Today, we would like to share with you the list of the best images of 2023, as announced by the Siena International Photo Awards. If you're curious about past editions of this contest, we encourage you to check our previous posts featuring the other stunning photographs selected by the SIPA's jury.
The works submitted by photographers from around the world this year don't disappoint. In fact, many of them are thought-provoking and extremely powerful. Scroll down to explore the list of images that made it to the finals of the contest, spanning various categories such as Journeys & Adventures, Fascinating Faces and Characters, The Beauty of Nature, Animals in their Environment, Underwater Life, Sports in Action, Documentary & Photojournalism, and Street Photography.
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#1 The Beauty Of Nature, 2nd Classified: The Awakening Of A Giant By Francisco Negroni
Villarrica is the most active and dangerous volcano in Chile. After 7 years of dormancy, it has started showing signs of activity, prompting authorities to declare a Yellow Alert. The photo captures a stunning lenticular cloud illuminated by the glowing lava from the crater, which is now close to the surface.
Image credits: SIPA
Bored Panda reached out to Torie Hilley, the 1st classified winner in the Animals in their Environment category of the 2023 Siena International Photo Awards. We wanted to find out more about the circumstances under which the wildlife photographer was able to take her impressive photo titled: “Lions in Lines.”
The winning shot captures a unique moment in the African savanna with a pride of lions walking in two parallel lines. We asked Torie to describe the emotions and thoughts that ran through her mind when she captured this moment. The photographer told us: “Most of the time when we want to encounter wildlife, we often enter their space. When I saw them coming towards me, walking on the tire tracks in seamless formation, and not moving away, I was instantly humbled and amazed. I felt like they were comfortable enough to approach me, which is a remarkable feeling. What I didn’t expect was for the pride to rest right next to my car for about 30 minutes before they continued their movement. I felt like they truly accepted me in that beautiful moment.”
#2 Photo Of The Year: Georgy By Salwan Georges
Georgy Keburia says goodbye to his wife Maya and children at a train station in Odesa, Ukraine, as they board a train to Lviv on March 5, 2022. The situation in Eastern Ukraine has become extremely critical as the fighting intensifies. Hundreds of women and children who escaped cities like Mariupol, Kherson, and Mykolaiv, are trying desperately to catch a train and leave for a safe place before the violence of the war reaches the city. Meanwhile, men like Georgy must stay to fight to defend their own country and families.
Image credits: SIPA
#3 Animals In Their Environment, 2nd Classified: Blooming Dreams By Martin Gregus
A large male polar bear recharges his energy by resting in a bed he specifically made among the fireweed. The drone’s use offers an up-close glimpse of how he meticulously arranged the flowers to ensure a comfortable rest.
Image credits: SIPA
We were wondering what led Hilley to choose this specific location and what the preparation process looked like for capturing such a remarkable shot. She shared with us: “At the time I took this image, I was a researcher studying the social behavior of this pride for an NGO in Zambia. In this moment, I was tracking them and by chance came across the pride walking towards me and pulled to the side of the tire tracks so that they could pass. For the whole year I was researching them, I never saw them walking towards me like this. I quickly grabbed my camera and started shooting the unique moment.”
#4 Animals In Their Environment, 1st Classified: Lions In Lines By Torie Hilley
In the African savanna, as the dry season approaches and the grass turns yellow, lions become even more elusive, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. As Torie was tracking their footprints on the ground, she was suddenly presented with a stroke of luck: a pride of lions appeared in front of her, walking in a line and following the tire tracks.
Image credits: SIPA
#5 Animals In Their Environment, Honorable Mention: Stoat's Game By Jose Grandío
Jose had been following and observing this stoat for several days, when he suddenly showed unusual behavior, making jumps and strange expressions. According to scientists, these displays are interpreted as a distraction technique in the face of a potential prey.
Image credits: SIPA
The photo “Lions in Lines” beautifully showcases the wild cats blending into their surroundings. We were curious how the photographer approached capturing this camouflage effect in her composition. We learned that: “It is true that this image shows how well lions can camouflage in their environment. When I took the image, it was in May, which is just the beginning of the winter season in Zambia. The grass was still tall, but dying off, allowing the lions to blend into their environment. There was also a dust storm that day from Angola that casted a beautiful diffused warm glow onto the scene. I still pinch myself that I was there to witness this moment.”
#6 Journeys & Adventures, 3rd Classified: Roman By Chiara Felmini
The Nenets’ way of life during winter mainly involves staying inside their traditional tent, the Chum. The tent is constructed using a conical frame made of long poles and is covered with a double layer of reindeer skins. In order to preserve the internal heat, the opening of the tent is kept as small as possible and should only be opened when necessary. However, children’s curiosity goes beyond all rules and habits.
Image credits: SIPA
#7 Animals In Their Environment, 3rd Classified: Indian Wolf Pack By Siddhartha Ghosh
The Indian wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf, is known for its playful and noisy behavior. However, their playful moments in the wild are becoming increasingly rare as their population is declining throughout the Indian subcontinent, to the point of being considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Image credits: SIPA
We asked Torie how winning the 1st prize in one of the Siena International Photo Award categories impacted her perspective on wildlife photography. She shared with us: “I officially switched to wildlife photography in 2020. I believe wildlife conservation research is important, but I have seen the power of photography, especially after this image won a prestigious award. I have been inspired and now want to start diving into conservation photo storytelling. I always believed in this image, and now that it has received incredible recognition, I feel like I can now give a voice to conservation projects that need more attention on the incredible work that they do.”
#8 The Beauty Of Nature, Honorable Mention: Calm Beneath A Stormy Sky By Catherine Holmes
An unusual dawn on a beach in Grand Cayman. The intensity of the dramatic stormy sky, unexpectedly tumultuous, in deep shades of purple provides a stark contrast to the calm turquoise waters flowing over the sandbank, and the serene stingray gliding past beneath.
Image credits: SIPA
#9 Animals In Their Environment, Honorable Mention: Hide And Seek By Staffan Widstrand
An elephant in the African savanna tries to camouflage itself behind a bush that is too small compared to its size, in a humorous attempt to hide from the park visitors’ gaze. When it finally realized it had been discovered, it calmly walked away.
Image credits: SIPA
Lastly, we wanted to find out if the wildlife photographer has any upcoming projects or goals in this field. Torie said: “Future projects that I would like to work on first would be local ones around my home in Ventura, California. For example, the Channel Island National Park, which has a unique ecosystem unlike anywhere in the world, has so many conservation stories that need to be told. But my heart lies with the African painted dog, the second most endangered carnivore in Africa. When I studied them in South Africa for my master’s degree research in animal behavior, I realized how little people knew about them and the threats they face. A big project that I want to do is to spread more awareness of the conservation behind this incredible, highly intelligent, and social species all around Africa.”
#10 Animals In Their Environment, Honorable Mention: Refuge By Scott Portelli
Adélie penguin chicks are cleverly avoiding predators by seeking refuge in a complex system of ice tunnels, where they huddle together for protection. Meanwhile, leopard seals lurk in the waters below, patiently waiting for their chance to snatch up any vulnerable chicks that venture too close to the edge.
Image credits: SIPA
#11 Animals In Their Environment, Honorable Mention: Friend Or Foe? By Hannes Lochner
A leopard catches a small impala and does the unexpected - it starts playing and cuddling with it. The scene is filled with tenderness as the leopard lovingly embraces and licks the impala before eventually dragging it up a tree to rest beside it. This remarkable story reminds us of the unpredictable and surprising moments that nature can offer.
Image credits: SIPA
#12 Under 20, Honorable Mention: Meal By Raffael Gunawan
A pair of orange-bellied flowerpeckers is captured in a moment of intimate feeding on the fruits of an Indonesian bay laurel tree. The composition, lighting, and frozen movement of the birds make the image truly unique.
Image credits: SIPA
#13 Animals In Their Environment, Honorable Mention: Between A Rock And A Hard Place By Hannes Lochner
In the dry season, a leopard sneaks past two elephants in an attempt to get a drink of water. The big cat is framed between the two giants, while one of them senses its presence. Surprisingly, the animals remain unperturbed and let the predator drink in peace just a few meters away.
Image credits: SIPA
#14 Sports In Action, 1st Classified: Catch Me If You Can By Samuel Barnes
Grant Holloway of the USA team leading the field whilst competing in the men’s 60m hurdles semi-finals during day three of the World Indoor Athletics Championships at the Stark Arena in Belgrade. He completed the run in 7.29 seconds, equalling his existing world record, and went on to win the final.
Image credits: SIPA
#15 Underwater Life, Honorable Mention: Scar Neck By Gabriella Luongo
Underwater life can be tough, even for sharks, constantly threatened by humans. During a dive, two expert divers were fortunately able to free a blue shark that was swimming with a rope tightly wrapped around its neck, causing deep skin lesions. The animal was then able to swim freely with the group of photographers for the rest of the dive.
Image credits: SIPA
#16 Underwater Life, 1st Classified: Fish Eats Fish By Lilian Koh
In nature, it is common for fish to feed on other fish to survive, but this scene captured during a dive in Anilao, Philippines, shows extraordinary determination. The young grouper had been nearly swallowed whole by a lizardfish, but with incredible effort, it managed to break free and escape just moments after the photo was taken.
Image credits: SIPA
#17 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Honorable Mention: Queen's Platinum Jubilee By Hannah Mckay
Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Charles, Duchess of Cambridge, and her grandchildren Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, make a striking appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of Trooping the Colour parade, a significant celebration marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Image credits: SIPA
#18 Underwater Life, Honorable Mention: Shark Trio By Renee Capozzola
In a remote atoll in French Polynesia, recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a large school of surgeonfish reproduced in shallow waters just before sunset drawing in a group of sharks, present in high quantities in this area. Thanks to rigid legal protections, the marine ecosystem is teeming with life.
Image credits: SIPA
#19 Documentary & Photojournalism, 1st Classified: Kherson Boy By Andras D. Hajdu
On November 11, 2022, Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson from Russian occupation. In a crowded square, the crowd falls silent as President Zelensky delivers a speech. Glib, a 13-year-old boy, listens attentively in the front row: after months of fear and uncertainty, for the first time since the beginning of the war, he can finally leave his house.
Image credits: SIPA
#20 Fascinating Faces And Characters, Honorable Mention: Quannah Chasinghorse, Fist Raised By Kiliii Yuyan
Quannah Chasinghorse, a groundbreaking Indigenous model, stands tall and confident, her gaze piercing through the lens to remind viewers “whose land you’re living on”. Using her fame to support activism, Chasinghorse’s assertive presence speaks to her dedication to creating positive change and elevating the voices of marginalized communities.
Image credits: SIPA
#21 Underwater Life, 2nd Classified: Crowd Control By Andy Schmid
An orca infiltrates a ball of herring to stun its prey with its tail. Every winter, large numbers of orcas and humpback whales are attracted to the fjords of northern Norway by huge shoals of migrating herring. Orcas work together in a strategic way to bring the herring up from the depths and gather them into a bait ball.
Image credits: SIPA
#22 Under 20, Honorable Mention: Bear-Ly Hanging On By Kyo Takasuka
A brown bear climbs and relaxes on a tree branch in the depths of Yosemite Valley. Its brown silhouette stands out amidst the lush green vegetation. Its ears are perked up as if awaiting prey or an enemy.
Image credits: SIPA
#23 Documentary & Photojournalism, 2nd Classified: Child Labour In Afghanistan By Weiken Oliver
A young boy working in an informal coal mine in Chinarak stands outside the entrance. Hundreds of miners, including children as young as 10 and men over 60, toil every day for a few pennies. Tunnel collapses pose a constant threat to their safety.
Image credits: SIPA
#24 Journeys & Adventures, Honorable Mention: Distance That Took You Away By Alicja Zmysłowska:
Alicja captured this image while travelling by train through Poland with her loyal companion, Border Collie Ciri. The early spring landscape and the interplay of light and shadow through the train window, as well as the interior of the train, inspired her to create a striking monochromatic composition.
Image credits: SIPA
#25 Fascinating Faces And Characters, 3rd Classified: The Cut. Kimia By Silvia Alessi
A young Iranian Kurdish soldier is captured in her small dormitory with her hair flowing out of her veil, appearing wild and messy. This representation highlights her right to exist and breathe and serves as a reminder that civil rights should be accompanied by the freedom of expression, including art, hairdressing, and beauty.
Image credits: SIPA
#26 The Beauty Of Nature, Honorable Mention: Ghosts By Lukáš Veselý
The Red Sprites are atmospheric electrical phenomena generated by powerful lightning. These phenomena can extend for tens of kilometers and are visible even from great distances (the photo was taken at a distance of almost 400 km).
Image credits: SIPA
#27 Street Photography, 2nd Classified: Mating Monkeys And Voyeur Family By Sheli Mallick
Two monkeys engaged in an intimate moment caught the attention of a local family. The father is the only one not turning around, too busy taking a selfie. The candid hilariousness of the moment convinced the author to capture it.
Image credits: SIPA
#28 Journeys & Adventures, Honorable Mention: Nature's Call By Navin Kumar
This shot captures a poignant moment, serving as a wake-up call to remind us of the power of Nature that we’ve ignored in the name of development for too long. The feathered subject in the foreground acts as the focal point, attracting the attention of the background characters.
Image credits: SIPA
#29 Journeys & Adventures, 1st Classified: Following Their Tradition! By Shyjith Onden Cheriyath
In Umm al Quwain, every winter camel handlers take their camels into the sea for a bath. The saltwater is believed to have medicinal properties that help rid the camels of ticks, fleas, and other parasites. Despite being an age-old Arab tradition, this practice is becoming less frequent in the region due to the development of new hotels and resorts along the coastline.
Image credits: SIPA
#30 Underwater Life, Honorable Mention: Feather Home By Wojtek Meczynski
Small goby fish is commonly found living on the intricate and delicate bodies of other animals, like this sea pen. Sea pens take feather-like shapes and have one of the most intricate body ornaments among all marine animals.
Image credits: SIPA
