‘A fabulous sunrise on Cono de Arita, the Atacama Desert, Argentina’ by Andrew Mielzynski
It is a portfolio of calming, muted colours that captivated the selectors of the 11th International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards.
Winter cottonwoods on Cherry Beach and a lone winter elm standing in a snowstorm, each photographed in Ontario, Canada. The sun rising on the volcanic Cono de Arita surrounded by salt flats in the Atacama desert, Argentina. And fragile ice in a ditch along a country road.
The quartet of images by Canada-based photographer Andrew Mielzynski was chosen from 3,600 portfolio submissions from around the world to win the top title. The achievement comes weeks after Mielzynski received the top award in the Natural Landscape Photography Awards.
“I believe that I do see landscape a bit differently,” says Mielzynski. “I love small, intimate scenes. I enjoy seeing and photographing vignettes most people would not see and many would walk by.
“I love going to fabulous locations, but much of my photography is done close to home. Three of the four shots [in my winning portfolio] were photographed within 20 minutes of my home. You don’t need to go to exotic locations to get good photos.”
Asked which landscapes are worth getting up for, Mielzynski is adamant. “All landscapes are worth getting up for,” he says. “You never know what the light will do: something simple and boring in good light can be much more beautiful than some spectacular view or subject in poor, drab light.
“I’m particularly drawn to simple landscapes, and those are the ones I want to explore in the future. I’m looking forward to winter, as snow cleans up many scenes and makes compositions extremely minimal.”
Peter Eastway, chair of the judges, explains the secret of Mielzynski’s successful portfolio. “Great landscape photography requires a great deal of patience – patience for the right season, the right weather and the right light,” he says. “It also takes perseverance because rarely will the season, weather and light work together in ways that inspire us.
“Andrew Mielzynski, knows all about patience, perseverance and determination, based on the quality of his winning portfolio.”
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‘Winter cottonwoods, Cherry Beach, Toronto, Ontario, Canada’ by Andrew Mielzynski
‘Winter elm in snow storm, Meaford, Ontario, Canada’ by Andrew Mielzynski
‘Thin ditch ice along a country road’ by Andrew Mielzynski