Although only in its third year the Siena International Photo Awards has attracted huge participation from the photography community with over 50,000 entries from more than 160 countries, and some of the most stunning breathtaking photographs of 2017.
Chosen by a jury there were 11 category winners (Story-telling, Fragile Ice, Sports In Action, Architecture & Urban Spaces, Animals And Their Environment, The Beauty Of Nature, Fascinating Faces And Characters, Journeys & Adventures, General Monochrome, General Colour, and Under 20), and an overall winner, which this year went to American photographer Randy Olson for his ‘Sand Hill Cranes’: A photograph that harkens back to a time when the USA had braided steams and plenty of space for the Sand Hill Crane migration. Now only a small area of the Platte River in Nebraska can accommodate them. Volunteers at the Crane Trust counted 413,000 Sandhill Cranes on this evening the picture was taken which was more than they’ve ever counted before. These cranes are running out of habitat in most of their migration that goes from Siberia to South America.
The winning picture can be seen above.
The contest is open to all photographers, professionals, enthusiasts and new talents from all around the world, with the winner taking home:
- € 1.500,00 worth of photography equipment + SIPA Contest Photographer of the Year Pangea Prize
- 2 overnight stays in Siena during the weekend of the Award Ceremony and Special Guest at the Gala Dinner
- Advertising on international press and on main online media
- Publication in their online gallery
- Parchment
As well as prizes for the category winners too.
The winners were announced at a Gala dinner in Siena, with all the award winning entries, as well as the other best selected photographs making their way into both an exhibition, and a photo book.
The exhibition is held at Via Fiorentina in Siena, and the book is already available to buy, with both being entitled ‘Beyond The Lens’.
Take a look at some of the featured pictures from the contest below, and keep a look out for the Sport category winner, which happened to be of the Great Britain cycling team of Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Owain Doull, and Bradley Wiggins en route to winning gold in the Team Pursuit at the Rio Olympics.
For the full collection of winners and classified entries, or to enter the 2018 contest please see the official website here.
