Images capturing expansive scenic vistas from various parts of the globe were submitted to The Independent Photographer’s Landscape Photography Awards, and the results of the November 2023 competition have recently been revealed. Renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson served as the judge, and the victors and finalists present a stunning portrayal of the Earth’s natural beauty.
Phillip Glombik, the photographer who clinched the top honor, impressed the judges with his emotive aerial photograph of a river in Iceland. Captured using a drone at the conclusion of the Ölfus River, the picture exhibits a serene and mesmerizing composition that captivated Richardson.
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#1. First Place: “Watery Shapes” by Phillip Glombik
Jury Feedback: “I browsed all of the beautiful finalist images over and over, letting them soak in, allowing professional judgment and subjective emotion to mingle. This was the image that always pulled me back, always invited me to get lost in wonder. I know what it is: river sediments in Iceland. But in places, it echoes the forces of creation we see in space telescope images of galactic nebula where stars are born. In other places, it echoes the desert dunes, or perhaps arctic blizzard drifts. The patterns are primordial. But what struck me most is how this image was elevated over similar images by the pattern or ripples that lay over the whole image like a veil. Just wonderful.” — Jim Richardson
#2. Second Place: “Fringes of Abernethy” by Ed Smith
Jury Feedback:“This scene is elusive in a most delightful way. Where most landscape photographs are explicit, this one is evocative. The mists are the author of this image, letting us see only snippets and hints of moors and glens in the Cairngorms of Scotland. The scattered trees serve to assure us that there is solid ground out there somewhere. I’ve spent quite some time absorbing this image. As far as I can tell there is no center of interest; I don’t miss it. Author Nan Shepherd wrote her famous book, The Living Mountain, about the Cairngorms. This picture pretty much nails it.” — Jim Richardson
#3. Third Place: “Morning Freeze” by Remi Bergougnoux
Jury Feedback: “A captivating image, portraying a frequently documented landscape that is transformed into something truly unique thanks to the photographer’s combination of patience, and mastery of composition, light, and tone. From the slightly low angle, the viewer’s gaze effortlessly follows the meandering stream which snakes into the distance, where the magnificent Mont Saint Michel takes center stage against a breathtaking pink sky, split by a diagonal sweep of pastel-hued clouds.” – The Independent Photographer Editors