Desert Beauty and Talent Shine in Recent Amateur Photographer Competition
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Matteo Strassera's striking desert landscape captures top honors in the latest Amateur Photographer of the Year round, showcasing exceptional talent.
The latest results from the prestigious Amateur Photographer of the Year (APOY) competition highlight exceptional talent in the realm of landscape photography, with Matteo Strassera claiming victory with a stunning minimal desert landscape shot taken in the UAE. Additionally, Lucy Monckton excelled in the Young APOY category. Here’s a closer look at the top images from the fifth round, which focused on landscapes and was judged by guest judge Paul Sanders alongside the APOY team.
Overview of APOY Round Five Landscapes
Landscape photography's appeal lies in its versatility; it can evoke grand vistas or capture minute details. This adaptability is what consistently positions landscape photography among the favorites of both enthusiasts and professionals, contributing to the high level of submissions seen in each competition round. The fifth round, themed "Landscapes," delivered images that truly showcased the diversity and talent within the photographic community.
Winner of APOY Landscapes: Matteo Strassera - 100pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS R5, 100-400mm, 1/250s at f/11, ISO 200
Strassera’s award-winning photograph encapsulates the essence of minimalism, with a vibrant strip of orange that captivates the viewer's gaze. The fading details into black create a striking contrast that beautifully anchors the composition. The image conveys feelings of peace and solitude, effectively transporting viewers away from their immediate surroundings.
2nd Place: Gary Hunter - 90pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS R5, 100-500mm at 100mm, 1/800s at f/13, ISO 100
Hunter’s sunset shot at Caddo Lake features silhouetted bald cypress trees framed against a breathtaking sky. His careful exposure technique preserves detail without losing the vibrancy of the setting sun, immersing the viewer in this serene yet hauntingly beautiful scene.
3rd Place: Matteo Strassera - 0pts
Camera Details: DJI Mavic 3, f/2.8, ISO 400
The guest judge, Paul Sanders, was moved by Strassera’s image of a volcanic eruption in Iceland. The photograph captures contrasting forces of destruction and creation, heightened by the image's high vantage that enables a dramatic presentation of scale and depth. The dynamics conveyed within the shot drew the judge's praise, highlighting its emotional resonance.
4th Place: Ashley Fountain - 70pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS R5, 14-35mm at 23mm, 1/320s at f/9, ISO 100
Fountain opted to shoot The Wave in midday light, challenging conventional wisdom but achieving spectacular results. The vivid blue sky enhances the rich textures of wind-carved sandstone, while the composition captures the rippling formations that draw the viewer’s eye across the frame.
5th Place: Andrew Robertson - 60pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS R5, 100-400mm at 153mm, 1/320s at f/11, ISO 125
Robertson captures a magical, mist-covered scene where spacing between bare trees is skillfully utilized, preventing them from merging into indistinct shapes. The top of the frame is composed to maintain viewer focus while retaining sufficient detail.
6th Place: Caroline Hurt - 50pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 70-200mm at 78mm, 1/50s at f/11, ISO 100
Hurt’s Tuscan scene masterfully combines travel photography with landscape. A well-timed shot captures the church glowing amidst lush green surroundings, emphasizing composition principles and the beauty of the expansive sky.
7th Place: Hywel Evans - 45pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS R, 16-35mm at 33mm, 15s at f/14, ISO 100
Evans' serene portrayal of Fairy Glen emphasizes the importance of subtlety in landscape photography. The flowing water combined with the delicate surrounding environment produces an image filled with tranquility and detail.
8th Place: Varnavas Papanastassiou - 40pts
Camera Details: Nikon Z 9, 105mm, 1/400s at f/32, ISO 1250
Papanastassiou’s incorporation of people into his shot of Namibian sand dunes successfully adds scale and narrative to an often solitary scene. The resulting image is a striking blend of humanity and nature.
9th Place: Pete Baker - 35pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 70-300mm at 108mm, 450s at f/8, ISO 100
Baker's long exposure shot captures a calm yet ethereal landscape, creating a sense of tranquility through a flattened depiction of light and water. His thoughtful composition enhances the minimalistic nature of the image.
10th Place: Jevgenijs Scolokovs - 30pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-105mm at 24mm, 1/3200s at f/4, ISO 250
Scolokovs’ approach to integrating a human element adds intrigue to the landscape, creating a narrative that invites curiosity from the viewer. Placing the model strategically within the frame adds depth and context to the photograph.
Young APOY Landscape Winner: Lucy Monckton - 100pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 24-105mm at 28mm, 1/2000s at f/13, ISO 800
Monckton's compelling image of the icy landscapes of Svalbard draws the viewer's attention through its composition and careful conversion to black and white. The interplay of cracks in the ice with the distant peaks creates a dramatic visual experience.
Camera Club Competition Highlight: Tessa Bramall - 10pts
Camera Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 16-35mm at 16mm, 1/2s at f/11, ISO 100
Bramall's atmospheric capture of Scottish conditions showcases a rural scene filled with character. Her effective use of natural light imbues the photograph with a sense of place, contributing to the club's strong standing in the competition.
APOY Round Five Leaderboard
At the halfway mark of the competition, Sara Jazbar retains her top position on the leaderboard, followed closely by Gary Hunter, who made a strong debut in the top ten. The tight scoring, with multiple ties, accentuates the competitive nature of this round. Meanwhile, the Plymouth Camera Club stands impressively ahead of its competitors with significant points.
Gear Insights from the Top Ten
Notably, four of the top ten photographers, including Strassera, Hunter, Fountain, and Robertson, chose the Canon EOS R5 for their submissions. This premium mirrorless camera, with its 45MP Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor and impressive performance across various scenarios, is highly regarded for landscape photography. Available for £3,699 at Camera Centre UK, it remains a popular choice for serious photographers.
Strassera also utilized the DJI Mavic 3 drone, a versatile device featuring enhanced flight time and excellent image capture capabilities, priced at £1,119 at Camera Centre UK.
Varnavas Papanastassiou's eighth-place shot employed the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 lens, an excellent addition for macro and general photography, available for £899.
For more insights into the competition and to view more outstanding photography, visit the Camera Centre UK website and explore the APOY series details here.
