Game Boys

Photographer

Karen Grillion

Category

People Photography - Children

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2025

Country / Region:

United States

Two young boys sit side by side on a worn doorstep in a quiet Cuban street. Their legs are dusty, their clothes simple, and yet their focus is intense. One clutches a game controller, the other leans in, fully engaged. But look closer: the cords dangle freely, leading to nothing. There is no screen, no console—only imagination. In a world where they have little, they’ve created much. The bright yellow shoes and vibrant red controller stand out against the faded walls and rough concrete, symbolizing the spark of play in a landscape of scarcity. They’re not playing a real video game—they’re pretending. And in that pretending, they find joy, escape, and connection. Game Boys is a quiet yet powerful reminder of childhood resilience. It celebrates the ability to dream, to play, and to believe—even when the wires don’t connect.

Credits

Karen Grillion
More Gold Winner Winners
Professional
2025

Photographer / Company

lai hung tse

Category

Editorial Photography - Religious

Country / Region

Taiwan

Amateur
2025

Photographer / Company

Riley Fox

Category

Editorial Photography - Sports

Country / Region

United States

Amateur
2025

Photographer / Company

Mariko Okubo

Category

Commercial Photography - Conceptual

Country / Region

Japan

Amateur
2025

Photographer / Company

Leslie Robins

Category

Special Category - Minimalism Photography

Country / Region

United States