AP monthly photo contest

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

The winners of the December 2025 AP Photo Contest are Jehad Alshrafi for News Photography Single Image, for his photo of Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants carrying a white body bag that is believed to be the remains of a deceased hostage, in the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza Strip. 

Mark Baker for News Photography Story, for his coverage of a the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney, Australia.

Abdel Kareem Hana for Feature Photography Single Image, for his photo of Aziz Halawa, 60, sitting with his children as they warm themselves next to the fire inside their tent amid the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground operations in Gaza City.

David Goldman and Ng Han Guan for Feature Photography Story, for their photo essay on infrared technology.

Jehad Alshrafi for Sports Photography Single Image, for his photo of Palestinians Khalil Abu Jayyab and Tahseen Abu Assi warming up before surfing on the beach in Gaza City.

Altaf Qadri for Sports Photography Story, for his coverage of  the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Congratulations to all the photographers for their outstanding work. This month’s winning images, judged by Jorge Saenz, are featured below.

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News Photography Single Image | Jehad Alshrafi

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Israel Palestinians Gaza

Islamic Jihad and Hamas militants carry a white body bag that is believed to be the remains of a deceased hostage, in the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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News Photography Story | Mark Baker

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Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

Emergency workers transport a person on a stretcher after a reported shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

A man is moved on a stretcher after a reported shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

Police cordon off an area at Bondi Beach after a reported shooting in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

A woman reacts a day after a shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

A couple lay flowers at a tribute to shooting victims outside the Bondi Pavilion at Sydney's Bondi Beach, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, a day after a shooting. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

A young woman kneels down by a floral tribute by the Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, following Sunday's shooting in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

Rabbi Yossi Friedman speaks to people gathering at a flower memorial by the Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, following Sunday's shooting in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

FILE - A family reacts during a menorah lighting ceremony in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at a floral memorial for the victims of the shooting at the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

People attend a menorah lighting ceremony at a floral memorial for victims of Sunday's shooting, at the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

Family react at the coffin of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a victim in the Bondi Beach mass shooting, during his funeral at a synagogue in Bondi on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, Pool)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

A person with Israel's flag and other people attend a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors, at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, following the Bondi shooting on Dec. 14. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting

People attend a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors, at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, following the Bondi shooting on Dec. 14. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

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Feature Photography Single Image | Abdel Kareem Hana

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Israel Palestinians Gaza

Aziz Halawa, 60, sits with his children as they warm themselves next to the fire inside their tent amid the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground operations in Gaza City, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Feature Photography Story | David Goldman and Ng Han Guan

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Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Former Xinjiang government engineer Nureli Abliz, who saw firsthand how surveillance technology flagged thousands of people in China for detention, even when they had committed no crime, is illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams as he sits for a photo in Mannheim, Germany, where he´s currently living in exile, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

An infrared beam of light shines from a security camera watching over the Beigulou alleyway in Beijing as a pedestrian passes, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Yang Guoliang, who has been under surveillance by Chinese officials after complaining about a land dispute to the central government in Beijing, is illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams as he smokes a cigarette inside his home in Changzhou in eastern China´s Jiangsu Province, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

An infrared beam of light shines out of an automatic license plate reader recording vehicles passing along U.S. Highway 83, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Laredo, Texas. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Wensheng Wen, rear right, and his wife, Lou Guangyzing, along with their children Xin, 11, from right, Gehua, 9, Jinghua, 3, Rou, 6, and Younghua, 3, members of a Chinese church living in exile after fleeing from China, are illuminated by beams of pulsed laser light from a cellphone's LiDAR scanner as they sit for a photo, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Midland, Texas. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Alek Schott, who filed a lawsuit alleging violations of his constitutional rights when Texas sheriff´s deputies stopped and searched his vehicle at the request of Border Patrol agents, is photographed as an infrared beam of light from a Flock Safety automatic license plate reader records passing vehicles driving near his neighborhood, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

An image of the Dalai Lama and Namkyi, a Tibetan former political prisoner who was arrested and imprisoned at 15 for protesting Chinese rule, are illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams as Namkyi sits for a photo at the Office of Tibet, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Retired Chinese official Li Chuanliang, who openly criticized the Chinese government after seeing first-hand how surveillance technology built up the government´s power and is now being accused of corruption by Beijing, is illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams as he stands for a photo in the oil fields of Midland, Texas, where he´s currently living in exile, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Guigiu Chen, who escaped China with her daughters after her husband, prominent rights lawyer Xie Yang, was detained, is illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams as she sits for a photo, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Midland, Texas, where she´s living in exile. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Former Xinjiang government engineer Nureli Abliz, who saw firsthand how surveillance technology flagged thousands of people in China for detention, even when they had committed no crime, is illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams as he sits for a photo in Mannheim, Germany, where he´s currently living in exile, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

An infrared beam of light shines from a security camera watching over the Wudaoying alley in Beijing, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Digital Cage Infrared Photo Essay

Pastor Pan Yongguang, right, and his son Paul, members of a Chinese church living in exile after fleeing from China, are illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams while sitting for a photo in the community room of the ranch compound where they´re living in Midland, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Sports Photography Single Image | Jehad Alshrafi

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Gaza Surfers

Palestinian Khalil Abu Jayyab, right, and Tahseen Abu Assi warm up before surfing on the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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Sports Photography Story | Altaf Qadri

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Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

A team of aerobatic jets performs above the Yas Marina racetrack prior to the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Fans take selfies with McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain as he arrives at Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 06, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, center, speaks with mechanics prior to the third practice ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Mechanics work on the car of McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain during the third practice ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the second practice ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car as the sun sets during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Third placed, new Formula One World Champion McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain burns tires after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Third placed, new Formula One World Champion McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates with his team after becoming a world champion after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates after becoming a world champion after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Monthly_December_2025_260.jpg

Crowd erupts as McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain reacts on the podium after becoming the Formula One world champion following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

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Lead photo: Yang Guoliang, who has been under surveillance by Chinese officials after complaining about a land dispute to the central government in Beijing, is illuminated by cellphone infrared facial recognition beams as he smokes a cigarette inside his home in Changzhou in eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)