Feast Your Eyes on the 2024 Natural Landscape Photography Award Winners – Witness the Beauty

The 2024 Natural Landscape Photography Awards have once again honored the world’s most breathtaking and authentic depictions of nature. Founded in 2021 by landscape photographers, the competition promotes realism, rejecting digital manipulation and artificial intelligence. With more than $25,000 in prizes and a rigorous judging process, these awards celebrate the connection between humans and the natural world.

A Commitment to Authenticity

This year’s awards stand as a testament to the commitment of photographers who value the integrity of the natural world. In a time when artificial manipulation is widespread, the Natural Landscape Photography Awards celebrate images that stay true to the raw and authentic beauty of nature.

As the winning images tour across exhibitions globally, nature lovers will have the chance to immerse themselves in the tranquility and splendor of the natural world, as seen through the eyes of these masterful photographers.

Photographer of the Year: Andrew Mielzynski

Canadian landscape photographer Andrew Mielzynski took home the highest honor, winning the coveted title of Photographer of the Year. Reflecting on his achievement, Mielzynski expressed his profound gratitude:

“I am overwhelmed, amazed, excited, and deeply honored to win the Natural Landscape Photography Awards' Photographer of the Year award for 2024. This contest is extremely prestigious and important for photographers who reject digital manipulation and AI.”

Photograph of the Year: John Hardiman

John Hardiman’s magical shot of mist-drenched gum leaves in a local forest won Photograph of the Year, capturing a scene that felt both serene and alive. Hardiman recounted the moment:

“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 that danced across the water’s surface.”

For Hardiman, landscape photography is about giving nature a voice—an art that he translates beautifully through his lens.

Grand Scenic Category: Peter Coskun

The Grand Scenic category was awarded to Peter Coskun for his breathtaking image of the Grand Canyon, one of his favorite and most cherished places. Coskun’s intimate knowledge of the location allowed him to capture an often-overlooked detail in a wide-angle landscape shot.

“It’s easy to shoot wide from the rim of the Grand Canyon, but when you have such great atmospheric conditions as I did, zooming in can bring out some truly grand moments,” Coskun explained. His image is a perfect example of how focusing on the finer details within a grand scene can reveal unexpected beauty.

Project Runner-Up: Thomas Spinner – "Volcanic Eruptions & Landscapes"

Thomas Spinner’s work on volcanic landscapes earned him the Project Runner-Up award. Having climbed more than 80 volcanoes since the 2010s, Spinner has captured the immense power and dramatic spectacle of eruptions.

“You can never have enough humility and respect when you’re standing there,” Spinner remarked. “It’s always fascinating to stand on the edge of a crater and look into the erupting chasm. Pure adrenaline. Adventure!” Spinner’s images powerfully convey the awe and danger of these volatile landscapes.

Project Highly Commended: Felix Wesch – "Birch Forest"

Felix Wesch’s deep connection with a local birch forest near his home earned him a Highly Commended recognition. Over the years, Wesch has returned to this forest in autumn, hoping for the perfect foggy conditions to capture its ethereal beauty.

“I fell instantly in love,” Wesch shared. “It’s almost an addiction. But I always come home with a smile on my face when I get to spend a bit of time in the autumn mist with the birch trees again. Sometimes life is that easy.”

More photos below: