The winners of the 3rd International Landscape Photographer of the Year (ILPOTY) competition have been announced. From 2394 entries, the winner of the third International Landscape Photographer of the Year (based on a folio submission of at least 4 images) is Alex Noriega from the USA, while the winner of the third International Landscape Photograph of the Year (awarded for a single image) is a picture by Hougaard Malan, from South Africa (reprinted above), who also won the Waterfall Award. Runners-up include Kath Salier, Peter Poppe, Simone Cmoon and Eberhard Ehmke. The Black & White Award went to Guy Havell, the Dominant Sky category was won by Leonardo Papèra, the South America Award was given to Kalan Robb, while the Squarial (square aerial) Award was won by Ignacio Palacios.

ILPOTY Press Release

THE 3rd INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2016

Winners Announced!

Sydney, Austral ia – Monday 9th January, 2017

Professional and amateur photographers worldwide were invited to enter the third International Landscape Photographer of the Year competition for a chance to share in the US$10,000 cash prize pool.

From 2394 entries, the winner of the third International Landscape Photographer of the Year (based on a folio submission of at least 4 images) is Alex Noriega from the USA.

Alex Noriega shoots landscapes and nature. He works from home and on the road, often making extended trips around the western USA in search of new images. "I'm a professional photographer in that this is how I make my living, but I am self-employed and run a small business. I do not shoot on assignment, I simply pursue the images I want to and teach other photographers how I do it."

Alex first picked up a camera seven years ago and found himself enthralled. "Initially, I photographed anything from portraits to architecture, but when I took my first trip to the American West where I saw the Rocky Mountains and the deserts of the Colorado Plateau, it stirred something in me. I knew that was what I wanted to spend my life photographing. "Right now, I'm happily making a modest living from photography, both by teaching other photographers my trade, in the field and online, and by selling my images."

In 2016, Alex also won the USA Landscape Photographer of the Year competition and the Epson Pano Awards Photographer of the Year. He uses a Nikon D600 with Nikkor 16-35mm f4, 50mm f1.8, and 70-200mm f4 VR lenses.

"I like to shoot in any sort of light or time of day that evokes a certain mood. Obviously many landscape photographers shoot at the edge of day for the colourful and dynamic nature of the light. However, I'll shoot anytime that anything interesting is happening - be it stormy spotlighting, a whiteout or foggy and overcast blues - anytime I can capture an atmosphere that is out of the ordinary. You won't find many colourful sunsets in my portfolio, nor will you find blue skies on a sunny day."

While Alex acknowledges there are plenty of places around the world he could visit, he loves the freedom of traveling in his own vehicle and being able to live out of it for weeks at a time. "So I am sticking to North America for the time being. I believe the diversity of landscapes available in the western half of this continent is unrivalled: the incredible desert geology of the Colorado Plateau, the numerous craggy and undeveloped mountain ranges, the lush and whimsical rainforests, and the thousands of miles of coastline."

In terms of post-production, Alex only uses Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom and Photoshop. "I've developed my own set of techniques over the years that are completely nondestructive, allowing me to go back and make changes at any step in the process. This allows me to hone the images very precisely.

"Most of the processing, aside from fixing imperfections, is centred around creating or emphasising certain atmospheres, through the use of light and colour. Although I try to finish every image with the care required to make large prints, I do acknowledge that the vast majority of viewers will only ever see them digitally, so I am very mindful of my web output as well.

"I want to continue finding my own unique images that represent my love of certain landscapes and moods, and to continue exploring North America. As long as I'm making new images that excite me, business and career advancements will follow."

The International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2016 - Second Place
Kath Salier, Australia
The International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2016 - Third Place
Peter Poppe, Belgium

The winner of the third International Landscape Photograph of the Year (awarded for a single image) is Hougaard Malan, from South Africa

Hougaard Malin is a professional landscape photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa.

"I’m fortunate to have two of the world’s most amazing landscapes on my doorstep; the Namibian Desert and South Africa’s Drakensberg mountain range. I try to visit both these iconic areas each year, as well as exploring something new."

Hougaard says that like many nature and landscape photographers, he didn't plan his career. "It sort of just happened due to my passion for photography overpowering all my other interests. Then, over the years I have learned what to do to make a living out of it, such as good relationships with my local publishing industry and by helping all the hobbyists get the iconic shots.

"I’m pretty happy with where I am at the moment. I went through a creative slump from 2012 - 2015, but I feel that I am through it and producing better work than ever. I'm making solid efforts to photograph areas that are unknown to the world.

"For instance, I got to know the landscapes of Namibia during the great floods of 2011, but I didn’t really know it as a photographic destination. I now know every corner of it like my own backyard and I am patiently awaiting the next flood year to capture the world’s most photogenic desert with an abundance of green grass and storm clouds."

Hougaard says he's not a loyalist when it comes to camera gear, choosing to shoot with the equipment that gets him the results he needs. "I shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II for many years and jumped ship to Nikon without hesitation when they released the D800. I currently own a D810 and I’m very happy with it. If Canon brings out something better, then I’ll jump ship again in the blink of an eye. I use whatever produces the best image quality.

"What really makes my life easier when out shooting in the field is a good backpack, tripod and an L-bracket. I’m much keener on specific brands when it comes to my accessories. I can’t live without an L-Bracket, my Lee filters, Fstop backpack or Gitzo Systematic and Traveller tripods."

In terms of shooting technique, Hougaard tries not to be too dependent on a wide-angle lens and red skies, as he says this is just an excuse to neglect composition.

"I’m always searching for striking lines and shapes and when I find them, then I will try to wait for complimentary light. What I really love about the Drakensberg is that you can get as many great shots in midday light as you can at sunrise and sunset.

"Africa is definitely challenging to work in. Many popular places are dangerous to shoot at and safety is always a concern. One has to try and be creative while constantly scanning the horizon for suspicious characters looking to nab your gear. Luckily, not all places are like this, but many are and it puts a strain on the creative process."

In terms of post-production, Hougaard says he tries to keep his images looking as natural as possible.

"Some situations obviously require a bit more attention than others to match what the original scene looked like. There’s always some contrast and colour enhancement, minor Orton effect and some blending of bracketed exposures where required."

The International Landscape Photograph of the Year 2016 - Second Place
Simone Cmoon, Switzerland
The International Landscape Photograph of the Year 2016 - Third Place
Eberhard Ehmke, Germany

There are also some special awards which change each year to keep things interesting, and the 2016 winners are:

The Black & White Award 2016
Guy Havell, Australia
The Dominant Sky Award 2016
Leonardo Papèra, Italy
The South America Award 2016
Kalan Robb, Australia
The Squarial (square aerial) Award 2016
Ignacio Palacios, Australia
The Waterfall Award 2016
Hougaard Malan, South Africa

The competition is run with the aim of finding the best 101 landscape images from the past year and publishing them in a beautiful coffee table book which will be available for sale in a variety of formats, including a free e-book.

The top prize winners (mentioned above) receive a copy of the coffee table book as part of their prize, courtesy of the International Landscape Photographer of the Year sponsor Momento Pro, a bespoke photo book printer in Sydney, Australia, and some of the winners receive a large print of their work from Created For Life, a professional photo lab and framer just north of Sydney, Australia.

The top 101 is the result of expert opinions collaborating to curate a wonderful exhibit of the world's best contemporary landscape photography. Our thanks go to:

- David Burnett, USA, co-founder of Contact Press Images and himself a Magazine
Photographer of the Year.
- Jim M. Goldstein, a professional and fine art photographer and regular photography
magazine contributor and writer.
- Luke Austin, the winner of the 2015 International Landscape Photographer of the Year.
- Kaye Davis, NZIPP Grand Master of Photography, professional photographer and senior
lecturer.
- Tim Parkin, UK-based landscape photographer and editor of On Landscape magazine.
Chairman of Judges, Peter Eastway says;

“Landscape photographers are passionate about their art. For some, it's the time spent in the landscape, waiting for the perfect light or an amazing sky. For others, it's what they can conjure from their imagination without the restrictions of the natural world.

"And as long as the context in which you view landscape photographs is unambiguous, we should embrace both points of view. For instance, if you're looking at a landscape photograph in a National Geographic magazine, it is expected that you are viewing a real location. It is not a figment of the photographer's imagination. However, walking through a landscape photography exhibition at a modern art gallery, most of us would not be surprised or concerned to learn the imagery was the result of the artist's fervent imagination.

"The mark of a true landscape photographer is someone who has strong views for his or her own art, but is accepting and appreciative of other approaches as well. After all, it is only through education and experience that we can expand and improve our own practice."

Now in its third year, The International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award celebrates all genres of and approaches to landscape photography, presenting 101 of the very best contemporary landscape images, submitted by photographers working all over the world.

In keeping with previous years, while the first place International Landscape Photograph of the Year is breathtaking, to be named International Landscape PhotographER of the Year requires more than a single shot. The PhotographER of the Year was chosen from a portfolio of four images, representing consistency as well as that spark of landscape brilliance.

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