“Dragonfire, Braided Rivers Of Southern Iceland” by Mieke Boynton, Open Photographer of the Year, Open Award Winner – Nature / Landscape
Nearly 5,000 photographs were submitted to the 10th annual EPSON International Pano Awards, the premier showcase for panoramic photographers. Out of the 72 countries represented, it was Australia that took home the top prize with Mieke Boynton being named Open Photographer of the Year for her stunning aerial photographs. Her panoramic images of Iceland's winding rivers appear as abstract paintings that are certainly worthy of her title.
In fact, Boynton is highly inspired by photographers such as Andre Ermolaev, as well as abstract masters like Piet Mondrian and Wassily Kandinsky. The photographer, who is the first woman to ever win the contest's main prize, made her journey to Iceland specifically to document the country's famed braided rivers. By taking the lessons of her predecessors, she was able to create a portfolio that is truly her own.
“As the mighty glaciers travel down the mountains, they grind up the rock underneath, and as the melted water fans out across the river deltas, these suspended rock particles cause a slight milkiness to the water,” Boynton shares. “The colors alter according to the presence of different elements and minerals such as sulfur and iron, and the endless variations are absolutely breathtaking. It wasn’t until later that I saw the firebreathing dragon in the photo, but now that I’ve seen it, I can’t see anything else! Nature is truly an artist.”
The other winning images from the contest, which also awards amateur photographers and gives out several special awards, are equally worthy of their wins. From mysterious panoramic landscapes to cutting-edge urban environments, each photographer puts their own twist on the scenery in front of their lens.
Due to the high level of competition, the expert panel of judges, which includes leading panoramic photographers and industry professionals, had their hands full when deliberating each category. “It amazes me how the standard of entries continues to go from strength to strength,” states Craig Heckenberg, Managing Director, Epson Australia. “We are proud to have been involved with this great competition for a decade now and congratulate all of the winners for their artistry and dedication.”
See their artistry for yourself by viewing some of the top panoramic photographs below and check the official website for the Top 50 Photographs in each category.
The 2019 EPSON International Pano Awards has announced its winners. Take a look at this year's breathtaking images.
“Waterfall Lofoten, Norway” by Carlos F. Turienzo, 2019 Major Amateur Winner, Amateur Award Winner – Landscape / Nature.
Dieter Meyrl, Highest Scoring Gigapixel Image.
“National Museum Qatar” by Abdulla Al-Mushaifri, Open Award Winner – Built Environment / Architecture.
Andy Wu, Highest Scoring IAPP member.
“Three Towers Torres Del Paine, Chile” by Chandra Bong, One of a Kind Award.
“From NJ, New York, USA” by Carlos F. Turienzo, 2019 Major Amateur Winner.
Jesús M. Chamizo, Highest Scoring Vertical Image.
Sergey Semenov, Highest Scoring IVRPA member in any category.
“Vasco Lisbon, Portugal” by Carlos F. Turienzo, 2019 Major Amateur Winner.
Roberto Soares-Gomes, Highest Scoring Smartphone Pano.
David Tacon, Highest Scoring Image from Film Capture.
“Solitude, Torres Del Paine” by Danny Tan, Nikon Award.
“Enchantment, Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland” by Mark Gray, 2019 EPSON Digital Art Prize.
