“Natural Landscapes” Challenge 2023
This week’s blog post highlights the photographs that were Highly Commended and the overall winner in the Natural Landscapes category of our 2023 Pangolin Photo Challenge.
Photographers in this category were tasked with capturing the unspoiled beauty of nature in our “Natural Landscapes” challenge. From rugged mountains to peaceful coastlines and mesmerising vistas, this challenge highlights the breathtaking backdrops of wildlife encounters.
Want to take part in this year’s challenge? Click here to find out more about joining the 2024 Pangolin Photo Challenge. It’s simple, free, and allows you to win amazing safari prizes!
Didn’t catch the Natural Landscapes Finalists video?
View the video here, and then share your thoughts on who should win. Afterwards, take a look at our outstanding images below to see if your predictions were correct.
Highly Commended
Polar Outpost, by Ross Bartholomew
NIKON Z 9 with an AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR
f/8 | 1/800 | 500 mm | ISO 560
Ross Bartholomew’s photograph, “Polar Outpost,” captures a solitary moment amidst the icy expanse of Svalbard’s glaciers. Shot with precision using a Nikon Z 9 camera paired with an AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens, this image takes you on a journey to the breathtaking landscapes of the Arctic.
Highly Commended
Under A Kenyan Sky, by Paul Dunphy
SONY ILCE-1 with an FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
f/4 | 1/320 | 105mm | ISO 800
Paul Dunphy’s “Under a Kenyan Sky” beautifully shows a breathtaking moment within the vast landscape of the Mara in Kenya. The image showcases a stunning scene: a burst of light in the forefront, a sheet of rain in the distance, and sunlit clouds in the backdrop. In the center of the picture, a tranquil group of elands can be seen, almost as if they are posing for the camera.
Highly Commended
Leapin’ Leopard in the Landscape, by Marc Mol
Marc Mol captures the essence of a leopard’s power and elegance in his photograph “Leapin’ Leopard in the Landscape.” The image portrays the leopard gracefully leaping to a higher tree branch, framed by surrounding branches that highlight the animal’s fluid and precise movement.
Highly Commended
Cold and Lonely, by Andy Luk
NIKON D500 with a 500.0 mm f/5.6
f/5.6 | 1/1000 | 750 mm | ISO 4000
Andy Luk’s photograph, “Cold and Lonely,” captures the breathtaking beauty of the Antarctic landscape in one powerful image. The picture showcases a lone Adélie penguin courageously climbing a rugged iceberg, set against a backdrop of endless ice.
Highly Commended
That One Night with a Bull Moose, by Amy Gerber
Amy Gerber’s photo captures “Hoback,” the renowned bull moose of Grand Teton National Park, against the iconic Teton Mountain Range. In November, after the rut season, these majestic creatures seek relaxation in the sagebrush flats, creating a serene scene against the epic backdrop of the mountains.
Winner
Bird’s Eye Tapestry of Serengeti’s Natural Wonder, by Helena Conradie
Canon EOS 7D Mark II with an EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
f/2.8 | 1/400 | 70 mm | ISO 200
Helena Conradie’s photograph titled, “Bird’s Eye Tapestry of Serengeti’s Natural Wonder,” showcases the Serengeti‘s migration as seen from a hot air balloon. Using a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and an EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, Helena captures a mesmerising aerial view of wildlife. This unique perspective showcases the migration’s beauty, resembling the threads of a woven masterpiece. Congratulations on your winning photograph, Helena.
