Image description
An early morning glow brings out the rich pastel colours of the Sossusvlei dunes in Namibia. The contrast of the green and delicate peach colours almost overwhelms the senses; the patterns and textures emerging from the shadows give the landscape a distinctive, painterly look.
Shortlist
Matteo Redaelli
Infrared Dreamscape
This surreal infrared photograph captures Mount Teide rising above a sea of clouds on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands. The infrared technique transforms the pine forest into a spectral white, giving the landscape an ethereal appearance that contrasts dramatically with the golden-brown sky.
© Matteo Redaelli, Italy, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Jim Guerard
What Lurks Beneath
Taken on a cold winter morning in the southeast United States, a thin layer of fog hovers over a cypress swamp at first light. The cypress swamps are known for the dangerous reptiles that live there, and the fog adds to the mystery of what might be lurking beneath the surface.
© Jim Guerard, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Scott Portelli
Windjana
The steep canyon walls of Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) in Western Australia display the vibrant red colours of the region. The clear night skies are incredible, as seen in this photograph, which reveals the star-filled sky transitioning slowly from dusk to dawn.
© Scott Portelli, Australia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Jassen Todorov
Symphony of Wings
Each winter, thousands of migratory birds — geese, ducks, egrets, herons — transform Northern California into a sanctuary of sound and motion. This photograph captures the migration from above, and was taken from the photographer’s single-engine plane.
© Jassen Todorov, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Kibong Nam
Where Legends Breathe
This long-exposure photograph captures the clouds flowing around Trøllkonufingur (‘the troll woman’s finger’) on the Faroe Islands.
© Kibong Nam, Korea, Republic Of, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Manuel Ortiga Castillo
Silent Tree
A foggy winter day in the forest.
© Manuel Ortiga Castillo, Spain, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Francisco Lima Saraiva
Atacama Desert
Photographed during a trip to the Atacama Desert, Chile.
© Francisco Lima Saraiva, Brazil, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Dimitry Papkov
Reflections at Buttermere
The still waters of Lake Buttermere in England’s Lake District created beautiful reflections in this photograph. The clouds acted as a soft box, with the sun breaking through at times to cast dappled light across the landscape.
© Dimitry Papkov, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Cong Lin
Whispers Beneath the Ice
A dramatic monochrome study of stillness and structure at Abraham Lake in Alberta, Canada. Stripping away the colour reveals the raw, celestial beauty of the bubbles suspended in a dark, frozen abyss.
© Cong Lin, Canada, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Lisa K. Kuhn
Opening the Vortex
Northern California’s 4000-metre Mount Shasta is dwarfed by a phenomenal lenticular cloud, during intermittent clouds that lasted for 10 days. This image was taken around 20 minutes before the sun set.
© Lisa K. Kuhn, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Sascha Schernthaner
Moon over Peak
A dramatic view of the moon rises above Dreischusterspitze in the Dolomites, Italy, illuminating the rugged limestone summit through drifting clouds. The contrast between the cold moonlight and dark alpine rock creates a powerful, almost mystical atmosphere.
© Sascha Schernthaner, Austria, Shortlist, Open Competition, Landscape, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards