The results are in for Wilderness Photographer of the Year, presented by Mountain Designs
We received around 550 submissions for our Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025 and we want to thank everyone who took part. Naturally, in the end there can only be six winners – Best Photo and Runner-Up across the three categories – People, Places and Nature.
You’ll soon be able to view all six winning shots along with the next top eight images selected within each category. Congratulations to all finalists, and an extra round of applause for the standout entries!
Thank you to our amazingly talented judges for their time and expertise: Julie Fletcher, Janyne Fletcher, Mike Edmondson, Nathan McNeil and Brent McKean.
This competition relies on the generosity of our wonderful sponsors and the prizes they contributed, so an enormous THANK YOU goes to the teams at Mountain Designs for supplying a complete outdoor gear update for three people, Life’s An Adventure for offering a luxury pack-free guided walk for two, Inspiration Outdoors for also offering a luxury pack-free guided walk, and GME for donating three Personal Locator Beacons. We couldn’t have done any of this without you!
To view more entries, visit wildernessphotographer.com.au PLUS look out for announcements for Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2026!
And without further ado, the winners of the Great Walks Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025 presented by Mountain Designs are...
Winner, Places category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“Landmannalaugar Iceland,” by Frank Caridi. “Landmannalauger is a place that resembles a painter's palette in Norse Mythology and I happened to be standing in the middle of it, right where the palette was dropped. The colour mixing and the textures across the giant palette were a little chaotic, but at the same time mesmerising. While I took this photo, I wondered how magnificent the scenery must be, if the mythical giant's palette looked like this?”
Judge’s comment: “This image is a feast of complementary colour, with the warm earth tones and cool mineral blues creating a striking and harmonious palette. The river acts as a strong leading line, guiding the viewer deep into the layered mountain ranges and anchoring the composition. Its central placement is a bold choice, but one that works exceptionally well here, providing the sense of scale and structure the scene demands. The richly varied textures of the mountains add depth and tactile interest, resulting in a visually captivating and beautifully balanced photograph.” – Janyne Fletcher
As winner of the Places category, Frank takes home $1500 cash, an Inspiration Outdoors Karijini National Park and Ningaloo Reef pack-free guided walk, a Mountain Designs Adventure Pack valued at $1,000 and a one-year subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $80.
Runner-up, Places category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“The Golden Watchers,” by Donald Chin. “After five days of hiking and photography on the Argentinian side of Patagonia, our local guide kept a close watch on the weather before we attempted the highlight of our trip – Mt. Fitz Roy. Since arriving in El Calafate, cold clouds had followed us for days and we began to worry the climb might be fruitless. At last, a perfect forecast arrived. We began our ascent at 4am, hoping to reach Laguna Capri in time to witness the first golden light kissing the peaks at 6.45am.”
Judge’s comment: “I chose this image as a finalist because it captures an extraordinary harmony of light, colour and stillness. The glowing peaks, mirrored perfectly in the glass-calm lake, create a breathtaking sense of symmetry, while the foreground branch adds depth. It’s a scene that feels both otherworldly and intimate – an image that instantly stops you and draws you in and is nicely balanced.” – Julie Fletcher
As runner-up of the Places category, Donald wins a GME Personal Locator Beacon valued at $410 and a one-year subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $80.
Winner, Nature category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“Wild Leap,” by Jon Vause. “It was a wild winter’s day on the southwest coast of Western Australia, windy with a good swell pushing up from the Southern Ocean. I’d hiked into a remote beach that I know on the rugged coastline late in the day to capture some sunset wave photos and it’s always a bonus if dolphins show up. What I love about this image is it shows the wild ocean and harsh coastal conditions in winter then as a contrast there are dolphins totally suited to this environment leaping through the swells just having fun.”
Judge's comment: “This photograph captures the wild energy of untouched nature, freezing three dolphins in distinct, breathtaking aerial manoeuvres. One surges forward at speed, another twists high above the waves, while the third disappears in a splash of tail and spray. The churning sea, wind-driven spray, and dynamic motion intensify the sense of raw, untamed wilderness.” – Mike Edmondson
As winner of the Nature category, Jon takes home $2,000 cash, a Mountain Designs Adventure Pack valued at $1,000 and a one-year subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $80.
Runner-up, Nature category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“In the Glow of Care,” by Donald Chin. “Taken at Herdsman Lake in Perth, WA, this moment captures a pair of great crested grebes tenderly raising their young. I’ve spent years returning to this spot, documenting their journey from courtship to parenthood. On this day, the golden light revealed just how devoted they are in feeding, protecting and guiding their chicks with remarkable care. It’s scenes like this that keep drawing me back to this beautiful and naturally well preserved place.”
Judge's comment: “I love the nature documentary feel of this photo. It looks like a paused scene from a David Attenborough TV show. I love a photo that conveys movement and action, and this photo has both! Also the soft golden light frames the subject perfectly. A lot of time and patience has been required to get this image, and the fact that Donald Chin returns to the same spot year after year to get that one image shows his commitment to photography, and it has paid off. Well done!” – Brent McKean
As runner-up of the Nature category, Donald wins a GME Personal Locator Beacon valued at $410 and a one-year subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $80.
Winner, People category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“Hiking the Glaciers,” by Lauren Hellmich. “It was a slow and steep climb through temperate rainforest, alpine meadows and snow to the top of the Harding Icefield Trail. For two Aussies in the Alaskan wilderness, the view was breathtaking, literally. A sheer rocky outcrop overlooked the mesmerising Exit Glacier, where two hikers traversed the endless crevasses of ice. The magnitude and vastness of this landscape calls me to keep exploring this wild Earth.”
Judge's comment: “This image offers an extraordinary sense of scale, with the small figures perfectly placed to emphasise the vastness and power of the glacier. The diagonal flow of the composition leads the eye naturally through the frame, enhancing the feeling of movement and depth. The minimal, subtly shifting colour palette of blues and whites adds a beautiful calmness, while the scene fading softly into the distance creates a compelling sense of isolation and immensity.” – Janyne Fletcher
As Winner of the People category, Lauren takes home $1500 cash, a Life's An Adventure Tassie pack-free guided walk for two valued at $5,198, a Mountain Designs Adventure Pack valued at $1,000 and a one-year subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $80.
Runner-up, People category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“First Light Over the Painted Hills,” by Will Godward. “The geological marvel of the Painted Hills at SA’s Anna Creek Station, this photograph reveals one of the most remote and untouched landscapes in Australia. Accessible only by air with Wrightsair, the Painted Hills lie hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town and have remained unchanged for thousands of years. I’m honoured to maybe capturing the first image ever taken of the Milky Way rising above these ancient formations, showcasing one of the darkest and most pristine night skies on Earth.”
Judge's comment: “I chose this photo for its simplicity, framing and execution, but from a viewer’s standpoint, it creates a sense of wonder, excitement and scale. The decision to frame in 16x9 creates a vastness to the landscape that may not have the same effect in 4x3 which elevates the sense of scale and allows you to lose yourself to the depth of the universe, just as the person in the image is doing. Every aspect of this image is adding to the story. The remote desert landscape, the movement in the sky, the brightness and detail of the Milky Way and the lone explorer taking it all in.” – Nathan McNeil
As Runner-up of the People category, Will wins a GME Personal Locator Beacon valued at $410 and a one-year subscription to Great Walks magazine valued at $80.
Top 10 entries, Places category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“Stars Over Isla Incahuasi,” by Gunawan Gunawan. “This is Isla Incahuasi, in the middle of the Uyuni salt flats, Bolivia. A place that’s been on my bucket list for so long. From the town, it took us two hours to reach this location. We arrived during golden hour and waited patiently over a glass of wine, until the Milky Way core was rising. Even though the temperature was dropping to a chilly 0° C that night, seeing the stars exploding overhead made this effort so worth it.”
“Patagonian dream,” by Luke Tscharke. “I knew shooting near the summer solstice in southern Patagonia was going to be brutal. After a ridiculously early start to hike up into the mountains to catch sunrise, I stayed until 10pm waiting for sunset to finally light up Fitz Roy. Only having one clear day out of my four nights there, I wasn't wasting it. Walking back in the dark, there were regrets about not camping up there – but finding the ice cream place in El Chaltén still open made it all worthwhile.”
“Persistence,” by Scott Leggo. “Having photographed this ancient snow gum in Kosciuszko NP, previously, I wanted to capture it in winter snow. Returning multiple times over the years the conditions were never quite right. Finally, on this day it all came together. With the snow falling, it was the perfect setting to capture a winter version of my earlier photograph. Like the original, this one symbolises the strength of this tree enduring the ever changing harsh conditions of the Australian Alps.”“Lava Flow into Lake Frostastadavatn, Iceland,” by Frank Caridi. “My first impression of the ancient moss covered lava that flowed into Lake Frostastadavatn, is this real or am I experiencing a glitch in The Matrix? During my time out there, I kept looking at the camera screen and physically out towards the lava flow to determine which image was flickering and to my astonishment none of them flickered, proving without a doubt the image is real, with a little saturation.”
“Branches of Green Life,” by Ben Blanche. “The image was taken in the World Heritage listed New England National Park of New South Wales. I find trees can be beautiful subjects for photographs such as this tree. Trees/forests are a common subject for me to photograph. This tree strikes me as having a great structure to which it hosts so many other plants and life on every limb. It is the type of scene that gives a me little feeling of ancient wonder in my mind, perfectly curated by nature in the wild.”
“Antechamber,” by Stuart Bell. "Arguably, the jewel of Western Australia is surely Karijini National Park and the impressive gorges contained within. It’s a region steeped in geological history and I urge any visitor to this region to have at least a basic understanding of this. If you sit under the waterfall at Fern Pool, a mere 60m swim, you should sit and reflect that not only are you are amongst formations dating 2.5 billion years, but also an ancient seabed. What a story!”
“Victorian Highlands Under the Stars,” by Andres Pena. “I photographed Craig’s Hut after an hour-long hike through a fresh, moonless night in the Victorian Highlands. Walking with minimal light, I listened to the sounds of the wilderness as the sky opened just in time for this incredible display. Reaching the summit alone, the hut beneath the Milky Way felt humbling and unforgettable. This image reminds me how powerful nature is, and how deeply we can connect with places like this, just as early settlers once did.”
“Pool of Memories,” by Brian Hatchard. “It was cloudy for the entire hike up to the Pool of Memories in Tasmania. A place that’s been on my bucket list for years. But when we arrived, luck was on our side. The clouds began to break, letting pockets of light come through really highlighting the beauty of the Du Cane Range, Mt Geryon towering behind, even the vibrant poolside Pandani got its share of vitamin D. It ended up being a great shoot and one I won’t forget.”
Top 10 entries, Nature category, Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“Carpentarian Grasswrens,” by Tom Putt. “In April this year I was fortunate to travel to Mt Isa in outback Queensland for the first time. My goal – to photograph the elusive Carpentarian grasswren. Arriving before sunrise, my friend Laurie and I trekked through the spinifex to find this gorgeous pair, alighting on a perch and put on quite a show for us.”
“Antenna King,” by Korey Summers. “I photographed the ‘Antenna king’ just outside the town of Hall in Canberra, right beside a walking track, and almost missed it as the feather-horned beetle is surprisingly small despite its dramatic antennae. I’d searched a few different spots hoping to find one, so finally spotting those incredible fan-shaped antennae felt like a real reward.”
“After the Rain,” by John Dani. “My early morning walks along a creek on the NSW Central Coast are my sanctuary. I am constantly scanning for interesting flowers, insects and fungi. On this cold, drizzly day, I contorted myself to capture this ladybug’s profile. It wasn't until I reviewed the image later that the water droplets popped, adding unexpected texture and contrast. This photo reminds me that nature’s details often hide in plain sight, waiting for us to pause and look closer.”
“Spring’s Little Secret,” by Korey Summers. “I captured the photo at Tulip Top Gardens, just outside Canberra, where this shy blue wren darted between the blossoms. I love how the soft pink flowers frame the tiny bird, almost hiding it in plain sight. It felt like a quiet moment of spring that most people would walk past, and I wanted to freeze that sense of colour, calm and discovery in a single frame.”
“A Winter’s Morning Light,” by Annette Kelly. “This photo was captured as I was driving through the stunning Victorian High Country early in the morning. I came across this breathtaking scene of beautiful filtered light through the trees. Parking the car quickly and grabbing the 70-200mm before the light changed, I must have made my presence known to a couple of kangaroos and birds who then took flight, adding another element to this ethereal misty photo.”
“Freedom Skims the Surface”, Bradley Stephenson. “Photographed at one of my favourite wildlife locations, this image stopped me in my tracks the moment I captured it. The duck’s wings slicing across the still water felt like a quiet collision between strength and serenity. In a world that moves too fast, this fleeting moment of raw freedom – no origin, no destination – reminded me how easily we overlook the beauty right in front of us.”
“A Thousand Journeys," by Larn Berge. “Photographed at an elephant rescue sanctuary in Thailand, this is a quiet portrait of a life finally at rest. This female elephant spent more than 20 years carrying tourists, separated from her family herd. As I watched her, the weight of those years sat deep in her eyes, weary yet dignified, sorrowful yet free. A faint scuff along her trunk leads the viewer back to that gaze, completing the composition. This was truly a beautiful yet sad experience.”
“Moment of Truth,” by Donald Chin. “Each year from October to February, the migratory rainbow bee-eaters return to Lake Gwellup in WA, lighting up the bush with their dazzling colours. I love photographing them as they hunt tirelessly for bees and insects to feed their chicks hidden in sandy burrows. In this moment, the pair perched side-by-side almost looking like they’re playfully competing to see who brought back the bigger catch.”
Top 10 entries, People category Wilderness Photographer of the Year 2025
“In the Land of Fire,” by Simone Osborne. “After sleeping under the stars at the base of Ethiopia’s Erta Ale volcano, we began our climb in the dark, crossing cooled lava fields toward the faint glow of active flames on top of the volcano. As sunrise broke, the landscape shifted into warm, otherworldly tones. I asked our local guide to sit within the rugged terrain to reveal the immense scale of this harsh yet beautiful place. It was a morning and a moment I’ll never forget.”
“Bridge to the Sacred Peaks,” by Donald Chin. “In an adventure to Tibet Autonomous Region in China, I found myself among the very first foreign travellers permitted into Sepu Kangri, a remote jewel tucked deep within Biru County in the Nagqu prefecture. The place feels untouched, as if the mountains had only just awakened to the idea of visitors. Accommodation is sparse and comforts are few, yet the rawness is precisely what shapes the experience. A simple wooden bridge stretches over the swift, icy runoff from the glacier, serving both local herders and their yak. Standing there, you become part of the quiet choreography between people, animals and the landscape.”
“Aurora at Freycinet,” by Luke Tscharke. “My cloud forecasting apps showed Freycinet with the clearest skies in Tasmania, and with a huge aurora in the forecast I knew it was worth the 5-hour round trip. Jo came along and we had the view across to the Hazards almost to ourselves. As we walked down, the sky lit up in a display that still gives me goosebumps. Another perfect evening under the stars with my favourite person.”
“Cadini di Misurina,” by Gavin Kellett. “Captured in the Italian Dolomites, one of the most stunning environments I’ve ever walked in. Cadini di Misurina is a short hike that ends at a dramatic viewpoint, but there’s beauty the whole way. Packed with people I timed this shot of a lone hiker coming around the bend, seconds later to be joined by the crowds. It has everything I wanted, the light, the lone hiker, dramatic clouds and the beautiful textured rocks.”
“We Are Just a Speck in the Universe,” by Zoe Martin. "I took this photo in the northern area of the Blue Mountains in Jan 2025 after hiking all day with a friend. We were rewarded with a front row seat to a sunset storm sweeping across the landscape, filling the sky with incredible colours. In the distance, I noticed a lone figure standing on one of the sandstone pagodas, also taking in the moment. I love this shot because it’s a reminder of the scale, beauty and wildness of the Australian bushland."
“Journey Into the Ice Cave,” by Brody Gamble. "From my vantage point in one of Iceland's incredible ice caves, I captured this group of explorers preparing to take their own journey over the glacier. The mesmerising walls of the ice cave created the perfect frame to highlight where I had come from and where I was going. A portal to a different world. The entire experience couldn’t have felt further from my life in Central Australia and sharing it with people dear to me made it extra special."
“First Light,” by Thusith Muhandiram. “I captured this image near Aries Tor on Mount Kosciuszko after a quiet night camping beneath the stars. At dawn, the landscape shifted from blue to gold as the first light swept across the alpine plateau. Standing alone in that stillness, I felt completely immersed in the vastness around me. This photograph means a great deal to me because it preserves that rare moment of peace and clarity that only the mountains at sunrise can offer.”
“Sunset Glow,” by Genny May. “Guiding a dog sled through the far northern reaches of Norway was unforgettable on its own, but it became truly extraordinary as we watched the sun lift over the horizon for the first time in 2025. Its brief appearance felt like a gift – soon giving way to a delicate blush of pink as it slipped away again, leaving our return journey washed in a soft, ethereal light.”
