Each month The Associated Press honors photographers for outstanding coverage while on assignment.

The winners of the October 2025 AP Photo Contest are:

Emilio Morenatti for News Photography Single Image, for his photo of people gathering at hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel prior to the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Matias Delacroix for News Photography Story, for his coverage of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation on the island of Jamaica.

Misper Apawu for Feature Photography Single Image, for her photo of a balloon bearing the image of President Alassane Ouattara floating above supporters during a campaign rally in Koumassi, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Vadim Makhorov for Feature Photography Story, for his photo essay on polar bears that have taken over an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East.

Andy Wong for Sports Photography Single Image, for his photo of Jiri Lehecka, of the Czech Republic serving against Denis Shapovalov, of Canada during the men's singles match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China.

Congratulations to all the photographers for their outstanding work. This month’s winning images, judged by members of the curation team: Courtney Dittmar, Jaquelyn Larma, Leslie Mazoch, Anita Baca and Anne-Marie Belgrave are featured below.

News Photography Single Image | Emilio Morenatti

Israel Palestinians

People gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 prior to the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

News Photography Story | Matias Delacroix

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

People walk along a road during the passing of Hurricane Melissa in Rocky Point, Jamaica, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

Workers board up shop windows ahead of Hurricane Melissa's forecast arrival in Kingston, Jamaica, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

An aerial view of Black River, Jamaica, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

A man walks in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

Residents gather amid debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa on a street in Black River, Jamaica, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

An aerial view of Black River, Jamaica, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

Mud covers a soccer goal in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

A man rides his bicycle through an inundated street in Black River, Jamaica, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

Residents crowd around a closed supermarket asking for supplies in Black River, Jamaica, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

A convoy carrying aid to Black River, which was hit by Hurricane Melissa, makes its way through Holland Bamboo, Jamaica, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, where downed trees and debris partially block the road. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

Residents walk through Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Hurricane Melissa Jamaica

The church of Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, sits damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Feature Photography Single Image | Misper Apawu

Ivory Coast Election

A balloon bearing the image of President Alassane Ouattara floats above supporters during a campaign rally in Koumassi, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Feature Photography Story | Vadim Makhorov

Russia Polar Bears

A polar bear is seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

Polar bears are seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

An aerial view of an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

A polar bear is seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

A polar bear is seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

Polar bears are seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

A polar bear is seen near an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

Polar bears are seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

A polar bear is seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

An aerial view of an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

A polar bear is seen near an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Russia Polar Bears

A polar bear is seen in front of an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)

Sports Photography Single Image | Andy Wong

China Tennis Shanghai Masters

Jiri Lehecka, of the Czech Republic serves against Denis Shapovalov, of Canada during the men's singles match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Lead photo: A polar bear is seen at an abandoned research station on Koluchin Island, off Chukotka, Russia, in the country’s Far East, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Makhorov)