The local press featured one of the “Commended” photos of the “Drone Photo Awards 2023” last week because it depicts an aerial photo of Lanzarote’s famous vineyards.
The “Drone Photo Awards” is one of the photo contests with the highest international participation ever, with nearly 14.000 images from amateur and professional photographers from 104 countries worldwide. The awards are given in 9 different categories: Urban, Wildlife, Sport, People, Nature, Abstract, Wedding, Series and Video. For each category there is a 1st Classified, a Runner Up and then some Highly Commended and then some more Commended winners.
The winning photo featured in the local press is titled “La Gueria [sic]” which is obviously a typo, as it should be “La Geria”, our beloved wine region. This photo got its commendation in the Abstract category. The photo’s footnote reads:
“On the volcanic island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, farmers have managed to produce one of the most recognized wines in Spain, due to the strong prevailing winds and to collect the maximum amount of moisture, they make circular holes in the volcanic soil to protect the vineyards.”
The photographer is Carlos Solinis Camalich, a Canarian Landscape and Night Photography photographer who currently lives between the islands of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria but who, despite of living in one of the most beautiful places on the planet (his own words), doesn’t hesitate to travel as often as he can in search of unique places and moments. Over the years he has been able to visit incredible places in Spain, Chile, England, Italy, Austria or Iceland.
Although he doesn’t have a direct connection with Lanzarote, he has been to our island on several occasions for different reasons, including taking photographs of course. He admits: “Lanzarote has unique landscapes. It’s wonderful”.
You can follow Carlos’ photography on his Instagram @carlossolinisk.
The awards were announced at the end of June and our remarkable landscape feature in another category too, Wedding:
“Road among nothing” by Krzysztof Krawczyk. The photo’s footnote reads:
“Amazing place… Lanzarote – an island in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the Canary Islands archipelago. Beautiful place- the road between the harsh climate of the island. Amazing slow sunrise and only two people among nothing. Volcanic island painted with the first rays of the sun.”
The Polish photographer, who is one of the top 3 wedding photographers in his country according to MyWed, has only been to Lanzarote once for a wedding session. When I asked him if he would consider returning, his answer was a resounding “Absolutely yes!” He continued by saying: “[Lanzarote] is an amazing place that has a lot to offer – the island’s harsh climate, very ‘nostalgic’ with exceptional sites. I was most impressed by the bird’s eye view of the vineyards and that ubiquitous muted colour”
It’s also worth noting that Krzysztof has also been awarded as the 1st classified with “Swim in the stars”, Highly commended with “Abstraction in ferns” and Commended with “Sleep in the Dead Sea” photos on this same category, although these were not shot in Lanzarote.
Finally, a selection of the winning photos can be seen until the 19th of November 2023 in Siena (Italy) on the “Above us Only Sky” exhibition.
Our congratulations to Carlos and Krzysztof and all the other winning photographers, of course!
You can check all the stunning winning photos here: Drone Awards 2023.
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