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
Amateur
2025

Photographer / Company

Malcolmn Ramsey

Category

Germany Photography - Architecture

Country / Region

United States

Amateur
2025

Photographer / Company

Ming Lung Su

Category

Special Category - Event Photography

Country / Region

Taiwan

Professional
2025

Photographer / Company

Sushilla Kouwen

Category

Germany Photography - Portrait

Country / Region

Netherlands

Amateur
2025

Photographer / Company

Kylo-Patrick Hart

Category

Black & White Photography - Still Life

Country / Region

United States