2026 Memorial Maria Luisa Awards: Best Mountain & Nature Photos Revealed

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The 2026 Memorial Maria Luisa Awards have just been announced, and the results are absolutely stunning. Now in its 36th year, this renowned international competition once again shines a light on the untamed, awe-inspiring beauty of mountains, nature, and adventure through photography in a way that’s truly unmatched.

This year, the competition drew entries from across the globe, 18,059 photographs and 182 videos submitted by 1,450 photographers representing 78 countries. After rigorous judging, only the most striking, technically impressive, and emotionally moving images were selected, creating a collection that stands out as truly remarkable.

Among the winners, Canadian photographer Christoph Fischer stood out with his image “Fearless,” which earned the Absolute Prize (Fundación Cajastur Grand Prix). His photo, showing two antelopes holding their ground in a fierce desert storm, is both dramatic and moving. It perfectly captures a sense of survival, resilience, and beauty, all in one unforgettable shot.

For the Young Photographer Award, Lubin Godin from France was recognized for his piece “Dermoeres Lueurs.” His photograph of a solitary mountain goat perched on a cliff, bathed in soft light, feels almost cinematic, subtle, intense, and deeply resonant.

With 15 major awards and numerous honorable mentions across various categories, the contest proves yet again that nature is not just something we observe, it’s something we experience. These photographs don’t simply record the world; they change the way we see it.

Take your time exploring these images; you might find they linger in your mind long after you’ve seen them.

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1. Absolute Prize Winner: "Fearless" by Christoph Fischer, Canada

Two antelopes standing in a sandstorm in a desert, partially obscured by blowing sand, symbolizing resilience and survival.

"In a sweeping desert storm, two antelopes stand resilient against swirling sands, embodying strength and survival. Christoph Fischer’s award-winning image “Fearless” captures a raw, haunting moment where nature’s harshness meets quiet courage in an unforgiving landscape."

2. Young Photographer Winner: "Dermoeres Lueurs" by Lubin Godin, France

Silhouette of a mountain goat standing on a steep rocky cliff against a glowing orange sky at dusk.

"Silhouetted against a glowing sky, a lone mountain goat clings to a steep cliff, embodying balance and determination. Lubin Godin’s “Dermoeres Lueurs” transforms a fleeting moment into a poetic scene where light and shadow shape nature’s quiet drama."

3. Mountain Landscapes – Winner: "Thunderstorm" by Filip Hrebenda

Lightning striking behind a rocky mountain peak with mist, flowing water, and dark storm clouds creating a dramatic landscape.

"A dramatic lightning strike illuminates a jagged mountain peak as mist and rushing water create a moody, cinematic scene. Filip Hrebenda’s “Thunderstorm” captures nature’s raw power, blending chaos and beauty into a breathtaking moment of atmospheric intensity."

4. Mountain Landscapes – Honorable Mention: "Alpamayo" by Harry Lichtman

Black-and-white image of Alpamayo mountain showing sharp ridges, steep snowy slopes, and dramatic cloud formations.

"A striking black-and-white portrait of Alpamayo reveals the mountain’s sculpted ridges and sharp pyramid form. Harry Lichtman’s image highlights the interplay of light, shadow, and texture, transforming this iconic peak into a timeless symbol of alpine elegance and raw beauty."

5. Alpinism – Winner: "Colin Haley Soloing Cerro Torre" by Tyler Lekki

A solo climber scaling a steep icy wall on Cerro Torre surrounded by massive glaciers and rugged mountain peaks.

"A lone climber ascends the icy face of Cerro Torre, dwarfed by towering glaciers and jagged peaks. Tyler Lekki’s image captures the intensity of solo alpinism, where scale, silence, and risk collide in a breathtaking display of human endurance."

6. Alpinism – Honorable Mention: "Mordor" by Julia Roger-Veyer

A climber falling on a steep icy wall beside a dark rocky cliff, captured mid-air in a dramatic alpine scene.

"Suspended between ice and void, a climber falls against a dark, towering wall, capturing a split-second of danger and vulnerability. Julia Roger-Veyer’s “Mordor” evokes raw tension, where gravity, scale, and uncertainty collide in a dramatic alpine moment."

7. Climbing – Winner: "Ridge" by Sam Bie

A climber scaling a steep rocky ridge above a coastal landscape at sunrise, with ocean and islands visible in the background.

"A climber ascends a sunlit limestone ridge high above the sea, where golden light meets rugged terrain. Sam Bie’s “Ridge” captures adventure and exposure, blending breathtaking coastal views with the quiet intensity of focus, balance, and elevation."

8. Climbing – Honorable Mention: "Perfect Climb" by Sam Bie

Silhouetted climbers on tall sea cliffs at sunset overlooking the ocean and distant islands under a colorful sky.

"Silhouetted climbers traverse towering sea cliffs as the sun sets over distant islands, casting a serene glow across the horizon. Sam Bie’s “Perfect Climb” captures harmony between adventure and landscape, where height, light, and timing align beautifully."

9. Adventure and extreme sports – Winner: "Vuelo Faraonico" by Marc Marco Ripoll

Paraglider flying at night above illuminated pyramids, leaving light trails in the sky over a desert landscape.

"A paraglider streaks across the night sky above illuminated pyramids, leaving glowing trails that echo ancient geometry. Marc Marco Ripoll’s “Vuelo Faraonico” blends history and motion, capturing a surreal fusion of adventure, light, and timeless landscapes."

10. Adventure and extreme sports – Honorable Mention: "Magic in Motion" by Dileep SS

Close-up of cyclists riding through water and mud, with splashes frozen mid-air and wheels in motion during a race.

"Mud and water explode beneath speeding bikes as cyclists race through a rugged track, capturing raw energy and motion. Dileep SS’s “Magic in Motion” transforms a fleeting splash into a dynamic moment where speed, grit, and rhythm collide."

11. Man in the Mountain and/or Nature – Winner: "Praying with Fire" by Azim Khan Ronnie

Crowd of people performing a ritual with candles and fire at night, with one person standing in the center raising their arms.

"Surrounded by glowing flames, a crowd gathers in ritual as one figure raises arms in devotion. Azim Khan Ronnie’s “Praying with Fire” captures spiritual intensity, where light, smoke, and human connection create a powerful, almost otherworldly atmosphere."

12. Man in the Mountain and/or Nature – Honorable Mention: "Local Bus-Uyuni Salt Lake, Bolivia" by Gary Latham

A small bus driving across the vast white Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia with distant mountains on the horizon.

"A lone bus glides across the vast white expanse of Uyuni Salt Flats, dwarfed by endless space and distant mountains. Gary Latham’s image captures isolation and scale, where simplicity and stillness turn an ordinary journey into something quietly extraordinary."

13. Animal World – Honorable Mention: "Nose Up" by Michelle Valberg

Two Arctic wolves standing on rocky terrain with heads raised, appearing to sniff the air against a dark natural background.

"Two Arctic wolves stand alert on a rugged slope, noses lifted as if sensing the unseen. Michelle Valberg’s “Nose Up” captures a quiet, instinctive moment where wilderness, tension, and connection to the environment unfold in striking simplicity."

14. Animal World – Honorable Mention: "In Mother Arms" by Dvir Barkay

Close-up of a baby sloth nestled within its mother’s thick fur, blending into the texture while being held protectively.

"Hidden within thick, tangled fur, a baby sloth rests securely in its mother’s embrace, nearly blending into her body. Dvir Barkay’s “In Mother Arms” reveals tenderness and camouflage, capturing a quiet bond where protection and intimacy define survival."

15. The world of birds – Winner: "Angel of Death" by Andy Parkinson

A vulture with wings spread standing on a dead crocodile in dark water, illuminated dramatically against a black background.

"A vulture spreads its wings over a lifeless crocodile, emerging from darkness like a haunting silhouette. Andy Parkinson’s “Angel of Death” captures nature’s stark reality, where life and death intersect in a dramatic, almost mythical moment of survival."

16. The world of birds – Honorable Mention: "Golden Waves" by Zakariya Omran

A small bird standing on rippled sand dunes in a desert, with smooth flowing patterns and soft light in the background.

"A solitary bird stands atop rippled desert dunes, framed by soft, flowing lines of sand. Zakariya Omran’s “Golden Waves” transforms simplicity into elegance, where light, texture, and minimalism create a शांत, almost meditative portrait of nature’s quiet beauty."

17. Vegetal world – Winner: "Trasnparencias Otonales" by José Luis Gigirey González

Glowing mushrooms growing on a branch inside a dark hollow, illuminated with streaks of light creating a dramatic and ethereal scene.

"Glowing mushrooms emerge from darkness, illuminated like tiny lanterns against a flowing backdrop of light. José Luis Gigirey González’s “Transparencias Otonales” captures nature’s hidden magic, where delicate forms and luminous textures transform decay into an ethereal, dreamlike spectacle."

18. Vegetal world – Honorable Mention: "Chosen One" by Andrey Kuznetsov

One illuminated mushroom among many dark mushrooms, standing out in contrast against a black background.

"Amid a sea of shadowed mushrooms, one glows softly, standing apart like a quiet revelation. Andrey Kuznetsov’s “Chosen One” turns simplicity into symbolism, where contrast and light elevate a single subject into a striking visual metaphor."

19. Submerged World – Winner: "Neon Lights" by Pietro Formis

A deep-sea fish with long glowing filaments swimming in dark water, illuminated against a black background.

"A luminous deep-sea fish drifts through darkness, its trailing filaments glowing like electric threads. Pietro Formis’s “Neon Lights” captures an otherworldly elegance, where bioluminescence transforms the ocean’s depths into a surreal, floating display of light and motion."

20. Submerged World – Honorable Mention: "Paper Nautilus" by Giacomo Marchione

Close-up of a paper nautilus with intricate shell and textured body, floating in dark water against a black background.

"Delicate and alien-like, a paper nautilus reveals intricate textures and patterns against a dark backdrop. Giacomo Marchione’s image highlights fragile beauty beneath the surface, where detail, color, and form combine to showcase the ocean’s extraordinary hidden life."

21. Biodiversity and Geodiversity – Winner: "Moonlight" by Imre Potyó

A glowing moth flying in a forest at night with tall trees and moonlight illuminating branches and leaves from a low upward perspective.

"Under moonlit skies, towering trees stretch upward as a glowing moth drifts through the forest. Imre Potyó’s “Moonlight” captures a magical nocturnal scene, where light, motion, and perspective create a dreamlike encounter within nature’s quiet darkness."

22. Biodiversity and Geodiversity – Honorable Mention: "Animal World" by Shengfu Jiao

A small herd of animals walking across snowy sand dunes, leaving visible tracks in a patterned desert landscape.

"Across sweeping dunes dusted with snow, a small herd moves in rhythmic lines, leaving trails etched into the landscape. Shengfu Jiao’s image captures harmony between wildlife and terrain, where color, pattern, and movement create a striking visual narrative."

23. Nature Landscapes – Winner: "Beings of Light" by Maxime Daviron

Lightning illuminating storm clouds over the ocean at night with glowing bioluminescent waves along the shoreline under a starry sky.

"Storm clouds glow with distant lightning above a calm sea, while bioluminescent waves shimmer softly below. Maxime Daviron’s “Beings of Light” captures a rare convergence, where sky and ocean mirror each other in a mesmerizing display of natural illumination."

24. Nature Landscapes – Honorable Mention: "Olas Contra El Acantilado" by Luis Manuel Vilariño López

Eroded badlands with wave-like ridges in the foreground and a sunlit cliff in the background under soft evening light.

"Eroded ridges ripple like frozen waves across the landscape, leading toward a sunlit cliff in the distance. Luis Manuel Vilariño López’s image transforms geology into poetry, where texture, light, and form create a mesmerizing rhythm carved by time."

25. Creative Photo – Winner: "Eclipse Outlaw Chase" by Noah Wetzel

Horse riders moving across a landscape at night under a solar eclipse, with trees illuminated and a glowing sky in the background.

"Under a rare solar eclipse, riders on horseback move across a glowing landscape, blending reality with cinematic imagination. Noah Wetzel’s “Eclipse Outlaw Chase” captures a surreal fusion of light, motion, and storytelling in a strikingly dramatic scene."

26. Creative Photo – Honorable Mention: "La Volpe" by Stanislao Basileo

A lone fox walking across a snowy landscape with strong black and white contrasting patterns forming abstract stripes.

"Minimalist contrasts carve the landscape into bold black and white bands, where a lone fox moves quietly across the frame. Stanislao Basileo’s “La Volpe” transforms simplicity into storytelling, capturing movement, solitude, and design within nature’s abstract canvas."

27. Macro Picture – Winner: "The Flying Engineer" by Bidyut Kalita

A wasp flying while carrying a spider in its jaws, captured in sharp macro detail against a black background.

"A wasp hovers midair, carrying a paralyzed spider with precision and purpose. Bidyut Kalita’s “The Flying Engineer” reveals nature’s intricate engineering, where instinct, survival, and detail combine in a striking macro moment frozen in motion."

28. Macro Picture – Honorable Mention: "Snail Enjoying Sporulation" by Anirban Dutta

A small snail on a curved plant stem surrounded by floating spores illuminated against a dark background, creating a glowing, dust-like effect.

"A tiny snail glides along a curved stem as spores drift like cosmic dust around it. Anirban Dutta’s image transforms a microscopic moment into a surreal spectacle, where light, texture, and motion evoke a universe within nature."

29. Topic of the year: Rural World – Winner: "Vietnam" by Juan Zas

Women working indoors surrounded by hanging corn, processing harvested maize in a warmly lit rural setting with baskets and traditional clothing.

"Inside a warm, rustic space, rows of hanging corn glow in soft light as women work together processing the harvest. Juan Zas’s image celebrates rural life, tradition, and community, capturing a timeless rhythm of labor, culture, and shared connection."

30. Topic of the year: Rural World – Honorable Mention: "Monsoon Moods in Rural Bengal" by Pranab Basak

Children playing in heavy rain, using banana leaves as umbrellas, smiling and crouching together in a muddy rural setting.

"Children laugh and huddle together under banana leaves as monsoon rain pours down around them. Pranab Basak’s image captures pure joy in simplicity, where rain becomes play, and everyday moments transform into vibrant expressions of childhood and rural life."

31. Young Photographers – Honorable Mention: "Peleas En Las Atlas Cumbres" by Diego Moreno Carballo

Two mountain ibex fighting on rocky terrain, one rearing up while the other stands firm against a misty mountain background.

"High in rugged mountain terrain, two ibex clash in a dramatic display of strength and dominance. Diego Moreno Carballo’s image captures raw energy and tension, where nature’s instinct unfolds against a backdrop of mist, rock, and wild elevation."

32. Young Photographers – Honorable Mention: "Woodbird" by Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco

A small blue and yellow bird perched on a large textured tree trunk with light snow falling in a soft, blurred background.

"A tiny bird perches against a massive, textured tree trunk as soft snow drifts through the air. Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco’s image contrasts scale and delicacy, where color, detail, and quiet atmosphere create a serene winter moment."

FAQs

What are the Memorial Maria Luisa Awards?

The Memorial Maria Luisa Awards is an international contest that celebrates the best in mountain, nature, and adventure photography and video. Each year, photographers from around the world share their most powerful stories and breathtaking images, hoping to be recognized for both creative vision and technical skill across a variety of categories.

Who won the 2026 Absolute Prize?

This year’s Absolute Prize went to Canadian photographer Christoph Fischer for his striking photo, "Fearless." The image shows two antelopes holding their ground amid a desert storm, a powerful symbol of resilience, survival, and the untamed force of nature.

How many entries were submitted in 2026?

In 2026, the contest attracted an incredible 18,059 photos and 182 films submitted by 1,450 photographers from 78 countries. This made it one of the most competitive and diverse years in the award’s history.

Who won the Young Photographer Award in 2026?

The Young Photographer Award went to Lubin Godin of France, whose photo "Dermoeres Lueurs" features a mountain goat poised on a cliff. The image stands out for its beautiful lighting and composition, capturing both the tension and grace of nature in a single frame.

What makes this contest unique?

What sets this contest apart is its deep appreciation for the drama, beauty, and adventure found in the natural world. By combining high technical standards with heartfelt storytelling, the Memorial Maria Luisa Awards brings together a collection of images that truly celebrate the wild and wonderful spirit of nature.

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