George Lindblade, long-time Sioux City media photographer and filmmaker, talks about the changes in the city’s media landscape. He declined to go on the record with his best stories, saying that most of the quintessential stories of Sioux City’s media are “X-rated or XXX-rated.”

Tim Hynds

Visuals Editor

Follow Tim Hynds

Close

Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Close

Followed notifications

Please log in to use this feature

Log In

#lee-rev-content { margin:0 -5px; }
#lee-rev-content h3 {
font-family: inherit!important;
font-weight: 700!important;
border-left: 8px solid var(–lee-blox-link-color);
text-indent: 7px;
font-size: 24px!important;
line-height: 24px;
}
#lee-rev-content .rc-provider {
font-family: inherit!important;
}
#lee-rev-content h4 {
line-height: 24px!important;
font-family: “serif-ds”,Times,”Times New Roman”,serif!important;
margin-top: 10px!important;
}
@media (max-width: 991px) {
#lee-rev-content h3 {
font-size: 18px!important;
line-height: 18px;
}
}

The Nature Photography Contest has just announced its inaugural list of winners. The new international photography competition is open to professional and amateur photographers from around the world.

The winners from each category receive cash prizes and the winner of Photographer of the Year will also choose a location to plant trees, one for every participant’s entry in the competition, in collaboration with One Tree Planted. 

Scroll below to see the winners of the 2023 Nature Photography Contest.

Photography Of The Year 

Sea Lion in Los Islotes – Glenn Ostle

“A sea lion stops to pose for the camera before diving through the large schools of fish that surround the islets of Los Islotes close to LaPaz, Mexico.”

Category Winners

Natural Landscape 

Marek Biegalski – Burning Flower 

“One of my favorite things when exploring Iceland is the incredible glacial river perspective seen from up high. They’re called ‘braided river’ systems, as they often resemble an intricate jumble of patterns, intertwining in an almost inexplicable fashion.”

Wildlife

Soumya Ranjan Bhattacharyya – Stories in the Sand

“The scorpion is widely distributed across various terrains in India. In Jaisalmer once the evening falls, the scorpions emerge across the dunes to feed for the night. I shot this image of the scorpion in the sand dunes at Jaisalmer. The scorpion, when lighted by faint UV light, emits bright blue luminescence from its body.”

Macrophotography

Adrian Truchta – The Dreamer – Philaeus chrysops.

“Morning dew, sun, and a beautiful Philaeus chrysops female walking around her nest. Photo shot in a natural environment with natural light.”

Underwater

家 住 Tangle.

“Larval moray eel when feeling threatened”

Birds

Alessio Calviani- Puffin in Iceland.

“Puffin walking on the cliff in Iceland”

Plant Life

Marcio Cabral – Pandora.

“This panorama shows the beauty of Chapada dos Veadeiros, a Brazilian national park that hosts a rich biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes.”

Night World

Marc Marco – Los arcos y la cueva.

“Panoramic night photograph in which I could capture the arch of the Milky Way passing behind the natural arch called Es Pontàs. In the photograph I could also capture a small cave in front of the arch.”

Environmental impact

Muhammad Hossain- Fatigue Sleep.

“Many homeless people in Bangladesh have lost their homes and properties due to frequent floods, river erosion, and other natural calamities.” 

Sharing the Planet

Alain Schroeder- Saving Orangutans 01.

“Sibolangit, SOCP Quarantine Centre, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The whole SOCP team works together to prepare Brenda, an estimated 3-month-old female orangutan (she has no teeth yet), for surgery. A sedative is administered, the arm is shaved, her temperature is taken, while others hold her head or her hand out of compassion for the baby.”

Funny Nature

Panisara Sripratoom – Monday.

“A spotted owlet (Athene brama) emerging from a hollow within a yellow flame tree situated in the university campus. This species of owl is characterized by its small size, primarily nocturnal feeding behavior, and frequent occurrence in urban environments.” 

Photographer of the Year 

The Photographer of the Year 2023 award went to Alain Schroeder. He was also the winner of the powerful orangutan image in the Sharing The Planet category. The judges shared that Alain’s photographs stood out for his “talent and versatility” and for his commitment to the environment. 

Learn more about adventure photography techniques. 

You can see more of the finalists on the Nature Photography Contest website. 

“Our Everyday” by Billy Dinh. 1st Place.
“Everyday street scene captured in Kolkata, India in 2022.”

Street photographer Billy Dinh won The Independent Photographer‘s People Photography Award. His street scene taken in Kolkata, India, captured the attention of acclaimed photographer Michael Yamashita, who judged the competition. Yamashita, who has worked with National Geographic for over four decades, handpicked the 10 winners and finalists.

“This frame is compositionally strong and complex with well–organized people placement centered around the yellow taxi and perfectly timed to capture a real street moment,” he says of Dinh’s winning photo. “The eye moves around the frame, taking in the different layers, windows, shapes, colors, and expressions. It’s a good instant-read but leaves you wanting to spend more time with it. I love the man covered in soap and those toes. It begs the question and leaves you wondering, what’s going on here?”

The competition is one of 12 monthly awards that are handed out by The Independent Photographer. For the organization, the people theme is a way to explore diverse cultures and celebrate the multifaceted beauty of humanity. And this goal certainly shines through in all of the winners and finalists.

Bangladesh, Pakistan, North Korea, and Mongolia are just some of the countries represented in the winning photographs. The photographers honed in on everything from athletics to sacred rituals to traditional hunting and fishing practices. And in doing so, they are each helping the public understand a bit more about the world.

See more of the top images and finalists below, and if you’re up for it, try your own hand at one of The Independent Photographer’s contests. The January contest, Black & White, is now accepting entries until January 31, 2024, with the winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize.

See all the winners and finalists of The Independent Photographer’s People Photography Award.

“Baka and his Eagle” by Diana Barthauer. 3rd Place.
“This is Baka, a young eagle hunter. Like most people living in rural Mongolia, the eagle hunters are nomads. To send their children to school, nomadic families keep a townhome, where they spend winters and then spend summer roaming the countryside. Many educated young Mongolians are moving to the cities in search of better job prospects. Baka, however, is an exception. When we were visiting his family, he proudly told us that he had dropped out of school and was planning to focus entirely on eagle hunting.”

“Devotion” by Ashraful Arefin. 2nd Place.
“Hindu devotees lit butter lamps and incense during Rakher Upobash festival in Narayanganj, Bangladesh. Rakher Upobash, also known as Kartik Brata, is a sacred ritual observed by the Bengali Hindu community. It takes place on the last day of the Bengali month of Kartik, where devotees fast from dawn till dusk, offering prayers to Lord Krishna and seeking blessings for their families’ well-being.”

“Daughter of an Evenki reindeer herder” by Natalya Saprunova. Finalist.
“All the values of the Evenki people are related to the reindeer: the nomadic lifestyle, their esoteric beliefs, household items, traditional clothes, cooking, and any number of sayings such as: “As long as the reindeer live, so do the Evenki people. The Evenki have a history of bartering fur from reindeer and hunted animals; the patterns of traditional Evenki costumes are inspired by nature.”

“Praying Sadhu” by Sergio Volani. Finalist.
“At dawn, in the Ghats along the Ganges River, sacred to Hindus, this sadhu recited his prayers while a dog watched in amazement.

“Taekwando” by Alain Schroeder. Finalist.
“At the Taekwando Palace in Pyongyang, a group of athletes simultaneously execute a tul, a series of offensive and defensive techniques against one or several virtual adversaries. In the foreground, stacks of tiles and (30 x 30 cm) pieces of wood that the athletes will break with their hands and feet in order to demonstrate kyok-pa, the art of breaking boards, bricks, and tiles.”

The winners were hand-selected by National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita, who judged the contest.

“Salis” by Jacopo Della Valle. Finalist.
“The Bajau, also known as the sea gypsies, are indigenous seafaring people who live in the Southeast Asian seas. They are stateless people and live closely linked to the sea, in small wooden stilt houses built on shallow waters. Salis is a Bajau fisherman who took me to the seaside villages showing me their traditional way of life. Bajau are dedicated exclusively to fishing activities, up to 8 hours a day, and they go ashore only to trade their catch or seek shelter during storms.”

“Boys with flute kite” by Phong Nyugen. Finalist.
“After swimming in Bodhisattva pond, five boys are holding their kite before a heavy rain in Hanoi, Vietnam.”

“Working in Brick Klins” by F.dilek Yurdakul. Finalist.
“Brick Kilns in Southeast Asia are notable for causing environmental pollution, violating children’s rights, and working conditions that violate the most basic of human rights. Soot and harmful gases from the factory chimneys fill the air. Without respiratory masks, the polluted air finds its way straight to the lungs.”

“Cultural Reverence” by Thibault Gerbaldi. Finalist.
“Captured in Pampallacta, within a local farmer community, this photo immortalizes the alpaca blessing ceremony. I was deeply moved by the patriarch of the welcoming family, standing proudly in reference to his tradition, particularly during this ancient ritual. The black and white composition, I believe, enhances the timeless essence of these traditions, making the shot a timeless representation of cultural heritage.

The Independent Photographer: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by The Independent Photographer.

Related Articles:

Heartwarming Winners of the 2023 Dog Photography Awards

Independent Photographer Magazine Awards Best Landscape Imagery

2023 Minimalist Photography Awards Celebrate the Beauty of Simplicity

Global Street Photography Contest Honors Photographers Capturing Slice-of-Life Snapshots

In 2023, I traveled extensively, frequently visiting cities and discovering new countries and cultures. Despite all my travel being within the EU, I feel like I’ve learned a great deal. I will share all my travel insights in this article.

Introduction

Ah, travel – don’t we just love to go out and explore new places? Sure, we do, especially on holidays. However, traveling for work is way more common than traveling for leisure in my life. In fact, I can’t say I traveled for leisure in 2023 at all. Besides going down to a few cities in Hungary for a few days, the rest has been for work reasons. In 2023, I crossed borders in all ways possible, except on foot: airplane, sea, train, car. Each trip was like no other, and I experimented with bringing little to no kit to bringing several lights, stands, and the rest of it. Here are my findings and the things I will be implementing in 2024.

Kit To Bring

Starting with the kit, assuming most photographers will find that most interesting. As a photographer working with off-camera lighting a lot, I must bring a flash. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I normally take two camera bodies and two lenses: my primary Canon 5DS body and a backup Canon 5D Mark IV. As for lenses, I take the 24-70mm f/2.8 and rarely a 16-35mm f/2.8. Recently, I was lucky enough to get a 50mm f/1.4, which will be replacing my 24-70mm f/2.8. I learned that I can cut down on what I bring. While I want redundancy in my setup, two camera bodies and a 50mm f/1.4 are all I need. Regarding flash and modifiers, I experimented with bringing a single A1, a B2, and a B1X. Of the three, the one I liked the most was the B2, as it is lightweight and can fulfill many tasks. However, the pack and head system means more footprint on location. For this reason, I will be bringing the B1X. Modifier-wise, a Magnum reflector and a 3’ Octa will do most jobs. If there is not enough space for an Octa, an OCF dish can comfortably provide similar lighting. Things such as a laptop, tether cable, drives, and other small bits are to stay.

When traveling, you need to keep your kit to a minimum. If space is tight, settle on taking a single camera, lens, speedlight, tether cable, and an SSD. You can really do most work with that setup. If space is less of a problem, grab a bigger light, but don’t take several. Chances are, whatever you are shooting can be done with a single good battery-powered strobe. While I can’t speak for camera and lens brands, I can speak for lights. Having traveled with my Profoto lights far and wide, they work just fine. I am not afraid to break anything if my bag bumps against a train step. The same with modifiers: the 3’ octa has been assembled and broken down hundreds of times, and it holds up like it was bought yesterday. While some readers will go against me and say that I am sponsored or paid by Profoto to say this, this simply isn’t true. I have bought my lights and have made a conscious choice to use that brand. I will switch as soon as there is something better, trust me. There just isn’t anything better.

Organizing Shoots in Foreign Markets

Organizing shoots in foreign cities can be quite a challenge as you want to find interesting people to photograph or ways you can photograph various important events. This comes with outreach. Around a month before your trip, start reaching out to people in the city you will be visiting and try to set up a shoot. This can be done via looking at hashtags on Instagram, but an even better way would be to find a few key photographers working in that market and then seeing the team credits. Follow the team, and voila, you now have a small list of possible collaborators. From then on, it becomes easy, as local people can be very helpful in finding cool locations, etc.

Networking

Travel inevitably involves networking. I won’t spend much on this point as I cover it extensively in another article, but I do want to say this. Batch meetings, dinners, possibly even relevant events. While an hour-long meeting with generally shallow conversation may not seem like the best way to spend time in a new city, it can lead to some promising jobs. Who knows, maybe the next time you will be visiting that city, you will be flown in.

Safety 

When you travel, you are inevitably taking tens of thousands of dollars of gear with you. I recommend packing your bags in a way that makes it hard for possible criminals to get inside them. Another great safety measure is AirTags. You can get a pack of five and put them in various bags that you will be bringing. I can only wish for photography brands to start implementing this technology into their products. One can simply dump the bag itself and take the contents. I advise against checked baggage. It is best to take your most precious possessions on board and keep an eye on them. If you really have to put your bag underneath yourself, use AirTags and have contingency plans in case it gets lost. When going by train or bus, keep your bags over your head. Should you have a large bag that the driver won’t allow inside, put it under the bus, but from the opposite side. Typically, you’d place your luggage on the same side as you’re entering. If someone exits at a stop, they will have all the chances to steal your stuff if it’s there. By placing it on the other side, you are making it much more difficult.

In Hotel Rooms

In hotel rooms, I keep my gear in a bag and then hide the bag someplace. Under the bed is an obvious one, so don’t put it there. One way is inside a sofa, another is in one of the little kitchen cabinets, and so on. Once again, AirTags are your friend. If you are extra paranoid, you can hide your gear but leave the bag with various small items out. Should someone want to take your gear, they will grab the first thing they see: your bag. Always check you locked the door and take other obvious precautions. I always take my laptop with me, as the data stored on it is what’s most precious to me. Should it get stolen, I would lose passwords, the ability to work, and many more other things.

On The Street

All camera bags I had were the ones that lock from the back. This way, the only way to access the camera compartment is by taking the bag off and then taking the gear out. This is the safest way. When in London, Paris, or Barcelona, you might be a victim of pickpockets. I generally put my passport, phone, keys, money, and so on inside the bag with all the cameras and have them on my person at all times. Your phone should be in your inside breast pocket, with the garment zipped up. This is not a 100% way to stay protected, but it will stop most pickpockets.