Contests

“One of the most valuable lessons photography has taught me is to go with the flow, let go of control and embrace what has to happen. It has also taught me that life is always better outside, and I do not just talk about having to travel to create good photos. I talk about getting out of your comfort zone, getting out of what you are used to doing, taking on new challenges, and taking advantage of every opportunity to create something unique!”

“I feel like capturing this image taught me an important lesson: Always think outside the box! If it is impossible to take the photo you had in mind, it is always worth a new try with another composition.”

“What was special about this photo was that there was fresh snowfall the night before. I have never experienced snow clashing with fall colors in Crested Butte. There was perfect cloud cover letting the sun peak through slowly. The peaks were covered in a thin layer of snow, while the lower valleys were covered in golden aspens. It was just one of those mornings when everything was perfect.”

“Photography has changed my view of how I perceive my environment and has opened my eyes to the little things that can be found in nature. It has also taught me not to give up, but to keep going when there is something you enjoy and are passionate about.”

“I always plan my trips according to my goals – pure climbing or photography. Various apps like Kommot or tour sites like Bergfex and Outdooractive help me plan my trips. A must-have app is PeakFinder, to figure out the best spot at a specific moment of the day. For example, to see the lightning conditions and direction. I also work with Sun Surveyor and PhotoPills. With these apps, you can plan exactly when the sun is where and at what time of year.”

“Mount Hasan is a dormant stratovolcano in Aksaray Province, located in a remote area far from any civilization. I knew that we would be at the location for the sunset and during the blue hour, so I was scouting to try to come up with something to complement my goal of shooting Mount Hasan.”

“On a cold morning, with the fatigue felt in our bodies and shown in our facial expressions, we left the warm camper and walked through the still dark landscape covered in fog. Once we arrived at the destination, nature began to wake up. The first rays of sunlight found their way through the thick fog.”

“I wanted to convey the message of the subject in this photo – the tree of life. For that, I tried to follow the natural color tone and light from the morning so that it makes the tree look fresh. I adjusted some lighting, color gradation, perspective, and dodging and burning in Photoshop.”

“This day I was lucky. I waited just a couple of minutes near the den, so I could not believe my eyes when eight cubs came out to enjoy the last sun rays and started playing around so enthusiastically. It was a joy to watch this spectacle, and I tried to photograph it as best as possible.”

“Most people cannot be in the high mountains in the middle of the night in winter. That makes this photo intriguing and catches the attention of people, their imagination. For me, it’s very gratifying to be able to share these moments that many don’t witness, and introduce them to some of the world’s hidden magical views.”