The amazing winners of the inaugural New York Photography Awards

Photographer Saso Domijan set himself a goal to capture a bolt of lightning striking the antenna of the One World Trade Center in New York City, and succeeded with this photograph. He stated that he didn’t know how often it happened or when it would happen. Domijan’s first few attempts didn’t go to plan, as rain and fog ‘cut the visibility to zero’. He said, “So I only got lightning strikes and no buildings.” The “perfect storm” was caught with patience, alerts in several weather apps and perseverance. Although the rain and fog moved to the east, high clouds remained. I was able to capture a perfect storm with just a few lightning strikes. It was an experience he described as “once in a life time”. It was second in the category. [known as a ‘Gold Winner’ in the contest]In the category ‘New York Photography-Cityscapes’

“I wanted to capture the incredible landscape I saw during my visit to Eystrahorn. [a mountain in the Eastfjords]Marc Le Cornu, a British photographer describes this striking picture as “in Iceland”. The picture won the ‘Nature Photography-Aerial/Drone’ category. It was captured during an amazing photographic journey’. Le Cornu recalls that there was only a moment when the cloud cover allowed for the sun to peek through. We stood as awe watching the sunlight illuminate the volcanoes. It was breathtaking, and I hope that I got a picture of it, as the clouds still surrounded the mountains.

Le Cornu also took this amazing aerial shot. It was awarded the overall winning image in the Editorial Photography – Sports category. The shot shows competitors at the September 2021 Jersey Triathlon. The race organizers hired Le Cornu to record the race. His words are: “After an event in which athletes weren’t able to participate due to Covid, the explosion of human strength was a release from the pent-up adrenaline athletes had kept contained for so long.” [They were]It was finally released in the swim start. He added, “I wanted this moment to be captured in the lives these athletes.”

This stunning photo was awarded runner up in the category ‘Long Exposure Photography. Christiaan Van Heijst, photographer and pilot, says that the wide angle shot was taken from the cockpit a Boeing 747. It is “flying high over the surface of the Earth”. He says that the plane was suspended between the stars, and the rest of the world.

If you look up, you will see the Milky Way lighting the Sahara Desert in Egypt. Alexander Vershinin won the “Nature Photography – Landscapes” category. 

Take a look at the winner of the category ‘New York Photography-Cityscapes’. Ranjan Ramchandani captured this photo from an airplane flying above Manhattan. According to him, “After taking photographs of the city from virtually every point on both land and water I could find, it was time for me to add a dimension.” [by]It’s possible to create cityscapes by flying in the air, and this is one. He recalls that his pilot showed him the Manhattan shot from the water, but I wanted to see something different. I requested another fly-past so I could capture the frame.

This is a delightful shot of a Fennec (also known as the ‘desert Fox’) moving through Sahara Desert. Marcello Galleano from Italy was the photographer. This photograph, titled ‘Spacewalk of a Fennec,’ was a runner up in the New York Photography – Wildlife’ category. 

Lomagnupur in south Iceland is featured in this stunning photo. It was the second-place winner in the “Nature Photography, Seascape” category. It was taken by German photographer Judith Kuhn. She positioned her camera and waited for the clouds in front to recede. Then she took the photo. Kuhn recalls that “The first sunrays fell upon the Lomagnupur. There was an amazing contrast between the reddish stones and the green moss at its foot.”

The Penida island’s Kelingking Beach [in Indonesia]It is known for its dangerous and beautiful waves. Jaka Ivancic, a Slovenian photographer who captured this image in the “Nature Photography: Seascape” category. Slovenian photographer Jaka Ivancic says that people sometimes run along the waves and may even risk their lives. 

Ivancic also captured this beautiful winter picture. It was second in the Nature Photography, Seasons’ category. The picture was taken at Javornik hills in Slovenia. Ivancic said that while the ground is brown due to this phenomenon, the trees have been completely covered in ice.

Henrique Murta (Brazilian photographer) captured the beautiful image. He was also runner up in the “Nature Photography-Aerial/Drone” category. It depicts the Bardenas Reales region, in south-eastern Spain. He said, “This series is about a certain planet.” This is a planet that you only can dream about.

Murta has another stunning shot in his portfolio. It features Jostedal Glacier (Norway), which is one of the most prominent glaciers in Europe.

Italian photographer Alberto Fornasari captured this magical picture, which was a runner-up in the ‘Nature Photography – Landscapes’ category. This picture was taken in Campigna’s Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi. Fornasari claims that this national park boasts some of the most beautiful foliage in Italy. He set out with his photographs to capture the beauty and colors of the natural world through photography. 

This shot by Fornasari was nominated for a second place in the category ‘New York Photography Landscape’. This shot shows Dante’s Castle (also known as Poppi Castle) rising above the fog of Poppi in Tuscany. He says the castle is “among the most well preserved in Italy” because of its cultural importance. Fornasari also stated that there are “ten wonderful rooms in the castle” and that you can climb the tower of the castle to enjoy the’strange Tuscan countryside.

LEFT: This picture, taken by Carl Stanley in 2018, was a runner-up in the ‘Fine Art Photography – Landscape’ category. This picture shows Milford Sound, New Zealand’s South Island. Stanley wanted to capture the “spray” of water against the rocks at the base the waterfall. The ‘unique dark rocks walls’ add an additional sense of mood, he says. RIGHT: Here you’ll see a runner-up in the ‘Nature Photography – Milky Way’ category, captured by Lars Gesing. This image shows stars from the Milky Way over an American West hut. Gesing calls it a “megalith” of history that is dotted with proud remnants of determination and grit.

A vibrant photograph of a Panchagarh farmer, who laid out red chillies and plastic sheets on his bicycle to return home from work in Panchagarh (a Northern Bangladesh district). Emran Ali won the contest for best People Photography – Lifestyle category. The photographer shares the story behind the photo, explaining that during the harvesting season (which lasts two months), tons of chilis were laid out to dry, creating a patchwork effect in open green fields.

You’ll find a stunning shot of Lake Baikal, Russian Siberia, if you look above. The picture won the category ‘Nature Photography Landscapes’. It was taken by Hsiaohsin, a Taiwanese photographer who flew a hovercraft over the lake in order to capture its “amazing” and unmatched natural beauty. Hsiaohsin Chen said that while trying to capture the beauty of the landscape, it was difficult due to the extreme cold (minus 40°F or minus 50°C). Chen notes that even though it was hard work, the end result was extremely satisfying.

Chen was also the photographer of this amazing shot that was taken in Iceland. This shot was also a finalist in the Fine Art Photography category. He recalls how the Northern Lights “burst” and when it was ‘hot’ the aurora was extremely active. The light track flew unpredictably.

Behold, a photograph by the New York Photography Awards’ Professional Photographer of the Year, Raffaele Canepa. One shot in his winning “Invisible Light of NYC” series. It shows the Oculus shopping mall, which is also a transportation hub for One World Trade. His goal was to photograph ‘the most famous landmarks and buildings in the world’. He also said that the absence of humans helps create an ‘time-suspended ambience’ for each shot.