Australian Tony Hewitt emerged as the top winner in the prestigious International Landscape Photographer of the Year competition, its tenth edition honoring standout landscape imagery from 2023. Four photographs were featured in the final showcase, including two captured on the tidal flats along the King River at Wyndham, one from the Wheatbelt region, and a fourth image from Shark Bay, all in Western Australia.
Canadian photographer Andrew Mielzynski secured second place with three images shot in Waterton Lakes National Park and Lake Abraham in the Canadian Rockies. The third spot went to American Matt Meisenheimer, who presented two Patagonia (Argentina) shots, one from Alaska, and another from Hawaii (United States).
In the best landscape photos category, Canadian Blake Randall claimed first prize for his image at Lake Abraham. Australian Peter Meyer earned second with a Fraser Island fire scene, captured in Queensland. Italian Isabella Tabacchi placed third with a landscape from the Icelandic highlands.
The competition drew 4,035 entries from professional and amateur photographers worldwide. A jury panel selected a Top 101, recognizing winners across different categories.
Winners in specialized categories included Jim Guerard from the United States for black-and-white work; Casey McCallister, United States, in the air category; Thomas Vijayan from Canada for snow and ice; Ciaran Willmore from Ireland for cruise imagery; and John Seager from the United Kingdom for desert subjects. A published volume documents all winning images and features the Top 101 photographers, including three Spanish contributors—Luis Vilariño, Javier Enjuto García, and Joaquín Marco, who contributed two images.
Tony Hewitt
“I hope my work can inspire others to step outside, cultivate a love of nature, and develop a sense of responsibility for caring for our environment,” shared Tony Hewitt, a professional photographer with over three decades in the field. His career began in the wedding industry, and for the past 25 years he has specialized in family and children’s portraits, while landscape photography has occupied him for about two decades.
“Fresh air, exploration, and travel often accompany the pursuit of landscape photography. While it is a solitary craft, it also offers chances to collaborate on adventures with friends and colleagues who share the same passion.” The winning photographer described his work as a personal reaction to what is seen and felt, hoping these simple images spark curiosity and invite deeper exploration.
Andrew Mielzynski
Matt Meisenheimer
Blake Randall
Randall explains that his inspiration stems from a desire to reveal the astonishing, fleeting beauty of the natural world, with a particular affection for Canada’s landscapes. He describes nature as a constant sanctuary of peace and serenity, fueling his ongoing journey into landscape photography. This path grew from a deep love of the outdoors and a belief in the expressive power of the image.
“I hope my work can inspire others to step outside and nurture a similar love of nature and a sense of responsibility for caring for our environment,” he added, reflecting on his victory in the best landscape photography category.
peter meyer
Isabella Tabacchi
Luis Vilarino
Javier Enjuto Garcia
Joaquin Marco
Publication with the best landscape photographs of 2023: ILPOTY 2023 (official portfolio, no external links).
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Contact details for the environmental department have been omitted in keeping with the guidelines of this publication.