The winners of the 2025 Natural Landscape Photography Awards have been announced following an intensive judging process, with Australian photographer Joy Kachina being named Natural Landscape Photographer of the Year. Now in its fifth year, the competition attracted fierce competition among landscape photographers worldwide, but Kachina's exceptional portfolio ultimately secured her the top honor.
Based in Tasmania, Kachina is a professional landscape photographer whose work draws inspiration from the rich beauty of Tasmanian forests. She expressed her excitement about winning the competition, particularly because this photo contest examines each photographer's RAW files to ensure there is no digital manipulation in the images. "This competition showcases stunning images from around the world, reminding us of the beauty we can find in our natural surroundings, especially in a time when so much of our creative space is now generated by Artificial Intelligence," shared Kachina.
The competition's unique approach to authenticity sets it apart from other photography contests. The judges take their pledge seriously to only award images that preserve the integrity of the scene. Of the 11,023 photographs submitted, only 3,688 made it past the two initial screening rounds. From those verified images, a top 100 was selected and passed to the judges, who considered not only technique but also originality and composition in their scoring process.
"The imagery in this competition wonderfully highlights the real experiences we have in nature," Kachina explained. "Through our photographs, we gain a deeper appreciation for the magic and wonder of our natural world." This emphasis on authentic representation comes at a time when digital manipulation and AI-generated content are becoming increasingly prevalent in visual media.
The winning images span multiple categories, each showcasing different aspects of natural beauty. Luis Vilariño claimed the Grand Landscape Winner title with his sweeping winter landscape, while David Shaw won the Intimate Landscape category with his softly lit forest scene. Margrit Schwarz took home the Photograph of the Year award, and Spencer Cox secured victory in the Rocks and Geology category.
Other notable winners include Lizzie Shepherd in the Seascapes category, Hanneke Van Camp who won the Project Winner award for "Sápmi Living Landscapes," and Vojtech Schmidt who claimed the Frozen Worlds category. Louis Ouimet won the Desert Landscape category, Kenny Muir triumphed in Woodlands, and Ilan Shacham took first place in Abstract Landscape.
Additional category winners featured Patrick Krohn winning "In Your Backyard," Ross Davidson claiming the Mountains category, and Grégoire Pansu securing the Tropical Landscapes award. Lukas Furlan was named Photographer of the Year Runner-Up, while Matt Jackisch earned third place in the overall photographer rankings.
The competition's rigorous verification process ensures that all winning photographs maintain their natural integrity without digital enhancement beyond basic adjustments. This commitment to authenticity resonates strongly with both photographers and viewers who seek genuine representations of the natural world's inherent beauty.
From sweeping vistas to intimate forest details, the winning images demonstrate that photographers don't need extensive digital manipulation to create award-winning photographs – nature's own beauty provides all the drama and visual impact necessary. The complete gallery of finalists and winners is available on the competition's official website, offering viewers a comprehensive showcase of outstanding natural landscape photography from around the globe.
