Beyond the Horizon: Stories of Our Landscape Photography Winners

In this article, we share the stories of the winners of our Landscape Photography Contest, photographers whose exceptional images stood out for their creativity, technical excellence, and ability to capture the beauty of nature. Discover the inspirations, experiences, and adventures behind their photographs, and learn how their unique perspectives transformed mountains, forests, coastlines, deserts, and other spectacular landscapes into powerful works of visual art.

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MARCIN ZAJAC

My name is Marcin Zajac. I’m a landscape photographer originally from Poland. When I’m not out chasing light with a camera, I work as a software engineer. Photography and technology may seem like very different worlds, but for me they complement each other well—one satisfies my analytical side, while the other gives me a creative outlet and a reason to explore the natural world.

I’ve always enjoyed traveling and spending time outdoors. Some fun facts about me: many of my vacations are planned around photography opportunities, I’m obsessed with dramatic weather and dark skies, and I’m often willing to wake up at unreasonable hours—or stay up all night—to photograph a sunrise, a storm, or the Milky Way.

My journey into photography began after moving to the United States. As I started traveling more, I found myself wanting to capture the incredible places I was visiting. What started with taking photos on a phone quickly evolved into buying my first DSLR and becoming completely hooked. Over time, photography grew from a casual hobby into a true passion.As a photographer, I aspire to continue growing creatively, exploring new places, and creating images that inspire people to appreciate and protect the natural world. Recognition through photography awards has been incredibly rewarding, but what motivates me most is creating photographs that evoke a sense of wonder.

Readers can find more of my work on my website on Instagram at @mrcnzajac, where I regularly share new photographs. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me and my work.

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COLAS DECLOITRE

Hi, I'm Colas, a French drone photographer based in Boston. I started flying drones in 2019 after coming across a few aerial videos on Instagram and being fascinated by the completely different perspective they offered. What began as simple curiosity gradually turned into a real passion. A few years later, I decided to take photography and editing more seriously, investing time in learning the craft and developing my own style.

Since then, photography has become my favorite way to explore the world. I mostly travel solo and have visited more than 40 countries, photographing landscapes across roughly half of them. The places that leave the strongest impression on me are often the most remote ones. Argentina and Iceland stand out among my favorite destinations, both for their immense scale and the feeling of isolation they offer. Standing alone in front of a landscape that stretches beyond the horizon is an experience that never gets old.

My favorite subjects are landscapes and wildlife, especially when viewed from above. I love using a drone to reveal patterns, textures, and perspectives that are impossible to appreciate from the ground. While I enjoy the technical side of flying, what excites me most is discovering new places and finding unique ways to share them with others.

Photography, for me, is about bringing people somewhere they may never have the chance to visit themselves. Many of the locations I photograph are remote, difficult to access, or simply unknown to most travelers. Through my images, I hope to give viewers a sense of what it feels like to stand there and experience those places firsthand.

When I'm shooting, I'm constantly thinking about light. My days often start before sunrise or end long after most people have packed up their cameras. The best moments usually happen during the brief windows when the light transforms an ordinary scene into something unforgettable. I'm always searching for those moments when landscape, weather, and light come together perfectly.

Looking ahead, I'd love to continue combining photography with travel and collaborate with tourism boards, hotels, and travel brands to showcase extraordinary destinations around the world.

You can find more of my work on Instagram at @flying.colas and on my website at colas-drone-photography.com.

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Don't forget to take a look to our other open photo contests for more opportunities to showcase your skills and creativity. Explore them here: www.theartistgallery.art/open-contests