up of the iconic “Choux de Créteil” residential towers near Paris. The curved concrete balconies create a repeating sculptural pattern typical of 1970s French brutalist architecture. Shot on 35mm film with a Nikon F3 HP using Kentmere 400 black and white film.

Looking down a spiral staircase with patterned carpet

Photographed at the Hotel Royal in Deauville (France), this downward view of the main staircase showcases elegant curves, warm tones, and vintage carpet patterns. Shot on Kodak Portra 160 film using a Leica M3. A timeless moment inside a classic seaside hotel.

Long hotel hallway with red carpet and wall lamps

Photographed at the Hotel Royal in Deauville (France), this image captures the quiet symmetry of a classic hotel corridor. The warm wall lamps, patterned carpet, and vanishing perspective evoke a timeless cinematic atmosphere. Shot on Kodak Portra 160 film with a Leica M3.

Diving platform with astronaut mural against blue sky

Shot in Deauville (Normandy, France) in November 2025. This concrete diving tower, part of the outdoor seawater pool, is topped by a whimsical mural depicting a character on the beach. Captured on Kodak Portra 160 film with a Leica M3, in late afternoon light. A quiet and surreal seaside moment.