The Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2024 edition has once again highlighted the power of authentic, untouched landscape photography. This competition, now in its fourth year, is a standout for its commitment to realism, ensuring that no digital manipulation or AI-generated content alters the beauty of the natural world. With over 12,000 submissions from 59 countries, this year’s competition attracted global talent and provided a platform for photographers who emphasize authenticity in their craft.
Photographer of the Year: Andrew Mielzynski
The title of Photographer of the Year was awarded to Andrew Mielzynski for his collection of stunning landscapes. Mielzynski’s work stood out for its emotional depth and technical precision, reflecting his dedication to traditional landscape photography. The judges, who hail from around the world, selected his body of work for its excellence in capturing nature’s raw beauty without digital alterations. Mielzynski’s win reflects the values of the competition, which aims to celebrate natural scenes and the photographers who respect their integrity. He was awarded the prestigious title along with a $5,000 cash prize.
Photographer: Andrew Mielzynski
“I am overwhelmed, amazed, excited and deeply honoured to win the Natural Landscape Photography Award’s Photographer of the year award for 2024. The Natural Landscape Photography Awards are one of the biggest landscape competitions in the world, with a full range of categories that compliment many different genres in the landscape photography world. This contest is extremely prestigious and important for photographers who love traditional photography and who reject digital manipulation and AI. Their Golden Rule is that “The integrity of the subject should maintained” and to this end they ask for the original image to be submitted for inspection. Thank you to the founders and organizers of the competition for all their hard work, to the tireless and world class judges, the sponsors and to all my incredibly talented and dedicated fellow winners and photographic artists that entered this fabulous contest. I am very proud, thrilled and appreciative to be included in this group of very talented photographers.”
Runner-Up Photographers
- 2nd Place: Tobias Richter
- 3rd Place: Sho Hoshino
- 4th Place: David Kingham
- Highly Commended: Hans Gunnar Aslaksen, Theo Bosboom, and Jurre Jan de Wit
Each of these photographers showcased a profound connection to the natural world, capturing breathtaking landscapes that resonate with viewers and uphold the competition’s standards.
Photograph of the Year: John Hardiman
John Hardiman’s image evokes a sense of serenity and depth. Taken in a misty forest, Hardiman captured the delicate interplay between water droplets on gum leaves and their reflection on a serene body of water. His photograph was a standout in the competition, demonstrating a masterful ability to bring out the ethereal beauty of a seemingly simple natural scene.
In the words of the author of the Photograph of the Year, John Hardiman:
“I’m honored to be selected for this year’s NLPA Photograph of the Year, where nature, art and expression are all valued as part of the photographic experience. I feel that landscape photography is about giving nature a voice, a voice that’s interpreted and shared through our presence.
On this morning I visited a local forest where the air was dense with mist, soaking everything around me. I watched as water dripped from gum leaves overhead, making ‘musical’ ripples which danced across the waters surface, playing with the cool figures which loomed behind. I am pleased to be be sharing this experience with you now.”
The Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2024 Category Winners
The competition includes several categories designed to showcase the diversity of landscape photography, from grand vistas to intimate details. We leave you with some of the most outstanding photographs:
Grand Scenic:
- Winner: Peter Coskun
- Runner-Up: Ciaran Willmore
- Third Place: Andreea Cirlig
Intimate Landscapes:
- Winner: Brent Clark
- Runner-Up: Laura Zirino
- Third Place: Peter Meyer
Abstract or Details:
- Winner: Scott Oller
- Runner-Up: Hitomi Seki
- Third Place: Thomas Spinner
Each category winner brought their unique perspective to the competition, from sweeping vistas to intricate natural patterns.
Project of the Year: David Southern – Living on the Edge
The Project of the Year award was granted to David Southern for his series “Living on the Edge.” His work highlights the intricate beauty of seaweeds along the Northumbrian coastline. Southern’s photographs focus on often-overlooked habitats that play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem, capturing the rhythmic movement of seaweed in stunning detail. His project serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving these delicate ecosystems.
“It is a great honour and a privilege to be the winner of Project of the Year. I have followed the NLPA since its inception and the ethos and qualities of the competition mirror my own values. It was a wonderful surprise to be announced as the winner.
NLPA Grant: Anders Thøstesen
The 2024 competition introduced the NLPA Grant, a $5,000 award aimed at supporting young photographers working on environmental projects. Anders Thøstesen was the first recipient for his project, “Flying Rivers”, which seeks to visualize the Amazon’s water cycle and highlight the consequences of deforestation.
Special Awards
In addition to the main categories, the competition also offered Special Awards to recognize specific sub-genres within landscape photography:
Creative Icon
Environmental
Environmental Wildlife
Common Places
Mountains
Water Worlds
Black and White
Nightscape
Aerial
These awards honor photographers who push the boundaries of creativity and technical skill, offering a fresh perspective on familiar and remote landscapes alike.
The Importance of the Natural Landscape Photography Awards
In a digital age where reality can be easily distorted, the Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2024 stands out by celebrating the unaltered beauty of our world. It reminds us that true artistry lies not in post-processing wizardry, but in the photographer’s ability to capture fleeting moments of natural perfection.
For photographers inspired by this year’s winners and looking to showcase their own work, there are many opportunities to explore. Check out this comprehensive list of photo contests to find the perfect platform for your images. Nature enthusiasts should also visit the dedicated page for nature photo contests to discover more chances to share their passion for the natural world.
As we marvel at the stunning images from the Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2024, we’re reminded of the incredible beauty that surrounds us. These photographs do more than just please the eye – they inspire us to appreciate and protect the natural world in all its unedited glory.
If you found these photographs interesting, we invite you to go through the complete gallery of winners that you can find on the official website of the contest. There you can discover many more equally vibrant photographs that make us think how difficult it must have been for the judges to make their decision.