Self-Portrait, New York, New York, 1954

In spring 2024, Vivian Maier will get her first exhibition in the United States. The late street photographer rose to acclaim posthumously when her vast archive of images was discovered in a storage unit and made public, and now her vision of post-war America is coming to New York City thanks to Fotografiska. The organization is bringing Maier back to her hometown with an exhibition of around 200 works that include vintage and modern prints, as well as Super 8 films and soundtracks.

Vivian Maier will trace the photographer's artistic journey as she honed her skills. The exhibition begins with her early photographs of 1950s New York City, taken during her downtime while she was working as a nanny, all the way up to images from the mid-1980s. Visitors will get an in-depth feel for her work and the visual language that she developed as she photographed women, children, couples, and even herself.

“The discovery of Vivian Maier's archive and her extraordinary work is one of those rare stories that captures the public's imagination,” said Sophie Right, executive director of Fotografiska New York. “We are thrilled to be premiering this beautiful exhibition in her hometown of New York—it's a testament to her distinct perspective and talent, and an honor for the museum.”

Vivian Maier will run from May 31, 2024, to September 2024, at Fotografiska New York.

For the first time, an institution in the United States will present the work of acclaimed street photographer Vivian Maier.

Chicago, Illinois, May, 16, 1957

Untitled, 1958

Fotografiska New York is holding the show, which opens in May 2024, and will put around 200 pieces of her work on display.

Grenoble, France, 1959.

Central Park, New York, September 26, 1959

Fotografiska: Website | Instagram | Facebook

All photos ©Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy of Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, NY. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Fotografiska.

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READ: Vivian Maier’s Street Photography Coming to New York for Comprehensive Exhibition

This wide-field image of Uranus from NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows the planet amid a smattering of distant background galaxies. This image also includes 14 of the planet’s 27 moons: Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, Juliet, Perdita, Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Ariel, Miranda, Bianca, and Portia. (Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

Once again, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) brings the wonders of space closer to our eyes with a detailed look at Uranus. The new image, which captures the inner and outer rings of the ice giant, was released just before the holidays. Rather than the solid blue planet we normally associate with Uranus, this stunning photo reveals the brilliance of its rings and ice, only visible in infrared light.

The photo is an updated version of an image taken in April of this year. While the previous photo—also taken by the JWST—used two colors, the new edition was taken with “additional wavelength coverage for a more detailed look.” The sensitivity of the JWST was even able to capture the Zeta ring, a diffuse ring that is closest to the planet, and several of the planet's 27 known moons.

When focusing on the planet itself, the most noticeable feature is Uranus' seasonal north polar cloud cap, which can be identified by the bright area of white. Unlike Earth, Uranus orbits on its side at a tilt of about 98 degrees, making the entire pole visible to the JWST. This unusual orbit also causes Uranus to have some of the most extreme seasons in our solar system. If you look closely, you can find several storms located along the south of the polar cap, which appear as small bright spots.

Uranus' polar cap shifts with its journey around the Sun, becoming more prominent as it nears the star. “Uranus reaches its next solstice in 2028, and astronomers are eager to watch any possible changes in the structure of these features,” NASA explains in a statement. More research on the distant planet will help astronomers gain a better understanding of Uranus' atmosphere and help prepare for future exploration of this exoplanet, and others that are much farther away.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has released stunning images of Uranus, capturing the inner and outer rings of the planet.

This image of Uranus from NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope exquisitely captures Uranus’s seasonal north polar cap and dim inner and outer rings. This Webb image also shows 9 of the planet’s 27 moons – clockwise starting at 2 o’clock, they are: Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Bianca, Portia, Juliet, and Perdita. (Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

The annotated version identifies some of the planet's 27 moons and a couple of notable stars.

Annotated wide-field compass image of Uranus with some of its 27 moons and a few prominent stars (with characteristic diffraction spikes) labelled.
(Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

Webb Space Telescope: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
h/t: [IFL Science]

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Winner, International Landscape Photograph of the Year. Blake Randall (Canada)

Australian photographer Tony Hewitt and Canadian photographer Blake Randall won the top prizes at the 2023 International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. Hewitt was named Landscape Photographer of the Year for his impressive portfolio, while Blake's single image of birch trees casting a reflection in the water was deemed the most impressive photo of the entire competition.

There were over 4,000 entries to the contest, which is now in its 10th year. In addition to the main prizes, the competition also hands out special awards that change each year. In 2023, awards for the best Aerial, Seascape, Black and White, Desert, and Ice & Snow photos were also handed out. Many different facets of the natural landscape were highlighted through these categories, and these international photographers saw their creative talents rewarded, whether they spent time in the forest or bundled up on an iceberg.

An esteemed panel of judges, which included 2022 Landscape Photographer of the Year Benjamin Briones Grandi, had the difficult task of sorting through the imagery. Aside from awarding the top three portfolios, single images, and deciding the special prizes, they also selected the top 200 landscape images overall.

Check out all of the winners and some of our favorite finalists. If you like what you see, pick up a copy of the 2023 competition book, which has all of the winners and top 101 images.

Here are the winners of the 2023 International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest.

Winner, International Landscape Photographer of the Year. Tony Hewitt (Australia)

Winner, International Landscape Photographer of the Year. Tony Hewitt (Australia)

3rd Place, International Landscape Photographer of the Year. Matt Meisenheimer (United States)

Runner-Up, International Landscape Photograph of the Year. Peter Meyer (Australia)

3rd Place, International Landscape Photographer of the Year. Matt Meisenheimer (United States)

Runner-Up, International Landscape Photographer of the Year. Andrew Mielzynski (Canada)

3rd Place, International Landscape Photograph of the Year. Isabella Tabacchi (Italy)

Runner-Up, International Landscape Photographer of the Year. Andrew Mielzynski (Canada)

In addition to a portfolio and single image awards, prizes were also given out for several special categories.

Winner, Black and White. Jim Guerard (United States)

Winner, Snow & Ice. Thomas Vijayan (Canada)

Winner, Desert. John Seager (United Kingdom)

Winner, Aerial. Casey McCallister (United States)

Winner, Seascapes. Ciaran Willmore (Ireland)

The winners, as well as the top 101 photos overall, will see their work published in the contest's annual photo book.

Top 100 Photo. Carolyn Cheng (Canada)

Top 100 Photo. Froydis Dalheim (Norway)

Top 100 Photo. Shirley Wung (Taiwan)

Top 100 Photo. Marcin Zajac (Poland)

Top 100 Photo. Peter Adam Hoszang (Hungary)

Top 100 Photo. Kévin Pagès (Iceland)

Top 100 Photo. Hans Gunnar Aslaksen (Norway)

International Landscape Photographer of the Year: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by ILPOTY.

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Frida painting a portrait of her father Guillermo, 1951 by Giséle Freund. (Photo: © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums)
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Frida Kahlo was not only a great painter, but she was also a collector. When she died, much of this collection was placed into storage after certain objects were selected for display in her home-turned-museum, La Casa Azul. This included over 6,000 photographs that show Kahlo's interests, tastes, and the people she held most dear. Now, thanks to a newly reissued publication, the public can gain even more insight into her life.

Frida Kahlo: Her Photos, was originally published by Editorial RM in 2010 and had gone out of print. In the reissue, art lovers can once again enjoy hundreds of black-and-white images, many of which are annotated or contain notes. Given that Kahlo's father, Guillermo, was one of the most important photographers in early 20th-century Mexico, it should come as no surprise that she was meticulous about collecting images.

While many of the photographs were likely taken by Kahlo herself, and some of them are even signed by her, her collection consists of many great names in photography. This not only includes her father, but images by Man Ray, Edward Weston, Giséle Freud, Martin Munkacsi, Pierre Verger, and many others.

From intimate looks at her life with Diego Rivera to photos of her working on her art, Frida Kahlo: Her Photos is an incredible way to get to know the famed Mexican painter in a holistic way. The book is available in both English and Spanish on Bookshop, as well as on the Editorial RM website.

Frida Kahlo: Her Photos is a look at the Mexican painter's vast photographic collection.

Adolfo Best Maugard, María Luisa Cabrera de Block and Frida Kahlo, ca. 1945. (Photo: © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums)

Her personal collection shows her interests and tastes, as well as intimate glimpses of daily life.

General Emiliano Zapata, with written dedication by him to Colonel Felix Rojas. November 1916 by H. J. Gutiérrez (Photo: © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums)

Revolutionaries (Photo: © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums)

The collection of over 6,000 photographs was shut away in storage following Kahlo's death.

Diego Rivera, 1933 by Esther Born (Photo: © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums)

The Eye of Diego in 1936. (Photo: © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums)

Diego Rivera with his models Nieves Orozco and Inesita(Photo: © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums)

Thanks to a reissue of its 2010 publication, Editorial RM is allowing the public to gain deeper insight into the painter's life.

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Editorial RM.

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“Watery Shapes” by Phillip Glombik. First Place.

Photos of sweeping scenic landscapes from all corners of the earth were entered into The Independent Photographer‘s Landscape Photography Awards and the winners of the November 2023 contest have just been announced. Judged by renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, the winners and finalists are a beautiful look at the natural world.

Photographer Phillip Glombik took home the top prize for his evocative aerial photo of a river in Iceland. Taken with a drone at the end of the Ölfus River, the image has a calm, hypnotic composition that won over Richardson. 

“This was the image that always pulled me back, always invited me to get lost in wonder,” says Richardson, who is the co-founder of the educational collaborative Eyes On Earth. “I know what it is: river sediments in Iceland. But in places, it echoes the forces of creation we see in space telescope images of galactic nebula where stars are born. In other places, it echoes the desert dunes, or perhaps arctic blizzard drifts. The patterns are primordial. But what struck me most is how this image was elevated over similar images by the pattern or ripples that lay over the whole image like a veil. Just wonderful.”

The celebrated photographer also appreciated Ed Smith's look at a cloud inversion sweeping across the Scottish Highlands, which came in second place. He was particularly drawn to the mystery of the image and the way it bucks the traditional manner in which landscapes are often portrayed.

See more of the powerful winners and finalists below in this contest that honors one of photography's oldest and most beloved genres. And then stay tuned to see who will win December's monthly contest, which is currently taking submissions and is centered around the theme People.

Here are the winners of The Independent Photographer Landscape Photography Awards.

“Fringes of Abernethy” by Ed Smith. Second Place.

“Morning Freeze” by Remi Bergougnoux. Third Place.

“Mystical Driftwood Drift” by Jacqueline Anders. Finalist.

“Misty-rious Hill” by Ian Asprey. Finalist.

“Offshore” by Michael Jurek. Finalist.

“Frozen Migration” by Nicolas Castermans. Finalist.

“Into the Mist” by Brandon Yoshizawa. Finalist.

“Inversion” by Kyle Barden. Finalist.

“Untitled” by William Holderfield. Finalist.

The Independent Photographer: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by The Independent Photographer.

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Renowned South African wildlife photographer Chris Fallows is known for his artistic images that capture the spirit of the animal kingdom. And in 2024, he'll be celebrating two of its most majestic animals—the elephant and the whale. Over the course of 100 days, he'll be sharing one inspiring photo daily that highlights the power, beauty, and spirit of these giant animals.

Starting on January 1, Fallows will publish one new image of either a whale or an elephant on his Instagram account in a project called 100 Days of Sentience. Each photo will be accompanied by a caption that explains a bit more about the photo and what Fallows was experiencing when he took it. He hopes that viewers will understand the connections these gentle giants can build and, perhaps, evaluate how they can be helped through conservation and protection.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Fallows about the project, as he generously provided My Modern Met with a preview of the images people can expect throughout the project. Read on for our exclusive interview, and then go over and follow him on Instagram to be part of 100 Days of Sentience starting on January 1.

How did the idea for 100 Days of Sentience come about?

When I am immersed in nature, be it with my wife Monique on our boat bobbing the ocean or on foot in the bush, I find incredible peace and grounding. Yet it seems all around us, there is turmoil, various tragic wars, and an ever-increasing pace of life dominated by the desire to have more while not considering the consequences of our actions.

I believe many have lost the ability to live in the moment. This feeling of being present is none more evident than when I am with the two largest creatures of ocean and earth, the whales and elephants.

While I am so lucky to have spent thousands of days in their respective companies, others don’t have this opportunity. As such, I wished to showcase some of my works with these sentient giants for people to look at and hopefully transport themselves to the moment I took the photograph.

I want people to immerse themselves, to hear the whales' exhalation, to see water cascading off the huge fluke, and feel the touch of the whales' breath on their skin. Likewise with the elephants, to gaze up at these giants, to imagine their quiet padded foot stroke, the loving embrace of a mother's trunk around her kin, and feel the gentle rumblings of their communication with each other.

It is perhaps ironic that of all the animals I have been so lucky to work with over the past three decades, it is in the company of the two largest that I feel most at peace. This is my simple attempt over the course of 100 days to allow others to feel this sense of sentience through my lens.

What was your selection process for the images?

While I have chosen works that I believe artistically do justice to the magnificence of both whales and elephants, my primary criteria was to select a collection of my fine art photographs that had a strong sense of allowing the viewer to be there in the moment with me.

As such, I wanted each photograph to be a reflection of the emotion and mood, a wash of calmness, a stroke of humility, and a call for everyone to simply find their space in nature.

What are the main characteristics that strike you when you've observed elephants and whales?

An awareness, caring, and a gentleness that certainly aren’t signs of weakness. These are our planet's giants, capable of incredible acts of strength, yet they tolerate me in their space despite all of what my kind has done to them.

How do you hope that your artistry can have an impact on these animals and our environment?

I hope that when viewers of my work look at these giants they are not only awed by their presence but also by their ability to be present.

As a direct personal impact to how my artworks help, all the sales of my Limited Edition Artworks go towards buying land in Southern Africa for the protection and rehabilitation of habitats, as well as supporting selected non-profits doing incredible work to protect our planet.

I'm sure there are a lot of incredible backstories behind these images. Is there one, in particular, that you'd like to share?

There are many indeed, and throughout my 100-day-long daily Instagram posts, I will share many, but my one work called Matriarch, taken in 2019 in Kenya, has a powerful story.

This photograph is of one of the few truly huge female tuskers left on our planet. Her tusks have been her burden, for she is the most sought-after target for the poacher or trophy hunter's gun as a result of them.

I would often try to find her in the huge expanse of one of Kenya's national parks as her ivory was so spectacular and obviously made for impactful imagery, but what I learned with each new encounter was that her ivory was just a small part of what made her truly special.

She was the matriarch of her herd, a herd that’s destiny was shaped by her decisions. Each time she encountered me over the course of several years, she would leave her herd, walk over to where I often lay on the ground photographing her, and reach her trunk out to smell me while maintaining an upright and dominant posture.

In effect, each time she was setting her boundaries, saying I know you are there, I accept you, but this is my boundary, and don’t cross it because that will threaten my family. I am humbled by this huge, completely wild elephant's acceptance and tolerance of me. However, I am inspired by her courage, strength, and leadership.

What do you hope that people take away from the work?

I cannot and refuse to believe that had others been exposed to these animals as I have, that they could ever have raised a weapon to kill one. I also believe that once people are exposed to these iconic animals, they will dig deeper and learn more about them, understanding the key roles each plays within its respective ecosystem and the contribution they make to a healthy planet.

If an observer of my work can reflect on the virtues of the great whales and elephants and then look at our own, I believe that hopefully, in some way, my work can help bridge the divide between sharing or conquering our planet.

What are your plans for 2024?

In January 2024, we unveil a 25-meter-long display of my photographic artwork at Dubai International Airport called The 11th Hour that draws attention to many of our planet's most iconic natural inhabitants that we have lost or are losing. Equally, the exhibition celebrates a few of the icons we have saved through brave and timeous intervention, and hopefully, this inspires more action.

For much of the rest of the year, we will be in remote wildernesses chasing sunrises and horizons, trying to capture spectacular photographs of our planet's natural icons.

Chris Fallows: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Chris Fallows. 

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Today, having our picture taken is a fast and easy process. With lenses on our phones and the plethora of digital cameras available, you usually don't have to wait a long time to see your portrait. However, if you choose to use a disposable camera, then the process can be completely different, requiring you to drop the film off and wait about a week for the physical copies to be available. That may seem like a long time to us, but a pair of 19th-century mystery figures have been waiting over 100 years to get their picture back.

Film from a No. 1 Kodak camera was recently developed, 134 years after it was loaded in 1889. The early Kodak camera was owned by an Australian golfer named Miss Evelyn MacKenzie, who was a hobbyist photographer. Much like Kodak cameras today, this vintage model came pre-loaded with film for 100 photos, but to receive the copies, the entire camera set had to be shipped back to Kodak, where the film was extracted and processed. “You press the button, we do the rest” was the famous slogan used by Eastman Dry Plat and Film Co. during this time.

David Gardner, a member of the Photographic Collector's Club of Great Britain, acquired the vintage camera at an auction. In time, he decided that he wanted to get the film developed, which prompted a long and difficult search, ultimately connecting him with the Film Rescue International in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Canada. There, they had the ability to develop the delicate nitrate-based celluloid roll film after it was hidden away for 134 years. However, it proved to be an arduous task, with only one negative returning a somewhat visible image. Greg Miller from the Film Rescue said the difficulty was due to it being “the oldest film we have ever gleaned something from” and “likely the oldest ever to be developed that had anything on it at all.”

The resulting image features two silhouettes in late 19th-century fashion, either Victorian or Edwardian. Fashion historian Jayne Shrimpton looked over the hazy photo and believes that both figures are men, with one wearing a tam o' shanter hat. “The image appears to be taken, possibly from behind, of two people contemplating a piece of equipment,” writes Gardner in Photographica World; the journal of the Photographic Collector’s Club of Great Britain. “To match Miss Mackenzie’s record, I would expect the equipment to be tennis or golf clubs, but the more I look at it the more I think it is a field camera on a tripod.”

Although there are plenty of questions surrounding the hazy figures, the fact that a roll of film loaded in a No. 1 Kodak camera in 1889 was able to be developed is an amazing feat. Perhaps in time, more information about MacKenzie's camera and her anonymous sitters will come to light.

A No. 1 Kodak camera—the first-ever camera by Kodak—was discovered with an undeveloped roll of film inside. The images were likely taken in 1889.

An advertisement from “The Photographic Herald and Amateur Sportsman,” November 1889 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

One of the photos reveals a mysterious pair of men in Victorian or Edwardian clothing. The fact that the camera was pre-loaded in 1889, makes this photo possibly the oldest to ever be developed from a roll of film.

Photographic Collector's Club of Great Britain: Website | Facebook | Twitter
h/t: [PetaPixel]

All images via the Photographic Collector's Club of Great Britain / David Gardner, unless stated otherwise.

This article has been edited and updated; an earlier version mislabeled the location of Film Rescue International.

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“Black Soldier Fly Farming (I)” by Maurizio di Pietro. Winner, Environmental Photographer of the Year.
“An innovative insect food experiment at the University of Turin assesses the potential of Black Soldier Flies as a source of nutrition for tomorrow’s world.”

Thousands of photographers submitted their images to the 2023 Environmental Photographer of the Year (EPOTY) contest, but it was Italy's Maurizio di Pietro who came out on top. His fascinating image of an experiment that tests the possibilities of black flies as a source of nutrition won him the overall prize in the 16th edition of the competition.

Launched by CIWEM and WaterBear and presented by Nikon in association with MPB and supported by Arup, the contest provides a platform for amateur and professional photographers to reflect the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet. Interestingly, many of this year's category winners find themselves on the frontlines, as they hail from climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh, Argentina, and India. They are using their cameras to raise awareness about the struggles their countries are currently facing.

This includes 18-year-old Solayman Hossain, who was named Nikon's Young Environmental Photographer of the Year for an image he shot in a village close to his home in Bangladesh. Taken during monsoon season, it shows a farmer leading his herd of cows through floodwaters, as he attempts to find them food. Jurors were drawn to the image for its beautiful composition and interesting color palette.

“I hope my photo will inspire environmental action by showcasing the importance of nature, raising awareness about environmental issues, and encouraging others to take positive steps towards sustainability,” Hossain shares.

Di Pietro has similar feelings about his winning photograph, which showcases an innovative insect food experiment at the University of Turin. With food insecurity on the rise in Italy, the professional photographer felt that it was his duty to show how academics are looking for unique solutions to the issue. By doing so, he wants to inspire people not to lose hope in the face of these challenges.

“The image encapsulates our dependence on the smallest creatures for survival. Moreover, it is beautifully executed, evoking an almost balletic fragility—apt for the crisis that stares us in the face,” commented juror Arati Kumar-Rao. “It was an image I came back to again and again, and by its nature made me want to know more.”

See more of the winners, as well as some of our favorite shortlisted entries below, and check out the full gallery on the EPOTY website.

The 2023 Environmental Photographer of the Year contest highlights the pressing challenges our planet is facing.

“Flood-Affected Area” by Solayman Hossain. Winner, Nikon's Young Environmental Photographer of the Year.
“A farmer and his cows are forced to wade through floodwater to find food, after the road became submerged in water during monsoon season.”

“Survival Of Buffaloes In Drought” by Md Shafiul Islam. Winner, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“Buffaloes scour parched grasslands for food during a drought.”

“Corals At Night” Nicolas Marin Benitez. Winner, Recovering Nature.
“A nocturnal coral reef comes to life during a night dive in Aruba. Bioluminescence is a fascinating natural phenomenon illustrating the health of the oceans.”

“Intruder” by Anirban Dutta. Winner, Adapting for Tomorrow.
“A cunning drongo bird uses light from an urban petrol pump to catch termites during monsoon season, suggesting waning food sources in the wild. The camera uses its built-in functions of multiple exposures and long exposure to create an image combining three photos.”

“Walk Through Trash” by Jahid Apu. Winner, MPB Vision of the Future.
“This drone shot shows a bridge surrounded by plastic waste in Dhaka, Bangladesh, one of the most plastic-polluted countries in the world.”

“Price Of An Elephant” by Saurav Kumar Boruah. Shortlist, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“Three wild elephants died in a village on the edge of a forest, due to electrocution. They used to come to villages during the night-time looking for food; their usual sources have grown scarce due to deforestation. The local villagers paid tribute to the elephants by offering prayers with flowers, incense sticks and coins.”

Many of this year's winners hail from climate-vulnerable countries, putting them on the frontlines of these environmental hardships.

“Red Dog Mine” by Mustafah Abdulaziz. Runner Up, MPB Vision of the Future.
“The Red Dog Mine is a lead and zinc mine in the Arctic Circle, located near Kotzebue in Alaska, USA.”

Salinas De Maras (Maras Salt Flats) by Marina Abello. Shortlist, Adapting for Tomorrow.
“The ponds in Salinas de Maras have been used for salt extraction since the pre-Inca period, and have been in continuous operation since then. Located in the Sacred Valley, the Salinas consist of approximately 4,500 salt pans, set in stepped terraces of irregular stone walls that follow the Qaqahuiñay hill. These traditional salt mining practices have a lower environmental impact than industrial methods, such as mining and evaporation from brine ponds.”

“Devastated Shepherd” by Frederick Dharshie Wissah. Shortlist, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“Mr. Loonkishu Lemerketo of the Samburu sobs as he points to his three dead goat kids. They died because their dehydrated mother was unable to produce milk. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists who herd cattle and keep goats, sheep and camels. They have been among the people worst impacted by the climate change-related severe drought in Kenya.
At the time of this photo (October 2022), Kenya had been contending with 5 back-to-back failed rainy seasons and the worst drought in 40 years. This drought has robbed the Samburu of their livelihoods and their food security.”

“Guaranteeing Bali's Reef A Future” by Giacomo D'Orlando. Shortlist, Recovering Nature.
“Two local divers install concrete structures in a new coral restoration site. The local NGO Perkumpulan Pemandu Penyelam Amed (P3A) works together with Dutch NGO Coral Reef Care (CRC) to restore the marine ecosystem damaged by unsustainable fishing by building artificial reefs on damaged reef areas. Natural recovery of the coral reef is unlikely without this additional support. Coral recruits are transplanted onto these artificial structures, which vary in materials and dimensions to maximize the refuge area for different fauna.”

“Quick Assistance” by Adrián Irago. Shortlist, Keeping 1.5 Alive.
“A helicopter from the San Xoan Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigade (BRIF) performs an unloading manoeuvre in the town of Moreiras in the province of Ourense. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Galicia, and especially the province of Ourense, suffer forest fires every year that destroy natural heritage and endanger people. In 2022, more than 51,000 hectares were burned in Galicia, representing 19% of the total hectares burned in Spain, according to Government data. The rural environment of Galicia is especially vulnerable due to depopulation and an aging demographic: there are not enough resources to prevent or manage the mountainside fires.”

“Crossing The Riverbed” by Ahsanul Haque Nayem. Shortlist, MPB Vision of the Future.
“The Jamuna river in the Bogura district dries up completely every year, but during the rainy season, it is flooded again. When the river is dry, horse carts are the only means of transportation for the people of the Char.”

Environmental Photographer of the Year: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by EPOTY.

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“Mikaël Kingsbury, Olympic Freestyle skier” by Finn O'Hara. Professional Winner, Sports.

The 20th anniversary of the International Photography Awards (IPA) brings together a stunning collection of images from professional and amateur photographers around the world. Tens of thousands of images underwent a rigorous evaluation by an international panel of judges before winners were selected in diverse categories like People, Nature, Advertising, and Fine Art. While all the photographers created incredible imagery, two were singled out from the 22 category winners for special awards.

Thomas Broening was named IPA Photographer of the Year for his groundbreaking series of self-funded billboards that were displayed across California. This series of 24 images, titled The End of the Dream, sheds light on three incredibly important issues plaguing the state—drought, fire, and housing. By placing his striking visuals in a space typically reserved by advertisers, Broening makes an important statement.

Amateur photographer Carlo Marrazza was singled out for his strong work and was named IPA 2023 Discovery of the Year. Marrazza's imagery sheds light on the truly unique story of the Bakkarwals of Jammu and Kashmir, a resilient community of goat and sheep herders, who embark on their annual migratory journey from the hills of the Jammu region, traversing the majestic Himalayas to reach the lush valleys of Kashmir. This year's journey was fraught with hardship, as heavy snowfall led to a loss of livestock. Marrazza's ability to capture the spirit and resilience of the community, even in the face of adversity, is remarkable.

In fact, all of the category winners show a deep love for storytelling. This passion, combined with their technical abilities, are just part of what make IPA special.

“As I was viewing the submissions, I was acutely aware and thrilled by the love and passion that people all over the world have for the photograph as a medium for story-telling,” commented Quentin Nardi, photo editor of the Smithsonian Magazine and IPA jury member. “The work that used light and shadow, composition, technical skills, and complex color exploration to make a more sophisticated image—one that would hold my eye and call to me to linger longer—is the image that got my vote.”

These are the remarkable winners of the 2023 International Photography Awards.

“The End of the Dream” by Thomas Broening. Professional Winner, Advertising.

“Pets Meets Vintage” by Horst Kistner. Professional Winner, Special.

“Narrow Escape” by Tony Law. Professional Winner, Sports.

“Songkran” by Thamarong Wanarithikul. Non-Professional Winner, Event.

“Must resist” by Or Adar. Non-Professional Winner, Editorial / Press.

“Old Father Thames” by Julia Fullerton-Batten. Professional Winner, Fine Art.

“Ice Fantasy” by Barbara and Maciej Noskowski. Professional Winner, Nature.

Both amateur and professional photographers were singled out across 22 categories.

“power station (storm)” Steffen Reichardt. Non-Professional Winner, Architecture.

“Bakkarwals of Jammu and Kashmir 1” by Carlo Marrazza. Non-Professional Winner, People.

“Anemone Purity” by Claudia Gaupp. Non-Professional, Nature.

“Ukraine's War” by Wolfgang Schwan. Professional Winner, Editorial / Press

“NYC Women’s March 2017” by Nabil West. Professional Winner, Event.

“Polychromo” by Bevil Templeton-Smith. Non-Professional Winner, Fine Art.

“Spaghetti Stylist” by Yuliy Vasilev. Non-Professional Winner, Advertising.

“Ships on Land” by Professional Gang Wang. Winner, Architecture.

“Our War” by Edgar Martins. Professional Winner, Analog / Film.

“Ukraine: A War Crime” by FotoEvidence. Professional Winner, Book.

“Freedom to Fly” by Allison Hunter. Professional Winner, People.

“Where does the tree end and the rest of the world begin?” by Daniela Balestrin. Non-Professional Winner, Analog / Film.

“.raw” by Daniil Kobizskiy. Non-Professional Winner, Special.

“The Promise [of safe, clean and unlimited energy]” by Jan Schölzel. Non-Professional Winner, Book.

IPA: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the IPA.

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Back in July, photographer Steve Haining and model Ciara Antoski broke the Guinness World Record for the deepest underwater photoshoot. At 32 feet underwater, it was a mind-boggling feet. Now, the pair have outdone themselves with an even more daring stunt. Haining and his team went back to the waters of Tobermory, Ontario—Canada's shipwreck capital—and held a portrait shoot at nearly 100 feet.

This achievement was once again awarded the Guinness World Record. “The photoshoot took place at the bow of the Niagara II Shipwreck, which sits at a depth of 30 meters (98 feet),” they write. “The entire attempt underwater including cleanup, equipment removal and safety stop lasted just over 30 minutes, while photoshoot itself was 16 minutes long.”

Having earned worldwide attention from their original attempt, which took place during the pandemic as a tongue-in-cheek response to the closure of pools, they set out to try again. This time they wanted to go deeper with the help of an extra boost. After Fujifilm hired Haining as their underwater DOP, the company asked him and his team what they were up to. “We explained that we were planning on going back to Tobermory one day to do another photo shoot,” Haining told DIY Photography. “We wanted to continue the series. Fujifilm asked us the details and how deep we would go the next time. We picked a number 100 feet (30 meters)… 100 feet, can we do it? The response we got from the Fuji team was amazing, and we knew right then that we had to do it again sooner rather than later. We had our eyes set on a shipwreck that’s at exactly 100 feet.”

But with a deeper setting came new technical challenges. Haining previously relied on AquaTech's underwater housing for his camera, which are only rated for 30 feet. Despite this limitation, he wanted to test out the gear. Lighting company Nanlite also caught wind of the project and provided Haining with lights for the shoot. These were also only rated at 32 feet, but the company was curious if they would still work, or if they would survive the deep climb at all.

In the end, Haining and his team, which include Mareesha Klups and Mario Medarevic, made the most of what they could acquire. They spent several weeks warming up prior to the date of the shoot. And while the summer lighting certainly helped fight the loss of yellows and oranges at such depths, they went with a bright red dress for Antoski, which cuts a dramatic picture over the rusty tones of the Niagara shipwreck and the chilly blue of the water.

You can see more pictures from this breathtaking photoshoot, below. To stay up to date with Haining, follow him on Instagram.

See more images of Steve Haining's Guinness World Record for the deepest underwater photoshoot.

Watch the behind the scenes for this photoshoot in the video below:

Steve Haining: Website | YouTube | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Steve Haining.

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