Source: Radio New Zealand
A striking image of Mt Taranaki in the North Island by an Austrian photographer has won an international award.
Chosen from 3600 global entries by a panel of five judges, Lukas Trixl’s snapshot took first place at the 12th International Landscape Photograph of the Year Awards in Sydney.
Trixl, who says he rarely enters competitions, described visiting the North Island’s volcanoes as a “dream come true” and a long-held bucket-list goal.
Wanting to avoid the popular Instagram vantage point, he and his girlfriend searched Google Maps for a quieter location.
“On the day we arrived in Taranaki area, the clouds began to clear, revealing a brief window of opportunity – which, in hindsight, turned out to be the last one due to constant rain over the following days,” he told the awards organisers.
“We quickly dropped our luggage at the accommodation and drove straight to our location and there it was: a serene lake surrounded by lush green ferns, with the majestic Taranaki rising from New Zealand’s rainforest in the background.
“We had about 30 minutes to shoot before the clouds covered the peak again – but those were the most stunning 30 minutes I’ve ever experienced.”
Trixl began pursuing photography more seriously in 2022, spending “countless hours” refining composition and editing.
His goal is to create images with depth and natural realism, he says.
“I never generate elements that can’t be seen at the actual location. I want the viewer to feel drawn into the image and to notice every bit of detail, in both highlights and shadows.”
Landscape photography has made him more appreciative of nature, he says.
“Photography is a wonderful way to slow down, take your time, notice things that would otherwise remain unseen and view the world from new perspectives. That’s what I love about it.”
The prize for first place is US$2000 plus a trophy.
Second place in the competition went to Albert Dros for his image of the Speulder Forest in the Netherlands, and third to Dave Drost for his picture of White Pocket in northern Arizona. The International Landscape Photographer of the Year title was awarded to J. Fritz Rumpf of the USA.
Among the panel of judges was New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Grand Master winner Kaye Davis.
The award’s website notes no AI-generated images are allowed to be submitted.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
