MULTI-AWARD-
WINNING ETHEREAL
AERIAL
ABSTRACT
PHOTOGRAPHY
MULTI-AWARD-
WINNING ETHEREAL
AERIAL
ABSTRACT
PHOTOGRAPHY
STEVEN’S STORY
Field of Dreams Exhibition, Sydney
With over 110 international photography awards and countless nominations and honourable mentions, it isn’t hard to see why Manolakis’s art graces homes and businesses worldwide. His love affair with aerial photography started when he first laid eyes on Brooke Holm's iconic aerial work, Salt and Sky, capturing Western Australia's delicate pastel salt fields.
When he learned that these images were not in fact paintings, but photographs, Manolakis was intrigued. He went on to record his first fine artworks, including The Shimmer and Physis, over Western Australia’s Shark Bay in 2018 – and the rest is history in motion.
Shark Bay, "The Shimmer" and "Physis"
INDIVIDUALITY
In a world and industry filled with thousands of similar photographers and analogous art, Manolakis is relentless in pursuit of individuality. It isn’t uncommon for him to capture hundreds of images in search of the sole gem – the one and only piece he will expose to the scrutiny of the global art community. Manolakis feels a deep connection to his work and will not record a moment unless he feels it is right.
Fine art aerial photography is Manolakis’s greatest passion, which is why he is obsessed with perfection. Every click of the shutter button occurs on no less than Manolakis’ Phase One XF IQ4 150MP Camera System – the highest resolution medium format camera on the commercial market.
DRENCHED IN MEANING
Untethered
In Manolakis’ “meta” collection, you’ll find glimpses of Australia’s largely uninhabited expanse of ochre soil (of which he brings home a jar each time). Each final art piece represents a compositional moment of seamless abstraction that transcends normalcy and unlocks a near-ethereal point of view.
© Jassen Todorov
But the physical landscape representation is merely a fraction of the story. Inspired by the quantum notions of the Existentialist philosophers, each Manolakis piece tells an elaborate tale of human emotion, unrequited affection, longing, and the vastness of space within and around us. He invites his global audience to transcend the surface of his fine art aerial photography, in search of the philosophical meaning buried within each intricate interconnected visual mosaic.
© Jassen Todorov
EAGER TO DEEPEN
Manolakis remains humble and hungry to deepen and broaden his worldview. Even with over 110 international laudations under his belt, this fine art aerial landscape photographer remains a student in Philosophy at Sydney’s Macquarie University.
When he’s not studying, Manolakis can be found soaring the skies in helicopters or small bush planes, adding to his collection of winning placements, honourable mentions, nominations, and shortlistings. This includes being a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 Head On Photo Awards, a Finalist in the 2020 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition, as well as receiving the title of Remarkable Artwork in the 2022 Siena Awards.
Steven's latest awards
Main Partners
[4]
Awards [57]
10th Annual Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA)
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Neuron, Nominee, Seascape
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Serpentine, Nominee, Landscape
12th Annual International Color Awards
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Bloodless, Nominee, Aerial
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Contentment, Nominee, Aerial
13th Annual International Color Awards
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Blue Dragon, Nominee, Aerial
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Cascade, Nominee, Aerial
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Displace, Nominee, Aerial
International Photography Awards
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Shark Bay Series, Honourable Mention, Nature - Landscapes
London International Creative Competition
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Shark Bay Aerial Series, Shortlist, Photography
Tokyo International Foto Awards
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Shark Bay Aerial Series, Bronze, Nature - Aerial
5th Annual Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA)
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Shark Bay Series I, Nominee, Nature
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Shark Bay Series II, Nominee, Nature
6th Annual Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA)
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Beautiful Australia (series), Nominee, Landscape
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Beautiful Australia Part II (series), Nominee, Nature
8th Annual Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA)
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The Kimberley (series), Nominee, Seascape
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The Kimberley II (series), Nominee, Nature
9th Annual Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA)
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Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (series), Nominee, Abstract – Landscape
9th International Imaging Competition
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Still, 2nd Place (93.62 score), Australia Gold Cup, Aerial or Drone - Fine Art Category
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Still, #32, Top 100, Aerial or Drone - Fine Art Category
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Neuron, Gold, Aerial or Drone - Fine Art Category
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Still, Gold, Aerial or Drone - Fine Art Category
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Broken Moon, Silver, Aerial or Drone - Fine Art Category
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Untethered, Silver, Aerial or Drone - Fine Art Category
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Delta, Bronze, Aerial or Drone - Fine Art Category
Mirror, Mirror
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Agora Gallery, New York, NY, United States
Australasia’s Top Emerging Photographers
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Archetypal, Top 20, Single Shot
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Accentuate, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Blue Dragon, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Causal Loop, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Delicate, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Dissociate, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Hope (Despair) (series), Highly Commended, Landscape
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The Kimberley (series), Highly Commended, Landscape
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Lament, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Neuron, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Pink Twist (renamed Twisted), Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Still, Highly Commended, Single Shot
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Iridescent, Commended, Single Shot
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
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Blue Dragon, Finalist, Landscape
Australian Photographic Prize
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Neuron, Semi-Finalist, Digital Photographer
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Untethered, Semi-Finalist, Digital Photographer
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Physis, Semi-Finalist, Digital Photographer
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Blue Dragon, Commended, Digital Photographer
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Chance, Commended, Digital Photographer
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Delicate, Commended, Digital Photographer
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Dissociate, Commended, Digital Photographer
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Germinate, Commended, Digital Photographer
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Release, Commended, Digital Photographer
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The Shimmer, Commended, Digital Photographer
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Still, Commended, Digital Photographer
Australian Photography
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'The Kimberley' (series) was published on page 52 in the February 2022 issue of Australian Photography
Australian Photography Awards
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Broken Moon, Shortlist, Student Category
Australian Photography POTY
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The Kimberley (series), Top 10, Aerial
Australian Photography POTY
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Broken Moon, Commended, Single Shot
Capture
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'Archetypal' was published on page 42 in the May-July edition of Capture magazine
Chromatic Photography Awards
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Archetypal, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Blue Dragon, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Gilded River, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Physis, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Transfusion, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
Chromatic Photography Awards
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Delta, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Germinate, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Lament, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Neuron, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Still, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
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Untethered, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
Chromatic Photography Awards
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Broken Moon, Honourable Mention, Landscapes
Creative Communication Award
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Beautiful Australia (series), Best of Best, Photography - Landscape
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Beautiful Australia (series), Best of Best, Photography - Nature
Creative Communication Award
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The Kimberley (series), Best of Best, Photography - Landscape
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The Kimberley (series), Best of Best, Photography - Nature
Creative Communication Award
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Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (series), Best of Best, Photography – Landscape
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Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (series), Winner, Photography – Nature
Creative Communication Award
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Broken Moon, Best of Best, Landscape
Field of Dreams
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Studio 551, Newtown, NSW, Australia
Head On Photo Awards
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Neuron, Semi-finalist, Landscape Awards
Independent Photographer April Landscape Theme Competition
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The Shimmer, Honorary Mention (3rd position)
Independent Photographer April Landscape Theme Competition
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Oblivion, 3rd Prize
Independent Photographer January Color Theme Competition
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Orange Sea Lake (renamed Burnt Orange), Finalist
International Photography Awards
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Beautiful Australia (series), Fine Art - Landscape
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Beautiful Australia (series), Nature - Aerial / Drone
International Photography Awards
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The Kimberley II (series), Honourable Mention, Fine Art - Abstract
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The Kimberley II (series), Honourable Mention, Nature - Landscape
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The Kimberley II (series), Honourable Mention, Fine Art - Landscape
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Chance, Honourable Mention, Fine Art - Landscape
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The Whitsundays (series), Honourable Mention, Fine Art - Landscape
International Photography Awards
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Delta, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Germinate, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (series), Official Selection, Nature – Landscape
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Lament, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Neuron, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Physis, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Physis, Official Selection, Nature – Landscape
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Still, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Varnish, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
International Photography Awards
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Broken Moon, Honourable Mention, Nature - Aerial / Drone
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Broken Moon, Official Selection, Nature - Aerial / Drone
IPA One Shot Photo Contest: Color
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Gilded River, Official Selection, Nature
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The Shimmer, Official Selection, Nature
L'Œil de la Photographie
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'The Kimberley' was published in the January 15th edition of Weekend Portfolios
London International Creative Competition
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Beautiful Australia (series), Honourable Mention, Photography
London International Creative Competition
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The Kimberley (series), Finalist, SHOOT (photo/video)
Moscow International Foto Awards
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Iceland Aerial Series, Silver, Subcategory Winner Fine Art - Abstract
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Iceland Aerial Series, Bronze, Subcategory Winner Nature - Aerial
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Shark Bay Aerial Series, Bronze, Subcategory Winner Nature - Aerial
Moscow International Foto Awards
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The Kimberley (series), Silver, Subcategory Winner, Nature - Aerial
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The Kimberley (series), Bronze, Subcategory Winner, Fine Art - Landscape
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Chance, Honourable Mention, Fine Art - Abstract
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Chance, Honourable Mention, Nature - Aerial
Moscow International Foto Awards
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Germinate, Bronze, Fine Art – Landscape
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Physis, Bronze, Nature – Aerial
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Crescent, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Delicate, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Hope-Despair, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Lament, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Nausea, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Neuron, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Release, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Tail, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Unthethered, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Varnish, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
Muse Photography Awards
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The Kimberley (series), Platinum, Fine Art Photography – Nature
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Neuron, Platinum, Fine Art Photography – Landscape
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The Kimberley (series), Gold, Fine Art Photography – Landscape
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Lament, Gold, Fine Art Photography – Landscape
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Varnish, Silver, Fine Art Photography – Landscape
ND Awards
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Iceland Aerial Series, Honorable Mention, Nature - Aerial
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Shark Bay Aerial Series, Honorable Mention, Nature - Aerial
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Shark Bay Series, Honorable Mention, Fine Art - Abstract
ND Awards
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Beautiful Australia (series), Honourable Mention, Nature - Aerial
ND Awards
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The Kimberley (series), Honourable Mention, Nature - Aerial
ND Awards
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Neuron, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Ode, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
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Yearning, Honourable Mention, Fine Art – Landscape
Prix De La Photographie Paris
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Blue Dragon, Honourable Mention, Nature – Landscape
Siena Photo Awards
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Neuron, Remarkable Artwork, The Beauty of Nature
Fusion Art 2nd International Photography Competition
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Burnt Orange, 3rd Place
The Capture Awards
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Broken Moon, Commended, Landscape and Environment
The Chelsea International Photography Competition
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Untethered, Cash Prize Winner
The Landscape Awards
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Dissociate, Highly Commended, Seascape
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Lament, Highly Commended, Seascape
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Neuron, Highly Commended, Seascape
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Release, Highly Commended, Seascape
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Germinate, Commended, Seascape
The Motif Collective December Minimalism Theme
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Still, Shortlisted
The Motif Collective February Landscape Theme
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Blue Dragon, Shortlisted
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Hope-Despair, Shortlisted
Tokyo International Foto Awards
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The Kimberley (series), Bronze, Official Selection, Nature – Aerial
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Delicate, Honourable Mention, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Accentuate, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Hope-Despair, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
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Still, Official Selection, Fine Art – Landscape
