Inspired by a love of nature, exploration, and unexpected moments, Joana captures the Maldives in a different light. Discover how a stormy afternoon, four perfectly aligned islands, and a cinematic editing approach came together to create an image that feels more like a real moment than a postcard.
I’ve always been curious about discovering new things and exploring the world around me. Even as a child, I wasn’t the kind of girl who played with dolls; I collected stones and seashells instead.
In addition, I’ve always been fascinated by foreign countries, nature, and different cultures. My passion for the outdoors really grew stronger when I started diving about 15 years ago. Being underwater opened up a completely new perspective for me and deepened my connection to nature and travel, which automatically made me want to capture and preserve memories.
Along the way, I’ve learned four valuable lessons:
1) The best experiences are usually outside of your comfort zone.
2) You don’t always need perfect conditions to create something beautiful; sometimes spontaneous moments end up telling the strongest story.
3) Nature always teaches patience (slowly getting there); sometimes you have to wait for the right light, the right feeling, or the right weather.
4) Being outdoors makes me stay curious, grounded, and open to new perspectives.
My winning photo was taken in 2025 in the Maldives, on an island in the Baa Atoll that I had chosen very intentionally. What caught my attention was the chain of four small islands, perfectly lined up in front of it, a simple but incredibly striking composition.
I had seen this scene photographed many times before but always under perfect blue skies. Beautiful, but for me it felt a little too expected. I like traveling to the Maldives outside the main season, not only because it’s quieter, but because the weather creates a much more dramatic and interesting atmosphere for photography.
After a few days of bad weather, the image was captured during one of those stormy afternoons. It was super windy, dark clouds were moving in, and it could have started raining at any second. Launching the drone definitely felt risky; I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d get it back. But sometimes you have to take the chance to capture something special, and luckily it was worth it.
What drew me to this composition was the natural symmetry and the way the four islands almost lead the eye through the image. I loved how minimalistic it felt while still having a strong sense of depth and scale. They looked perfectly placed, almost unreal, and of course the dark weather added contrast and mood to the scene. It was exactly what I’ve been waiting for. Instead of the typical bright tropical colors, the dramatic sky and rough ocean gave the image a different feeling, more cinematic and also a little unexpected for the Maldives.
When editing the photo, I wanted to keep the atmosphere as authentic as possible while enhancing the mood I felt in that moment.
The colors were inspired by the feeling of that day: windy, unpredictable, and intense. I wanted to create a more cinematic and timeless look; at the same time, I made sure the turquoise water stood out enough to keep the image connected to the Maldives. Overall, my goal was to create an image that feels less like a postcard and more like a real moment with emotion and atmosphere.
The most important part of the editing process was creating the right balance between mood and realism. I first focused on adjusting the light and contrast to bring out the dramatic atmosphere of the stormy weather without making the image feel too dark or artificial.
After that, I worked on the color tones, especially the blues and turquoise shades of the ocean. I wanted the water to remain vibrant enough to instantly feel like the Maldives, while keeping the overall mood cinematic and slightly moody.
Another key step was simplifying the image by keeping the composition clean and minimal. I let the natural shapes of the islands and the texture of the ocean speak for themselves.
Inspired by a love of nature, exploration, and unexpected moments, Joana captures the Maldives in a different light. Discover how a stormy afternoon, four perfectly aligned islands, and a cinematic editing approach came together to create an image that feels more like a real moment than a postcard.
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