The 2018 Siena International Photo Awards has received 48,000 submissions from the best photographers in 156 countries, and the judges have had an incredibly hard time deciding the winners. Nonetheless, the best pictures of 2018 have been decided, and just like in 2017 and 2016, their cool images show just how diverse our beautiful world really is.
Every year, the competition includes a special category. This time, it was entitled Splash of Colors, seeking out excellent color compositions. In total, the famous photographers competed in 11 categories, ranging from stunning landscapes to subtle portraits and cool photos of dramatic sports moments. The grand prize, the Photo of the Year award, went to Bangladeshi photographer K. M. Asad for his shot Battle Victim. Asad has been documenting the plight of the persecuted Rohingya in Myanmar for six years now, and the best photography of a young Rohingya refugee perfectly portrays the terrible human tragedy unfolding there.
Continue scrolling to check out the rest of the best picture nominees of 2018.
More info: sipacontest.com
#61 Giant Serenity, Kenya (Honorable Mention In General Monochrome Category)
A female Elephant (Loxodonta africana) approaches a stream at sunset in the Northeastern part of Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya
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97points
#62 Egrets Fight (Remarkable Award In Animals In Their Environment Category)
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92points
#63 The Man Staring, Bangladesh (Honorable Mention In Journeys and Adventures Category)
This photo was taken at Tongi Railway Station, Bangladesh. A train from the country was entering the platform and as it arrived I suddenly found a pair of curious eyes staring at me through the window. The mist on the glass and the curious eyes create a dreamy atmosphere where the black umbrella represents reality - a journey towards the city full of hopes and dreams
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90points
#64 Swing, Bolivia (Honorable Mention In Journeys and Adventures Category)
Tanya is playing on a swing in the Bolivian trains cemetery, 3 km outside Uyuni. This place, where many trains were abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century, is connected to Uyuni by the old train tracks
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90points
#65 Cannonball, Tonga (Honorable Mention In General Monochrome Category)
This is a humpback whale launching itself out of the water during an overcast, stormy day. The young whale was a little boy, showing off his skills. I took this photo with a camera modified for monochrome images
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90points
#66 Fisherman At Inle Lake, Myanmar (1st Place In Under 20 Category)
This picture was captured at Inle Lake on the Shan Plateau in Myanmar. As the lake is covered with reeds and floating plants, it is difficult to row while sitting. As a result, the Intha fishermen have developed an unusual rowing style. It is amazing how people in each corner of the world find ways to adapt to nature, inspired by nature itself
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89points
#67 Every Breath You Take, Germany (1st Place In General Color Category)
The picture was taken from 35 individual images of swimmers at the triathlon in the Duesseldorf Media Harbour in the summer of 2017. I was able to take them from above, while the athletes crossed a pedestrian bridge capturing their very individual "breathing techniques“. I was inspired by the work of Andreas Gursky; therefore, I took the individual images with the highest possible sharpness
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88points
#69 Henningsvær Football Field, Norway (2nd Place In Architecture And Urban Spaces Category)
The football field of Henningsvær, in the beautiful Lofoten Islands in Norway, is considered to be one of the most amazing football fields in Europe, and maybe even in the world
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86points
#70 Runner, The Netherlands (1st Place In General Monochrome Category)
This photograph highlights the modern architecture of Arnhem Central Station in the Netherlands by using black and white technique and the movement of the runner in the static scene
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86points
#71 Giants Of The Ocean, Norway (Honorable Mention In General Monochrome Category)
Two humpback whales enjoy playing during the polar night in Northern Norway
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86points
#72 Mt. Bromo, Indonesia (Honorable Mention In The beauty of the nature Category)
This phenomenal picture was taken in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park at sunrise. Mount Bromo's eruption, in January 2016, was highly unusual as it lasted for almost a year
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83points
#73 Save The Last Dance, Germany (Honorouble Mention In Architecture and Urban Spaces Category)
A piano telling a story of other times, when in the 1920's couples danced to its notes. Even today, despite the dust covering it, its music echoes in the room, bringing us into an atmosphere full of charm and emotion
Stefano Barattini
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#75 4 Hours Of Air Traffic, USA (Honorouble Mention In Architecture and Urban Spaces Category)
A stacked exposure showing 4 hours of air traffic departing from the N/S runways at SFO. This is one of a series, showing the frenetic pace with which these complex microcosms operate. To achieve this image, I was perched on a mountaintop 2 miles from the runway, with a super-telephoto lens, clicking exposures every time a plane departed
Garret Suhrie
Report77points
#76 Winter Idyll In Everyday Life, Germany (Honorouble Mention In General Color Category)
From above, in winter, even an everyday life scene can become interesting and suggest a story
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76points
#77 Honey Hunters (Remarkable Award In Journeys And Adventures Category)
76points
#78 The Jump, USA (Honorouble Mention In Sports In Action Category)
The Red Bull Rampage, held near Zion National Park, has become one of the biggest mountain biking events every year. The event is similar to freestyle skiing and snowboarding, where competitors are judged on their choice of path down the course, their technical ability and the complexity of their tricks
Carsten Snejbjerg
Report75points
#79 The Paradise Of Forgotten Hearts, Togo (Honorable Mention In Journeys and Adventures Category)
A group of children happily plays in a river from heavy rains near Mandouri (Togo, West Africa). Every year, unsafe water, coupled with a lack of basic sanitation, kills at least 1.6 million children under the age of five around the planet. Six to eight million people die annually from the consequences of disasters and water-related diseases
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75points
#80 Gypsy Child (Remarkable Award In Fascinating Faces And Characters Category)
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70points
