Winners and finalists announced in Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2022
27 January 2023
Just a few of the incredible images entered in the 2022 Wilderness Photographer of the Year competition.
We have the pleasure of announcing the winners of the Great Walks Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2022, presented by Southern Ocean Walk.
We received almost 700 entries and we want to thank each and every person who entered. Of course, in the end there can only be a few winners – in our case four. Best Photo and Runner-Up in the two categories – People and Places – and you’ll shortly see all four winners plus the next top eight images from each category, making a total of 20 images.
Congrats to all top 10 finalists from each category but a special congrats to the winning entries!
Of course, this comp couldn’t work without our amazing sponsors, so thank you so much to the good people at Southern Ocean Walk (southernoceanwalk.com.au), Life’s An Adventure (lifesanadventure.com.au) and GME (gme.net.au), and a special thank you for the prizes they have provided which includes luxury guided walks and personal locator beacons.
Thank you too to our amazingle talented judges for their time and expertise: Ryan Domenico, Mike Edmondson, Julie Fletcher, Mike O’Connor and Stephanie Vella.
And without further ado the winners of the Great Walks Wilderness Photographer of the Year presented by Southern Ocean Walk are:
Winner, Places Category: Tom Putt, 'The Bungles'
Winner, Tom Putt, 'The Bungles': "An early morning sunrise flight over WA's Purnululu National Park with the doors off. The warmth of the light draws me to Piccaninny Gorge and the stunning walk that takes you into the heart of this unique range. A sensational multi-day walk."
Judge’s comment: "A unique take on a popular place, I love the use of backlight here separating all the domes and creating a beautiful colour palette, the leading line of the riverbed leads you through the scene. Well done leaving the sky out completely as it would have been too distracting. A bloody ripper!" -- Julie Fletcher
Runner-up, Nathan Mattinson, ‘The Elder Land’: “This image was captured within the rugged remote southwest of Tasmania. It took three brutal days to hike there, but the morning sun popping up behind the mountains made the effort worthwhile. I entered this image in the competition as it represents an Australia you won’t find on the mainland.”
Judge’s comment: "This is such a spectacular image. It's perfectly composed and flawlessly processed, transporting the viewer directly into the heart of the wilderness. With the sun just peaking over the mountain, it adds a beautiful warm touch to such a calming image." -- Stephanie Vella
Nathan wins $500 cash and a subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $76.
You can view all the images that finished in the Top 10 in each category below or see all the entries from the comp here. You can also see our Wilderness Photographer of the Year wrap in the Feb-Mar issue of Great Walks.
Thanks again to everyone who entered! Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2023 will open for entries again in April – we look forward to seeing your fantastic photos!
Winner, People Category: Craig Ford, 'Roys Peak Couple'
Winner People, Craig Ford, 'Roys Peak Couple': "Taken from Roys Peak, Wanaka, NZ during sunrise following an arduous 3hr hike. I used a tripod, a ND filter to portray movement, and I asked the couple to remain still due to the 4 second exposure. The image shows the harmony between humans and nature, as natural elements and epic views combine to create a very memorable moment."
Judge’s comment: "I loved this image as the colourful sun, bright colours and people nicely composed really drew me into the image. The high clouds and misty low clouds above the lake and distant mountains also look very inviting. The snow adds an extra element of adventure for someone who’s made the effort. Many of my clients on my snow camping adventures and summer hikes love to climb with me to a lookout just before sunset or sunrise to enjoy the views and watch the light change. It’s the perfect way to start the day. You miss the moment of the magic light if you lazily lay inside your comfort zone of your warm sleeping bag. As well as great composition, the image quality looks good without being washed out, and the colours look natural." -- Mike Edmondson
Craig wins a pack-free luxury guided walk for two people with Life's an Adventure, a GME Personal Locator Beacon, $2000 cash and a subscription to Great Walks magazine, all to the value of $5436!
Runner-up, People Category: Josh Tagi, ‘Sunset Sand Dunes’
Runner-up, Josh Tagi, ‘Sunset Sand Dunes’: "This photograph was taken at sunrise, amongst the sand dunes of 'The Big Drift' in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria. The dunes in this area are only accessible by hiking along a walking track, and thus are relatively untouched by people and well preserved, personifying the concept of 'wilderness’.”
Judge’s comment: "Nice leading lines and a great scene of scale has been created in this shot. It also has a sense of isolation and space created by the placement of the person in the distance. The side light is a nice use of contrast to the subject walking along, which makes him stand out. And the rule of thirds has been used smartly for the person walking right to left, giving him more space to walk into. Well done." -- Julie Fletcher
Josh wins $500 cash and a subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $76.
PEOPLE CATEGORY: TOP 10
Winner, Craig Ford, 'Roys Peak Couple': "Taken from Roys Peak, Wanaka, NZ during sunrise following an arduous 3hr hike. I used a tripod, a ND filter to portray movement, and I asked the couple to remain still due to the 4 second exposure. The image shows the harmony between humans and nature, as natural elements and epic views combine to create a very memorable moment."Runner-up, Josh Tagi, ‘Sunset Sand Dunes’: "This photograph was taken at sunrise, amongst the sand dunes of 'The Big Drift' in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria. The dunes in this area are only accessible by hiking along a walking track, and thus are relatively untouched by people and well preserved, personifying the concept of 'wilderness’.”Chris Owen, ‘Cloud and Chlorophyll’: "Riding in NZ’s West Coast rainforest in the South Island is incredible. Two friends and I recently did a day trip riding the Lyell end of the Old Ghost Road. The intensity of green tones, and the light filtering through the cloud amongst the trees, set the scene for this photograph. It was a quiet, memorable moment."Barend Becker, ‘Expeditioners walking through a wind scour on the Browning Peninsula’: "This photograph was taken on the remote Browning Peninsula 30km south of Casey Station in Antarctica. We had been photographing the Vanderford Glacier and local elephant seal wallow and were walking back to our Hagglund, parked on higher snow-covered ice. The temperature was -10℃, though thankfully there was not much wind. It was taken with a Nikon Z7 II. With a 24 to 70mm Nikon lens. I thought this would be a worthy contender as it provides a snapshot of the harsh, extreme environment that is typical in this part of Antarctica."Casey More, 'Mountain Man’: "Taken in Aoraki/Mount Cook, NZ. Whilst hiking along a valley track, a ridge loomed ahead and made the perfect contrast between a hiker and their journey ahead. It’s an awe-inspiring sight, filled with both peace and excitement for their adventure ahead, making this image worthy of being in the competition." Simone Osborne, ‘Giant Boabs’: "My image was taken on Kubu Island, located in the Makgadikgadi Pan area in Botswana, Africa. Kubu island is a unique and untouched island of pure wilderness, granite rocks and ancient baobab trees. Exploring the island at sunrise I asked our guide Nanado to stand amongst the giant baobab trees to show the scale on how big and beautiful they are. It is a special place and a great adventure, and I wanted to share this unique place with everyone."Orencio Gueco, ‘Pause at the Peak’: "Roys Peak in Wanaka, NZ is a popular track that my daughter and I hiked early this year. It did not disappoint with breathtaking views of Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring. The photo opportunity arose when she sat and paused at the edge of its famous viewpoint. I loved the way she looked afar with the bright sidelight on her face. Her gaze appreciating the scale and grandeur of the mountains, the peaks and the calm lake. The black and white image helped focus on her but eventually leads the viewer's eye to gravitate to what she sees – which is the majestic wilderness surrounding her."Brody Gamble, ‘A Bold New World’: "The steep climb, 45km/h winds, dust storms and rain were all worth facing for the view from Count's Point Lookout on the Larapinta Trail, Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park, NT. For me this image captures the amalgamation of the challenges, friendships, natural beauty and fun that only the outdoors can offer!"Brad Newman, ‘Mt Feathertop rainbow’: "Howling wind and icy rain on a cold December morning at The Mount Feathertop walk, Alpine National Park, Victoria. A glimpse of sunlight broke through to illuminate a magnificent rainbow and I knew this was a shot not to be missed. A rare moment that did not get away."Steven Genesin, ‘Stepping into the unknown’: "Waḻpa Gorge in Central Australia presents an opportunity to be immersed in tremendous beauty. An unusual weather pattern prompted me to lag behind my companions to take a shot of the unfolding scene. The image captured for me what wilderness walking epitomises: stepping into nature with a sense of anticipation in what might lie ahead."
PLACES CATEGORY: TOP 10
Winner, Tom Putt, 'The Bungles': "An early morning sunrise flight over WA's Purnululu National Park with the doors off. The warmth of the light draws me to Piccaninny Gorge and the stunning walk that takes you into the heart of this unique range. A sensational multi-day walk."Runner-up, Nathan Mattinson, ‘The Elder Land’: “This image was captured within the rugged remote southwest of Tasmania. It took three brutal days to hike there, but the morning sun popping up behind the mountains made the effort worthwhile. I entered this image in the competition as it represents an Australia you won’t find on the mainland.”Tom Putt, 'Mount Bruce Sunrise': "Considered one of the best day walks in Western Australia, the 9km return hike up Mount Bruce at sunrise can give you unparalleled views across the stunning Pilbara. I used a drone and multi-row stitching to capture this image."Craig Ford, 'Te Mata Peak Sunrise’: "Taken from Te Mata Peak, Havelock North, NZ, I used weather forecasts to improve my chances of capturing fog flowing through the Tuki Valley with the rising sun positioned to illuminate the impressive cliff faces. Filters and a 20 second exposure were used to create a sense of movement and give the image an ethereal quality. I believe this image is a triumph of planning, good technique, and luck."Christopher Pérez Liedl, 'The Baobads’: “When I decided to immortalise the majesty of the Australian bottle trees, I remembered I could find some of them at Boondooma, Qld. Arriving early on site and exploring the area was essential to create a composition in time to be ready for the golden hour.”Tom Putt, 'Cradle Summit': "My dream has always been to summit Tassie’s Cradle Mountain in winter. Carrying a backpack and 32kg, I made first tracks though one metre of snow to finally reach the summit and have this incredible warm light just before sunset."Deb Clark, 'Morning Glory': "Lake Otautari, sits beautifully framed under NZ’s Southern Alps. This 25-sec exposure was taken with a Nikon Z7 and Z 24-70 lens, ISO 31, f16. The softest of cloud detail complements the sunrise colour and light, with an ethereal quality that is gentle and enticing."Chad Cottle, 'Mt Brown Sunset': "I captured this panorama from the hills behind NZ’s Hokitika at Mt Brown Hut on a beautiful clear winter evening with the whole place to myself. My Canon 6D MKII was set up on a tripod with a wide-angle lens and carefully rotated for each shot, making sure to get the hut, lake, sunset and view down the coast all in one 9 shot vertical panorama. I think it really shows off the wild landscape of the South Island’s west coast that encompasses mountains, lakes, rivers and beaches all in close proximity to each other."Graham Earnshaw, 'Many Eyes Awakened': “Bular Mial (aka Bluff Knoll) in the Stirling Ranges, WA, is such a majestic, spiritual place. Bular Mial means hill of many eyes for the local Mineng and Goreng people, and the day I captured this image, in April this year, there certainly seemed to be many eyes watching over me. “Bikram Ghosh, '‘Terrarium’: "New Zealand's Fiordland region is one big terrarium, that truly comes alive when it pours really hard. This image was captured amidst the beautiful and majestic landscape of Fiordland. This scene gave me a true sense of wilderness, while I stood in the middle of the river."
