Some photographers chase the famous viewpoint. Lukas Furlan spent the last few years doing the opposite, and it just made him Photographer of the Year at the 2026 Natural Landscape Photography Awards. His winning portfolio came from his first solo trip to Spain, plus the countryside around his home in Vienna and, of course, the Dolomites. He says he tried to make his work more personal, steering away from the main viewpoints and looking for smaller details. It’s also a bit of a comeback story, since he finished as runner-up last year and called the win a déjà vu.
Behind Furlan, Dorin Bofan took second place, followed by Koki Dote in third, Ross Davidson in fourth, Martin Rak in fifth, and Iain Macleod in sixth. Each submitted a full portfolio, so the title rewards a photographer who can stay strong across a body of work, not just land one lucky frame. The single-image prize went elsewhere, with Abraham Saikley named Photograph of the Year for a striking shot of a jagged mountain range.
Scroll through all six Photographer of the Year portfolios from the Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2026 below and see what happens when photographers skip the shortcuts and let the landscape do the talking.
#21 Blà Bheinn
A view towards the Red Cuillin, Isle of Skye.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Sixth Place
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3points
#22 Glyder Fach
After a stormy night in my tent, I woke to fresh snow and beautiful winter light.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Sixth Place
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3points
#23 Castell Y Gwynt
The dramatic rock formations of Castell y Gwynt frame Yr Wyddfa as it emerges from the clouds.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Sixth Place
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3points
#24 Yr Wyddfa
Yr Wyddfa, covered in early winter snow.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Sixth Place
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3points
#25
I took this image near my hometown in South Tyrol and was fascinated by the late-evening light, especially considering that the area lies in a valley surrounded by large hills and mountains. This is what I like most about photography: heading out without a specific plan or preconceived idea, and being open to all the small wonders nature has to offer.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Winner
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3points
#26
Another colorful, richly textured mud pattern on a riverside in Spain.
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3points
#27
Cooling lava seen through hail. Fagradalsfjall eruption, Iceland.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Runner-Up
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3points
#29
Autumn foliage of lenga trees during a snowstorm. Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Runner-Up
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3points
#30 Tree Of Ashes
Over many years, water has carved branching channels into the ground, creating a tree-like pattern. Taken in Nagano, Japan.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Third Place
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2points
#31 Plumes Of Frost
Layers of ice on the surface of a rime-covered tree spread out like overlapping feathers. Taken on Mt. Zao, Japan.
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2points
#32 The Edge
A small section of collapsed sand on a beach forms a steep edge that resembles a towering cliff. Taken in Chiba, Japan.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Third Place
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2points
#33 Left Behind
Branching channels on a tidal flat seemed drawn toward the golden light, like roots searching for nourishment.
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2points
#34
A small stone covered in dried river sediment. Its shape reminded me of an egg, which made me stop and take a closer look.
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2points
#35
A colorful, richly textured mud pattern on a riverside in Spain. I liked the ambiguity of it: is it a miniature landscape, a close-up of an animal, or a satellite image?
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2points
#36
Probably one of the craziest trees I’ve ever stumbled upon. The smell was something else, too. Holding my breath definitely helped. I found it on a beach, and only when I looked closer did it reveal a completely new world.
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2points
#37
Spruce trees on the subalpine plateau at sunset. Ceahlau, Romania.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Runner-Up
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2points
#38
Foggy day in the beech forest near my home. Brasov, Romania.
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2points
#39
Late-autumn weather in the Dolomites is probably one of the most interesting conditions a photographer could wish for. Midday shots like this would never be quite the same without the atmosphere and colors that this time of year brings.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Winner
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1point
#40
Open water patches caused by the thermal inertia of dead spruce trunks. Cuejdel Lake, Romania.
Award: Photographer of the Year, Runner-Up
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1point