The night sky is an endless wonder and has long inspired photographers to capture its swirling beauty. For the past four years, Basel-based photographer Benjamin Barakat has been snapping gorgeous pictures of the night sky among stunning backdrops. Vibrant purples and electric oranges bring the Earth’s otherwise sleepy landscape to life. And now, he’s sharing his passion for this subject with others by showing them how to shoot their own astrophotography.

Travel is an important component of Barakat’s images. “Being half-Lebanese,” he tells My Modern Met, “my goal has been to explore the Middle East more and share awareness of the beautiful landscapes to encourage others to visit these places.” The country of Jordan is of particular interest to him, and he’s traveled to sites like Petra and Wadi Run.

“Petra is what first attracted me to Jordan,” he shares, “and it was a wish of mine to capture it under the night sky. Getting in during closing hours to one of the Seven Wonders of the World isn’t easy, so I had to build a relationship with the local Bedouin people to gain such access.”

Wadi Rum has dark skies that make it perfect for landscape photography. “I spent just over a year planning with locals to geotag all of the spots in my collection of images before capturing them all,” the photographer explains.

If you’d like to learn how to become an astrophotographer, Barakat will show you how. He has tours and workshops scheduled for 2023 that will take you to Egpyt, Bolivia, and more.

The night sky is an endless wonder and has long inspired photographers to capture its swirling beauty.

For the past four years, Basel-based photographer Benjamin Barakat has been snapping gorgeous pictures of the night sky among stunning backdrops.

Travel is an important component of Barakat’s images.

“Being half-Lebanese,” he tells My Modern Met, “my goal has been to explore the Middle East more and share awareness of the beautiful landscapes to encourage others to visit these places.”

The country of Jordan is of particular interest to him, and he’s traveled to sites like Petra and Wadi Run.

Benjamin Barakat: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Benjamin Barakat.

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READ: Electrifying Astrophotography Captures Gorgeous Night Sky Over the Middle East

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If you walk into almost any kitchen around the world, one item you are sure to find is salt. But while this common household item is used daily, most of us give little thought to where it comes from. This is where photographer Tom Hegen comes in. For many years he has been taking aerial photos of salt ponds around the world. And now, he's collected the abstract visuals into a new book, aptly titled Salt Works.

Hegen's series of images focusing on salt basins spun out of a project on the industrial scars that man has left on our planet. “We have left our marks on the earth's surface in order to meet our daily needs,” Hegen told My Modern Met in 2018. “I am trying to sensitize the viewer for those subjects by taking a look at the extraordinary forces impacting our environment.”

While the results are visually striking, it is also important to remember that these are not natural landscapes. Created by salt mining, they take on an otherwordly feel. The colors and geometry are striking but are also a manipulation. Through Hegen's lens, they seem to blur the line and become almost painterly.

“These abstract structures are a school for our understanding of vision. Viewers have to get involved with the perspective and complex scenarios,” shares Hegen. “They have to learn to read and decipher the images in order to understand what they are seeing. This engagement ensures that the images will remain in one’s memory for longer.”

Salt Works is divided into seven chapters with 167 color photographs. Each chapter provides background information about the production sites and three essays written by experts in the fields of salt, Anthropocene, and art history to give additional context to the images.

The standard and collector's edition of Salt Works is available on the photographer's website and selected bookshops.

German photographer Tom Hegen has been taking aerial photos of salt basins for several years.

These abstract landscapes blur the line between photography and painting.

Hegen's new book Salt Works pulls together over 160 color photos and essays by experts in the field.

Tom Hegen: Website | Instagram | Behance 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Tom Hegen.

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READ: Aerial Photos Capture the Abstract Beauty of Salt Ponds

“Lycopersicum III” © Uli Westphal 2013

At your local supermarket or grocery store, you can expect to find typical produce like tomatoes and peppers that all look about the same. So why are “ugly” fruits and vegetables excluded? German artist Uli Westphal became interested in this question after visiting local street markets in Berlin, finding an abundance of irregular produce for the first time. This encounter ultimately prompted his ongoing series of flat-lay photographs entitled the Cultivar Series, which highlights crop diversity that is frequently neglected.

Each image from the project showcases a single species or crop type and its cultivated variations, arranged by color and shape into large ovals. Pears, potatoes, peppers, and more are seen in a multitude of shapes and hues. “I try to rediscover and document the biodiversity that is excluded from the commercial markets,” Westphal says. “At a certain point, I started to realize that it is not only the natural occurrence of morphological irregularities in the growth of single plant varieties that is being suppressed and filtered out by our food system. In fact, only a tiny fraction of high-yielding, ‘good-looking' varieties are being grown and distributed today, even though there are literally thousands of varieties of any domesticated fruit or vegetable.”

You can purchase prints of Westphal's photos via his website, and keep up to date with the artist's latest work by following him on Instagram.

German artist Uli Westphal highlights biodiversity in his series of flat-lay photos.

“Zea mays II” © Uli Westphal 2022

The ongoing project, titled Cultivar Series, features arrangements of irregular produce.

“Solanum tuberosum II” © Uli Westphal 2020

“Purus I” © Uli Westphal 2018

The fruits and vegetables featured in the photos are not what is seen in supermarkets.

“Capsicum I” © Uli Westphal 2016

“Cucurbita I” © Uli Westphal 2014

“Cucumis sativus I” © Uli Westphal 2014

“Brassica oleracea I” © Uli Westphal 2018

“Phaseolus vulgaris I” © Uli Westphal 2013

Uli Westphal: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Uli Westphal.

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Scottish photographer Nick Sidle loves the creative opportunities that aerial photography provides. And in recent years, he's become a fan of drone photography, which provides more flexibility than having to organize shoots from airplanes or helicopters. His success in the field is exemplified by a recent image, in which he captured a rare full-circle rainbow.

Sidle was up at dawn taking photos in the Scottish Highlands when the opportunity presented itself. “Although, in theory, all rainbows optically are full circles, the true full circle phenomenon I have been told is rarely seen,” he tells My Modern Met. “From the ground, this rainbow although appearing closer than average, only looked like the usual half-circle. Watching the feed from the drone as it climbed steadily, the lower half was revealed. Personally, this was a first, even from the air I had never seen a full circle, full-scale rainbow.”

As the rainbow was so close, it wasn't possible to fit it all into one shot. Not wanting to risk breaking the illusion by changing the angle or losing the view through the clouds, Sidle made the decision to take multiple images. Later, using Photoshop's Photomerge command, he sewed together 22 photos to create the final image.

So why are full-circle rainbows so rare? As it's an optical illusion, several factors need to line up for the circle rainbow to come into view. Rainbows form when sunlight is scattered through water droplets in a phenomenon called refraction. This breaks up the light into different colors. In order to see the part of the rainbow on the ground—the other half of the circle—we would need to see water droplets below the horizon. As that's not possible, rainbows almost always appear as arcs.

To see a true full-circle rainbow, you need to be up high. In fact, it's most often pilots that observe the entire circle, as their high altitude and large viewing window are ideal. They can also be viewed from very tall buildings or, in this case, from a drone. In fact, Sidle only saw the arc from his perspective on the ground. It was all thanks to drone technology that he then got a view of something even more special.

Nick Sidle: Website | Flickr

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nick Sidle.

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A female puma, surrounded by her cubs, ever on the lookout for prey in the Chilean Patagonia. Contributed by Angela Ambrosini (Photo: Angela Ambrosini/Panthera)

The world’s leading wild cat conservation organization, Panthera, is celebrating progress in saving these animals and their habitats by releasing its first annual Picture Purrfect list. This list highlights the 22 best camera trap and professional images from 2022 that showcase wild cats, their threats, the beautiful ecosystems they call home, the challenges of life and conservation in the field, and the courageous scientists and rangers working to protect them.

Founded in 2006, Panthera operates in 39 countries to reduce or eliminate the most pressing threats to cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards, tigers, and the 33 small cat species. The images on the Picture Purrfect list reflect their incredible projects in different countries.

From a female puma surrounded by her cubs in the Chilean Patagonia to the collaring of a jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal, the photographs paint a rich picture of wild cats today. The photos don't shy away from the struggles these animals face, but they also remind us of the majestic creatures that need our help.

Both ends of the spectrum are a reminder of the world that Panthera hopes we can live in. This world is one where “wild cats thrive in healthy, natural, and developed landscapes that sustain people and biodiversity.”

The world’s leading wild cat conservation organization, Panthera, has put together a list of their favorite wild cat photos.

A collared lioness rolls on her back in Senegal's Niokolo Koba National Park. This lioness and five others are the first lions collared in the Park in an ambitious effort to recover the Critically Endangered species. This lioness was given the nickname ‘Flo,' and with her collared sister in the background, these lionesses now form the largest of the Park's prides. Among other conservation activities, a team from Panthera and Senegal's Department of National Parks track collared lions using VHF in order to collect data on their pride structure and investigate GPS clusters in order to collect data on lion kills and their prey selection. Contributed by Kristoffer Everatt (Photo: Panthera/Senegal/Everatt)

African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation bordering primary tropical rainforest in Tangkulap Forest Reserve, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. Malaysian Borneo, where Panthera carries out monitoring and conservation efforts, is home to five wild cat species – the Sunda clouded leopard, bay cat, fishing cat, the marbled cat, and the flat-headed cat. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Sebastian Kennerknecht/Panthera)

A two-year-old female jaguar nicknamed “Sophia” being collared in the Brazilian Pantanal in June, 2022, weighing in at 55.3k. “Sophia” represents the first female to be collared as part of the Panthera Jaguar Program's long-term demographic study of jaguars throughout their range. To understand ecosystem requirements for females and their offspring, scientists must study their habitat use and movements, along with conducting long-term analysis of their survival and causes of their mortality. The team is tracking female cub production, survival and — eventually — dispersal of young adults as they leave their mother and set out to establish their own territories. Once this is in motion, we will better understand why female jaguars select certain places for den sites (to safeguard their young, vulnerable cubs) and kill sites as they secure food for their growing, weaning cubs.
“Sophia” was born to a resident female jaguar, locally named as “Pixána”, and she is the littermate of another two-year-old female jaguar known as “Fênix”. “Pixána” has been known to local tourists since 2018. Both cubs were identified in 2020, around the same time as fires burned nearly a third of the Pantanal. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Wai-Ming Wong/Panthera)

A camera trap photo of a serval attempting to catch prey in Kafue, Zambia, where Panthera's work focuses on protecting wild cat source populations, minimizing mortalities at the human-wildlife interface and restoring and protecting connectivity between wild cat populations. We currently support 17 anti-poaching teams, two dedicated lion monitoring and protected teams and one leopard monitoring team across Kafue National Park and surrounding Game Management Areas. These teams operate within four intensive protection zones and from four dedicated anti-poaching protection and support bases. We use SMART and Earth Ranger technology for adaptive management and conducting wildlife monitoring across the whole system to ensure our adaptive management activities are impactful and evidence-based. Our “Halo Approach” delivers focal protection for key individuals and groups to boost survival and recruitment during times of challenge. This includes two lion monitoring and protection teams. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Panthera)

The first annual Picture Purrfect list highlights camera trap and professional images that show wild cats, their threats, and and ecosystems.

An ocelot is collared in the Brazilian Pantanal to understand more about the species' threats, prey base, movements, behavior and more. Contributed by Raissa Sepulvida (Photo: Steven Bobzien)

A camera trap snaps a photo of a Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) hunting at night near Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Thailand.
Recently, a team from Panthera and partners set camera traps and collared three fishing cats to understand more about the species' home range size, use of habitat fragmented by shrimp farms and fish ponds, threats and prey. May, 2022. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Sebastian Kennerknecht/Panthera)

Cobras, like the one pictured here, represent one of many challenges facing conservationists working in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla to restore Arabian leopards to the region. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Panthera)

Wildlife rangers from Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Panthera trek through dense undergrowth in Thailand. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: DNP/Panthera)

A survey of a market in Tamale, northern Ghana reveals a plethora of wildlife skins and other products, including those of lions and leopards. Poaching for the illegal wildlife trade is a grave threat facing the survival of wild cats, and particularly the largest of their kind – tigers, lions, jaguars, snow leopards, leopards, pumas and cheetahs. Contributed by Marine Drouilly (Photo: Marine Drouilly/Panthera)

A rare image of a Flat-headed Cat (Prionailurus planiceps) at night, Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia.
This is one of the world’s rarest and most endangered cats, which earned its name from its flattened forehead. It has rarely been observed in the wild. They are at risk from habitat loss and illegal trade and are considered Southeast Asia’s most threatened small felid. Although classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, some scientists believe that there may be more flat-headed cats out there than we’ve caught on camera.
In partnership with local NGOs, Panthera is currently conducting flat headed cat surveys in two areas in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo to understand their population numbers and how they are responding to threats such as logging, poaching, and agricultural development. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Sebastian Kennerknecht/Panthera)

The stunning cloud forest of Borneo, Malaysia, where Panthera and partners are currently conducting flat-headed cat surveys in two regions of Sabah to understand their population numbers and how they are responding to threats such as logging, poaching, and agricultural development.
The flat-headed cat is one of the world’s rarest and most endangered, and earned its name from its flattened forehead. It has rarely been observed in the wild. The species is at risk from habitat loss and illegal trade and is considered Southeast Asia’s most threatened small feline. Although classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, some scientists believe that there may be more flat-headed cats out there than we’ve caught on camera. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Sebastian Kennerknecht/Panthera)

Founded in 2006, Panthera operates in 39 countries and works to protect cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards, tigers, and the 33 small cat species.

A puma rests on a rock where mountains meet the sea in the Chilean Patagonia. 2022. Contributed by Nicolas Lagos (Photo: Nicolas Lagos /Panthera Nicolas Lagos)

The first record in Senegal of a female lion with four cubs, documented in Niokolo Koba National Park (NKNP), where the species is classified as Critically Endangered. Records like this would have been thought impossible a decade ago, but thanks to persistent anti-poaching and scientific monitoring from Senegal's Department of National Parks and Panthera, NKNP has more than doubled its lion population in a decade. Senegal's DPN and Panthera recently obtained an estimate of 29 lions currently occurring in the park, up from a population of only 12-16 lions surviving in the park in 2011. All known adult females have been successfully breeding in 2021 and 2022, with proof provided in this beautiful record taken in November 2022. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Panthera/Senegal DPN)

A collection of elephant tusks, wire snares, gin traps and other poaching paraphernalia confiscated by Panthera-trained and led Community Game Guards in Luengue-Luiana National Park, Angola. Contributed by Willem Nieman (Photo: Wian Nieman/Panthera)

A hyena carries remains of a kill in Luengue-Luiana National Park, Angola 2022. Panthera is carrying out comprehensive conservation, law enforcement, lion and other wildlife monitoring, education and community outreach efforts in the region following a devastating civil war. Contributed by Willem Nieman (Photo: Wian Nieman/Panthera)

A jaguar moments before it roughly inspected Panthera's camera trap in the Brazilian Pantanal. In this landscape, jaguars serve as a huge ecotourism draw where visitors are guaranteed to see the species along the riverbanks. Panthera works in this region to monitor jaguars, including collaring the study's first female jaguar this year, and mitigate conflict between ranchers and jaguars hungry to feed on cattle. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Panthera)

The webbed foot of an anesthetized Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is inspected by biologist Supawat Khaewphakdee during a collaring expedition in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Thailand.
The fishing cat's paws are partially webbed, and claws do not retract. Their name gives away one of their talents — catching fish. Sometimes, they will patiently fish at the bank of ponds, streams, and rivers, but they also go swimming to catch their fish prey, and when they do, it’s thought that their short tails help act as a rudder. However, their name shouldn’t fool you — they also hunt a variety of other prey species, including small animals like mice and birds.
During this expedition, a team from Panthera and partners collared three fishing cats to understand more about the species home range size, use of habitat fragmented by shrimp farms and fish ponds, threats and prey. May, 2022. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Sebastian Kennerknecht/Panthera)

A beautiful young female leopard photographed at night in Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal. This image was snapped during a lion collaring expedition in 2021 and 2022 that resulted in the collaring of the first ever (and six total) lions in Senegal for conservation monitoring and research.
Leopards have the largest geographic range of any of the big cats. However, they are confronted with a wide suite of threats ,from loss of prey and habitat to direct poaching for their skins. Niokolo Koba National Park may contain west Africa’s largest population of leopards and Panthera’s work in the park is helping to ensure that this young female and her entire population are protected. Contributed by Kristoffer Everatt (Photo: Panthera/Senegal/Everatt)

The first puma collared in the Chilean Patagonia by Panthera and partners in 2022. Contributed by Ross Rosenthal (Photo: Caitlin Kupar-Panthera)

Fall, the wildlife veterinarian for Senegal's Niokolo Koba National Park (NKNP), removes a porcupine quill from an anesthetized lioness's face in Senegal. On the last day of an expedition in which the Park's first lions were collared, a team from Senegal's Department of National Parks and Panthera found this lone, young and skinny lioness. She appeared to have become separated from her pride and was not able to hunt on her own. A closer look showed that she had a face full of porcupine quills, which were preventing her from eating. Her chances of survival were very low. Knowing that over her life, the lioness could make a significant contribution to the recovery of this Critically Endangered population, the team removed the quills from her mouth and face, disinfected her wounds and administered antibiotics. She was left with a few days worth of meat and chance at a new life. While too small to fit with a GPS collar, the team took genetic samples and hope to one day meet her and her offspring. Contributed by Kristoffer Everatt (Photo: Panthera/Senegal/Everatt)

Paddlers on the Nalikwanda Royal Barge and members of the Lozi community in Zambia wearing Panthera's ‘Heritage Furs'.
Panthera and the Barotse Royal Establishment of the Lozi people joined forces to launch Saving Spots — a conservation initiative in western Zambia that seeks to preserve rich cultural traditions while protecting declining wild cat populations using synthetic leopard, serval and lion furs, known as Heritage Furs.
Every year, hundreds of Lozi community members participate in traditional ceremonies, most notably the Kuomboka Festival, a massive gathering on the Barotse Floodplains to escort His Majesty the Lozi King, or Litunga, between palaces by Royal barge. Traditionally, nearly 200 paddlers wear lipatelo, which are elaborate, full-length skirts made of leopard, serval and other animal furs, and lion-mane trimmed berets, known as mishukwe.
Since 2019, with the launch of Saving Spots, the Barotse Royal Establishment have received over 750 Panthera-created synthetic leopard and serval fur lipatelo and 600 synthetic lion-mane mishukwe, which will replace the use of authentic furs by paddlers and, we expect, will help significantly reduce the hunting of hundreds of wild cats across southern Africa where the species are already severely threatened.
Supported by Peace Parks Foundation and Cartier, Panthera worked closely with digital designers to develop the Heritage Furs which were designed and endorsed by His Majesty the Lozi King and His Royal Highness Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta. Since the launch of the project, the Heritage Furs have received overwhelming support among the Lozi community, with the Litunga even banning the use of authentic wild cat skins at all future Lozi gatherings. Contributed by Danielle Garbouchian (Photo: Gareth Whittington-Jones/Panthera)

Panthera: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Panthera.

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Una publicación compartida por Leo Messi (@leomessi)

The Argentinian national soccer team made history after they won the Qatar 2022 World Cup last Sunday. However, the eyes of the world were fixed on its star: Lionel Messi, considered the best active player and one of the greatest of all time. Over the course of the tournament, he broke a handful of records, from most World Cup match appearances with 26 to becoming Argentina's top goal scorer in World Cups with a count of 13. On top of that, Messi also broke another record off the field: his celebratory post on Instagram became the most-liked post of all time on the platform.

“WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! I dreamed it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still haven't fallen, I can't believe it……,” reads Messi’s caption. “Thank you very much to my family, to all those who support me and also to everyone who believed in us. We have proved once again that when us Argentines fight together and united, we are capable of achieving what we set out to do. The merit belongs to this group, which is above individualities; it is the strength of all of us fighting for the same dream that was also the dream of all Argentines… We did it!!!”

The World Cup was the only major soccer trophy the Argentinian star still had to win, so it's no surprise every fan of the sport, regardless of their favorite team or nationality, joined him in celebrating this achievement. Messi had also announced that Qatar 2022 would be his final shot at the World Cup, so the popularity of the post evokes a sigh of relief that a legend did achieve this feat before retirement. Fortunately, his career isn't over yet—he has said that he still wants to play some more matches as a world champion. “We will be seeing each other very soon,” he wrote at the end of the caption.

As of writing, the post has received over 67 million likes, taking the crown from the picture of an egg, which now trails it by about 10 million likes. Messi's later posts, which chronicle the trip back to Buenos Aires alongside the trophy—whether it's aboard a plane or waking up next to it in bed—are not doing bad either. The former has 39 million likes, while the latter has over 46 million. In a way, it's the digital equivalent of the drone footage of the crowds in Argentina after they won the final match.

To stay up to date with what this soccer legend is up to after winning the World Cup, you can follow Messi on Instagram.

Lionel Messi's post about winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup is now the most-liked Instagram post ever. As of writing, the post has received over 67 million likes.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Messi's later posts, which chronicle the trip back to Buenos Aires alongside the trophy are not doing bad either. One has earned 46 million likes.

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Lionel Messi: Instagram
h/t: [BBC]

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“Hallelujah” by Preeti and Prashant Chacko (Kenya). Winner, The Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year.
“We had spent a good deal of time with a small journey of giraffe, made notable by the antics of this youngster, who was keenly exploring its surroundings at a reasonable distance from its mother. Our guide Jackson told me to be prepared for when the calf would return to the mother, as that usually results in something memorable to photograph. The calf returned but what transpired was beyond what we expected, with the oxpeckers seeming to us like angels singing Hallelujah!”

As one of Africa's most important wildlife reserves, Kenya's Maasai Mara is filled with countless animal species. This makes it a go-to place for wildlife photographers wishing to take images of the leopards, elephants, cheetahs, lions, and giraffes that populate the reserve. Since 2018,  The Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year contest has honored these photographers by highlighting the best images taken on the reserve.

This year, Kenyan photography duo Preeti and Prashant Chacko won the top prize for their beautiful black and white photo of a giraffe and her calf surrounded by oxpeckers. Their award-winning photo Hallelujah earned them the $10,000 cash prize and a five-night safari for two. In addition, their guide Jackson was also rewarded for his part in helping them take the winning image. For his efforts, he'll receive a fully inclusive trip to the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

“The emotion of a mother-child interaction is something that we love to photograph,” admits Preeti. “And so we waited. What transpired through exceeded all our expectations. Three oxpeckers flew up into the sky at the moment of reunion, almost as if to say: ‘Hallelujah.’”

The photograph made a big impression on the judging panel, which was tasked with selecting a winner from 50 finalists. Their primary judging criteria was to look at how the photographers captured something ordinary in an extraordinary way. “This is a very clean and powerful image,” shares professional wildlife photographer and judge Federico Veronesi. “The three birds in flight perfectly connect the mother and her calf.”

While the contest is primarily about photography, it also gives back to the boots-on-the-ground conservation initiatives that care for the land. Every entry fee for the contest goes, in full, to one of the competition’s conservation partners active in the Maasai Mara. This year, thanks to over 1,000 entries submitted by 300 photographers, over $15,000 was raised. The proceeds were shared between the Anne K. Taylor Fund, The Maa Trust, the Mara Elephant Project, the Mara Conservancy, The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and the Angama Foundation, which hosts the competition.

Entries for the next edition of the contest open on January 1, 2023, with the same prizes up for grabs. And, if you want a piece of the Maasai Mara in your home, select prints are also available for sale.

The winners and finalists of the Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year show the beauty of Africa's most well-known nature reserve.

“Little Mush” by Vicki Jauron (USA). Finalist.
“We had seen this lioness a few days earlier and could tell that she was a new mother, but she was hunting and the cubs were hidden away somewhere. We searched a few times to find her with her cubs and on our last day, we were successful. It was a lovely morning and dad was around soaking up the sun while mom and her sister took the cubs on a walkabout. What made this all the more exciting was that there were very few vehicles nearby and so she had the ability to move without interruption.”

“Stretch” by Kunal D Shah (Kenya). Finalist.
“Watching Nalangu kill an impala that afternoon was incredible. However, due to the size of the kill, it was impossible for her to carry it back for the little one. She walked to the usual hideaways and brought him out after about an hour of waiting. As she guided the cub to the kill, I realized we could get an amazing shot of her on her return, from the bottom of a river crossing. We quickly rushed to the bottom of the river bed and waited. She not only walked by it, but she stretched and looked towards us.”

“Droplets” by Andrew Liu (USA). Finalist.
“We found Short-Tail lounging just after sunrise. He graced us with a little drink from a nearby puddle, resulting in this beautiful dripping of water from his mane and beard.”

“Sunrise Crossing” by Charlie Wemyss-Dunn (USA). Finalist.
“Our guide encouraged a quick departure from camp early one morning as we'd previously seen a massive herd eager to cross over to the Triangle from Lookout Hill the evening before. Before we reached the river, a call from one of our other vehicles came in that the massive herd had just begun to cross at the Miti Moja crossing point. As we arrived we were greeted with a scene I'll never forget as a mega herd of wildebeest rushed down the bank as the red glow of a perfect sunrise pierced the sky. We were one of only three vehicles on either side to take in this epic scene while the early morning balloons can be made out in the far background in front of the rising sun. Photography was not surprisingly a challenge given the very low and contrasting light so I had to sacrifice ISO for a sharp image with the whole scene in view. A once-in-a-lifetime scene of nature's greatest show.”

All of the entry fees from the contest go to boots-on-the-ground conservation efforts at Maasai Mara.

“Glowing Serval” by Vrinda Bhatnagar (India). Finalist.
“We watched this serval cat scan the area, finally pounce and prey upon a mouse, and then stand satisfied for a few minutes as the early morning sun lit up her fur from behind making a glowing halo around her.”

“Inseparable” by Andrew Liu (USA). Finalist.
“After an hour spent watching the cubs, they finally took notice of our truck and decided to come explore. I captured this image as they made their way toward us along the path.”

“Leaning Towers” by Abderazak Tissoukai (UAE). Finalist.
“I got to understand with time that powerful wildlife images are the ones that translate an emotion, which is often the result of the interaction between two or more animals. My experienced guide and I discussed this topic on several occasions in order to ensure his vision was aligned with mine. Luck was on our side when we crossed paths with these two young adult giraffes during their necking practice session. We noticed they were doing it in a quite friendly way, to avoid hurting each other as the moment of force generated by the movement of their long necks could indeed be harmful in real fight situations. When they went a bit too hard, a moment of care and affection almost immediately followed, as if it was their own way of saying ‘sorry’. I felt this one was one of them.”

“Danger out of Dawn” by Silka Hullmann (Germany). Finalist.
“Almost immediately after leaving camp, we encountered a group of three lionesses
strolling through the still dewy grass in search of prey. Hoping that the cats would still be somewhat active in the early morning hours and that we would get pictures in good light, we followed them along the Mara River. Suddenly, startled by the danger from the now blood-orange-red dawn, a group of wildebeest ran straight at us and disappeared into nothingness. We were rewarded: the morning sun and the dust of the savannah gave this brief moment in a beautiful play of colors and an almost mystical mood.”

“The Probing Eyes” by Ashish Ranjan (UAE). Finalists.
“It was a beautiful morning safari in the Maasai Mara when our guide decided to take us to the Topi Pride as they had been seen roaming in their territory looking for food. We spotted the cubs near the foot of the hills where they are known to live. We waited for more than 45 minutes before we could see the pack of lionesses coming towards their cubs. In anticipation of good moments of them meeting their waiting cubs, we positioned our vehicle close to an anthill hoping that the lionesses would climb over it and the cubs would follow. We were proven right and when one of the lionesses went up to her cubs, we got our moment where we took some close-up shots in the warm morning sunlight. One such moment was this where I intentionally kept the mother almost out of the frame and only focused on the eye of the cub resulting in this shot.”

The Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by The Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year.

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Whether you are a professional photographer looking to gain more exposure or an amateur who wants to know how your work stacks up against your peers, photography competitions are a fantastic way to stretch yourself and grow your craft. From free photo contests to paid photography awards, it's possible to invest as little—or as much—as you'd like. And sometimes, the rewards can be life-changing.

From cash prizes to traveling exhibitions at renowned institutions, the best photography contests give their participants the opportunity to show their best work to a wider audience. Most contests have separate professional and amateur divisions, as well as youth competitions for young photographers—and you don't always have to pay. Contests like the EyeEm Awards and the Smithsonian Photo Contest are free of charge, while others charge nominal fees to enter multiple photographs. Additionally, the deadlines for these challenges vary from the start of the year to late into the summer or even the fall.

With such a wide variety of photography competitions, you can decide whether you want to try your hand at one of the larger contests with a range of categories for all types of photography, such as the International Photo Awards, or go more niche. Underwater photography, architectural photography, astrophotography, wedding photography, and pet photography are just some competitions that let you hone in on specific aspects of the craft. Whether you win 1st place or become a finalist, these events will surely boost your creative practice.

To help you find what photo contest meets your needs, we've pulled together a list of the best photography competitions—in alphabetical order—that you'll want to consider entering. Over the years we've featured all of these contests, many times publishing early entries and finalists, in addition to winners—proving that you can gain valuable press coverage whether you win or not.

Our list of the best photography contests covers a wide range of photography from wildlife to fine art.

Matt Emmett, overall winner, Arcaid Photography Awards 2016. (Photo: Matt Emmett/Arcaid Images)

The Architectural Photography Awards

Architectural photographers compete in six categories—Exterior, Interior, Sense of Place, Portfolio, Mobile Architecture Photography, and Buildings in Use—for a chance at cash prizes and having their work exhibited at the World Architecture Festival.

When to enter: Annually from March to July
Entry fee: One-time registration of £55 allows entrants to submit up to 3 images to each category
Prize: $3,000 and exhibition at the World Architecture Festival.

Audubon Photography Awards

Combine your love of birds and photography by competing in the Audubon Photography Awards. Participants must be legal residents of the U.S. or Canada and at least 13 years of age. Winning photos will be published in the Audubon and Nature’s Best Photography magazines, as well as go on exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

When to enter: Annually from January 11, 2023, to March 1, 2023
Entry fee: $15 per image; Youth competition is FREE
Prize: Cash prizes up to $5,000.

B&W Child Photo Competition

Celebrate the beauty of childhood across the world by submitting your most stunning black and white images of children. Photographers compete in four categories—Portrait, Fine Art, Lifestyle, and Documentary & Street. The contest accepts international entries and there is no limit on the number of submissions per photographer. It has two submission periods per year; the 1st half at the beginning and the 2nd half at the latter part of the year.

When to enter:1st half at the beginning of the year until July; 2nd half from August to the end of the year
Entry fee: €10 for a single image, €20 for 3 images, €30 for 5 images
Prize: €1,000 each for two Grand Prize winners, €100 for category winners.

Best of the Best Photo Contests for Weddings

Wedding photographers are encouraged to show off their best wedding images in annual contests run by Junebug Weddings. The theme for the contest changes with each competition.

When to enter: Varies depending on the contest
Entry fee: $28 for up to 15 images for non-members. Members can submit up to 3 photos for free or up to 15 images for $18
Prize: 50 winning entries are featured on the website, with a link to their blog.

BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition

Run by the California Academy of Sciences, this international photo contest celebrates “the rich diversity of life on Earth and inspires action to protect and conserve it through the power of imagery.” Photographers can submit work across seven different categories such as the art of nature, aquatic life, terrestrial wildlife, and winged life.

When to enter: Annually from December 2022, to March 1, 2023
Entry fee: $25 for up to 10 single image submissions in any category, $15 for 1 photo series (3-5 images)
Prize: $5,000 to the overall winner, $1,000 for category winners. Participation in an annual exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.

Bird Photographer of the Year

This global competition asks wildlife photographers to submit their best bird photography across 9 categories, including best youth photographer. There are also two special prizes up for grabs—best portfolio and crowd choice. Participants can submit single photos or an entire portfolio.

When to enter: Annually from mid-August to the end of November
Entry fee: From £6, participants can enter up to 8 images per category
Prize: £5,000 for the grand prize winner, camera equipment for the portfolio prize winner (a £3,500 retail value), and a pair of Swarovski CL Companion 8×30 binoculars for category winners. All winners receive a portfolio review from the Director of Photography at Alamy.

Sasha Dudkina, EyeEm Photographer of the Year 2017. (Photo: Sasha Dudkina)

British Wildlife Photography Awards

Created to focus on the glory of British wildlife, photographers of all nationalities are encouraged to enter the contest, but their images must be taken in the United Kingdom. The 15 separate categories also include a prize for wildlife in HD video, and two separate prizes are awarded to young photographers. The top entries are included in a traveling exhibition across Britain, as well as a coffee table book.

When to enter: Annually from November to April of the next year
Entry fee: From £10; Youth competition (up to 6 images) is FREE
Prize: £5,000 for grand prize winner, while some adult category winners receive a cash prize of £500 and new camera equipment. The Wildlife in HD Video category will receive a new camcorder. The winning pictures and best entries will be included in a touring exhibition across the UK as well as a coffee table book.

Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

If you like to see the humor in the natural world, this photography contest is for you. Founded by the wildlife charity, Born Free Foundation, the awards are a light-hearted way to bring attention to conservation issues. In addition to four categories for adults and a youth competition, videographers are encouraged to enter their funniest video clips. But note, photographs of domestic, captive or enclosed wildlife of any description are not allowed.

When to enter: Entries accepted through August 23, 2023
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Overall winner receives a trophy and one-week safari in Kenya.

Dog Photographer of the Year

The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organization focusing on the welfare of dogs, runs this annual, international contest. Photographers can enter in 10 categories, including Dog Portrait, Dogs at Play, Assistance Dogs, and Rescue Dogs. There are also two youth categories for young photographers.

When to enter: Annually from February to April
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Overall winner receives a SmugMug business account and mentorship day with an acclaimed dog photographer. All winners will have their work displayed at the Kennel Club Art Gallery in London, as well as a prize package.

Drone Awards

Part of the Art Photo Travel Association, this worldwide competition is open to aerial photography and videos whose platforms also include “fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, balloons, blimps and dirigibles, rockets, kites, and parachutes.”

When to enter: Entries are accepted from April to June.
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: The Drone Photographer of the Year will be awarded a prize package that includes €500,00 worth of photography equipment and more.

EyeEm Awards

This leading photo community, which also licenses images, runs what they call the largest photo competition for rising photographers. They annually award prizes in 10 categories, including The Street Photographer, The Great Outdoors, The Portraitist, The Photojournalist, and The Architect. Additionally, the Photographer of the Year is selected based on their body of work and potential for growth.

When to enter: Entries accepted until the end of July
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Photographer of the Year wins €1,000, a feature in EyeEm Magazine and Format Magazine, and more.

Fine Art Photography Awards

Seeking “photos born out of passion,” the international contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers. With 20 different categories to select from, there is no shortage of artistic themes that will allow photographers to display their creativity.

When to enter: Annually; deadline is February 23, 2023
Entry fee: From $15 per photo
Prize: $3,000 for Professional Photographer of the Year, $2000 for Amateur Photographer of the Year.

bachirm, 1st prize winner Urban, 2017 International Drone Photography Contest. (Photo: bachirm)

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year

The world’s biggest astrophotography competition draws photographers from across the globe, who compete across nine different categories. Amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to apply for the contest, which is judged by representatives of NASA and the editor of BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Children are encouraged to apply in the special youth competition for photographers under 15 years old.

When to enter: Annually until early March
Entry fee: FREE up to 10 images
Prize: £10,000 for overall winner and £1,500 for overall category winners. Cash prizes are also given to category runners-up.

International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Celebrate the art and craft of landscape photography with this contest, which is open to photographers around the world. The top landscape photographs are collected into an annual book and photographers are awarded for best single images, as well as portfolios of four photographs.

When to enter: Entries close at the end of November
Entry fee: $25 per photo, every fifth photograph is free
Prize: Grand prize of $5,000 as well as inclusion in awards book. Second prize of $1,000 and third prize of $500, as well as photo book inclusion.

International Photo Awards

These prestigious awards cover a comprehensive range of photography and allow entries into separate Professional, Amateur, and Student competitions. From editorial and advertising to fine art and sports, this is one of the most wide-ranging contests, with over $22,000 in cash prizes annually.

When to enter: Entries close mid-July
Entry fee: $15-$35 per single image, $30-$60 per series depending on professional, amateur, or student status
Prize: International Photographer of the Year receives $12,000, Discovery of the Year Award $5,000, category winners (professional) win $1,000, and category winners (non-professional) win $500. All category finalist receive two tickets to the Lucie Awards Gala in New York City.

International Photographer of the Year

IPOTY is an international competition open to professional and non-professional photographers, who are asked to submit to a wide range of categories and subcategories. Photographers are encouraged to apply to multiple categories and receive exposure through extensive media coverage.

When to enter: Annually from mid-February to mid-December
Entry fee: From $20 per single image
Prize: Professional Grand Prize of $2,500, Amateur Grand Prize of $1,500

Melissa Amber & Ashley Nicole, Black & White Conceptual Series of the Year 2017, MonoVisions Photography Awards. (Photo: Melissa Amber & Ashley Nicole)

iPhone Photography Awards

The IPPA are awarded exclusively for images shot with an iPhone or iPad, with any postproduction limited to iOS apps. Photographers compete across 18 categories, including series of up to 3 images.

When to enter: Entries accepted until the end of March
Entry fee: From $3.50 per image
Prize: Grand Prize winner receives a prize that is TBA. The first place winner of each category receives a Gold Bar.

Mobile Photography Awards

Mobile and tablet photographers are encouraged to submit their best work across 18 categories to express the artistry and creativity of mobile photography. Top images are included in a traveling exhibition and are available for sale.

When to enter: Annually from October to mid-December
Entry fee: From $15 per image
Prize: Grand Prize of $3,000

Monochrome Photo Awards

This international black-and-white photography contest awards separate prizes to professional and amateur photographers for entries in 13 categories. From architecture and wildlife to fine art and photo manipulation, the awards challenge participants to show their creativity.

When to enter: Entries are accepted through early July
Entry fee: $20 per entry (amateur) / $25 per entry (professional)
Prize: Overall professional winner $3,000 and overall amateur winner $1,000. Winners are also featured in the Monochrome Photography Awards Annual Book.

MonoVisions

This black-and-white photography magazine holds an annual competition to celebrate the best of monochrome photography. Participants compete in two different sections, single photographs and series of up to 8 photographs.

When to enter: Entries are accepted through mid-May (early deadline is the end of January)
Entry fee: From $20 per single image / $25 per series
Prize: $5,000 in cash prizes

Danny Yen Sin Wong, 1st prize Open Color, Siena International Photography Awards 2016. (Photo: Danny Yen Sin Wong)

National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

Share your best snaps of life around the world in the National Geographic Travel Photo Contest. Three categories—Nature, People, and Cities—allow photographers to show how their travel imagery is revealing, transporting, and exciting.

When to enter: Annually from mid-March to the end of April
Entry fee: Starts at $10 per entry
Prize: Grand prize of $7,500. First place winners receive $2,500, second place $1,500, third place $750.

National Wildlife Photo Contest

For over 40 years, the National Wildlife Federation has run this prestigious competition celebrating the glory of nature. The eight categories include Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mammals, and People in Nature.

When to enter: Annually from January to March
Entry fee: $20 for 10 photos
Prize: Grand prize of $5,000. First place category winners receive $500, second place category winners receive $250.

Nikon Small World Contest

This contest, which has been going for over 40 years, recognizes photography taken through the light microscope. It’s a leading showcase for photomicrographers from a variety of science disciplines. While participants aren’t required to use Nikon equipment, as images must be taken using a light microscope.

When to enter: Entries accepted until late-April
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: First prize $3,000. 2nd to 20th place winners receive cash prizes ranging from $200 to $2,000.

Red Bull Illume

Red Bull runs this international photography contest dedicated to action and adventure sports, which is also sponsored by Sony. The competition has been running every three years since 2007, with the next contest taking place in 2019. All finalist images participate in an international traveling exhibition.

When to enter: Entries accepted until late July
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: €100,000 in consumer goods and photography equipment to the overall winner and category winners.

Siena International Photo Awards

This international photo contest receives over 50,000 images from amateur and professional photographers. Whether Sports in Action or Story-telling, the categories allow photographers to show the best in their portfolio. Winners are announced at an annual ceremony in Siena, Italy.

When to enter: Annually from October to January
Entry fee: Professionals can enter one image for free and have to pay beyond that point.
Prize: €1,500 for Photo of the Year, €500 for Storyboard Winner. Photo of the Year, Storyboard Winner, and Category Winners receive stays in Siena, Italy during award ceremony weekend.

Sergey Gorshkov, Finalist, Animal Portraits, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017. (Photo: Sergey Gorshkov / Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

Smithsonian Photo Contest

Smithsonian.com has run their international photo contest for 15 years, asking photographers to submit their best photographs across six categories, including one for Mobile photography. Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality, responsiveness to the prompt, and overall impact.

When to enter: Annually from early April to the end of November
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: $2,500 Grand Prize, $500 for Category Winners and Readers’ Choice award.

Sony World Photography Awards

For over a decade, Sony and the World Photography Organisation have run this competition, which unfolds in four sections—professional, open, youth, and student. Professional photographers are judged on a body of work, while the open competition awards single images. One of the world’s leading photo contests, the total prize fund is $30,000. All shortlisted photos participated in an exhibition at Somerset House in London and will be published in Sony World Photography Awards book.

When to enter: Entry deadline is between December and January depending on the competition section
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: $25,000 Photographer of the Year, category winners receive a trip to London for the awards ceremony.

Travel Photographer of the Year

Also known as TPOTY, this photographer-founded contest celebrates travel photography. The international competition culminates in an exhibition in London, selected from the 9 competition categories. These include Earth & Climate, Food, and Tales of Adventure.

When to enter: Entries accepted from April to October
Entry fee: Starts at £8 for single images; Youth competition is FREE
Prize: £5,000 and prize package for Overall Winner. Category and portfolios winners receive prize packages.

Underwater Photographer of the Year

Across 10 categories, underwater photography is heralded as an art form in this long-running competition. This is an international contest, though several categories are only open to images taken in the waters of the UK. The 2017 contest saw a new category—Underwater Photography Book.

When to enter: Annually from November to early January
Entry fee: Starts at £12 for three images
Prize: The Underwater Photographer of the Year gets first to pick something from the prize-pool featuring a variety of incredible awards.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The Natural History Museum in London runs this prestigious competition focusing on wildlife photography. Photographers are invited to submit their best work in 16 categories, such as Animals in their Environment, Urban Wildlife, and Behavior. There is also a separate youth competition.

When to enter: Annually from late October to mid-December
Entry fee: £30
Prize: £10,000 for Wildlife Photographer of the Year, £2,500 for Portfolio winner and Photojournalism Awards. Cash prizes for category winners.

This article has been edited and updated.

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When photographer Josh Defibaugh climbed to the top of Vermont's Mount Mansfield, he was hoping for a successful night of photography. But he never could have imagined the incredible image he was about to take. Defibaugh was looking to capture the Milky Way, but his plans were upended by the presence of a SpaceX rocket.

At the time, Defibaugh was unaware that a rocket by the Elon Musk-run company had recently been launched. But, after carefully composing his shot, he suddenly saw a bright light shoot across his viewfinder.

“As the galaxy was on my mind, I saw this bright glow in the sky and thought, very briefly, that it was aliens,” Defibaugh tells My Modern Met. “And I was really excited to photograph it. But that thought wore off pretty quickly as I realized it was just another SpaceX rocket.”

Though he hadn't originally planned on sharing the photo, once he did, the image took on a life of its own. Personally, Defibaugh has mixed feelings about the photo.

“I hope people realize that the degradation of the night sky with satellites and light pollution is an ongoing problem. The Earth is getting anywhere from 2-6% brighter each year and Elon Musk has stated he plans to launch hundreds, if not thousands, of SpaceX rockets in the coming years. The effects of so many satellites in the night sky may not be apparent now, but they will be soon, not just for astrophotographers but for any looking up to the sky.”

SpaceX has steadily increased its number of launches each year. At the time of writing, there have been 54 launches in 2022, with 10 more scheduled before the end of the year. And if SpaceX hits its goal in 2023, it will hit 100 launches in a calendar year. In the past, the company has experimented with a special coating to darken its satellites, but with so many bodies in the sky, experts agree that light pollution will increase.

So while Defibaugh's image may look cool, it's also a reminder that these rockets can and will transform the night sky.

If you want to see more of Defibaugh's astrophotography, sans rocket, as well as his other creative projects you can follow his work on Instagram.

Josh Defibaugh: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Josh Defibaugh.

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Mason (Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide) (Photo: Karen Alsop. Editor: Angelo van der Klift)

Every year, photographers and Photoshop artists come together to bring the magic of the holidays to sick children across the world. The heART Project is a collaboration between award-winning Australian photographer Karen Alsop from Story Art and a group of volunteer photographers from across the globe. This year, the group visited children in the United States and Australia and brought a little Christmas joy to families struggling with childhood health challenges.

Santa and his elves even made appearances when they could, making visits to children at the hospital. The volunteers who bring these holiday scenes to life dedicate hours to crafting a memorable image that also incorporates the interests of each child. For some families, it was the first chance to get a professional photo of their child, and for others, whose children are facing life-threatening illnesses, it might be the last opportunity to celebrate together.

That makes every photo much more than a simple picture with Santa. “Our mission has always been to put a smile on the face of families who are doing it tough at Christmas by making them escape reality—even for a day—thanks to the power of photography and Photoshop,” shares Karen Alsop, who first started the Christmas Wish project in 2016.

For families, Christmas Wish is a chance to escape the stress of the hospital and allow their children to experience the holidays. “These photos are beautiful and we will treasure them forever,” admits one family. “We have never been able to take our son for a photo with Santa, so this means a lot to us.”

Every year, volunteer photographers and Photoshop artists bring a little Christmas joy to children spending the holidays in the hospital.

After several years of social distancing, the heART Project was able to bring Santa into hospitals to visit hundreds of sick children.

While there, photographers snapped photos that volunteer editors spent hours transforming into special Christmas scenes.

James (Hummingbird House, Brisbane). James from Hummingbird House Brisbane, whose love of planes saw him transported with the power of Photoshop, to ride on a Virgin Australia plane wing with Santa Claus.

Photo and Editor: Karen Alsop

Bella (Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne). Bella was born with Hirschsprung’s disease, a chronic bowel condition. Bella has been in and out of the hospital her whole life and when we visited she was extremely unwell. Bella comes from a family of renowned singers and musicians. Her green screen photo was transformed, just like a Hollywood movie, and Bella and her sister Millie can be seen performing on the Puffing Billy Railway platform with Santa joining in.

Photo and Editor: Karen Alsop

Isaiah (Perth Children's Hospital)

Editor: Ben Shirk

Every photo incorporates the interests of the children, who were interviewed with their families during the process.

Olivia (Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne). When the team visited Olivia's hospital room they were awestruck by her artistic talent. Olivia's room was filled with art, from hand-constructed balls then illustrated by Olivia, to a large, almost finished painting of a stunning mountain lake landscape. Karen Alsop photographed Olivia's art creations and in Photoshop placed Santa and Olivia into her own work of art.

Editor: Karen Alsop

Grace (Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide). Grace who suffers from an autoimmune disease has been in and out of the hospital for the last couple of years. In 2021 the team was unable to photograph Grace in person as she was too sick, so Nicole, her mum, was guided by the team to take some phone photos of Grace. These were sent to our remote editors to turn into works of art. (Editor: Corey Mudge)

Grace was able to meet Santa in person this year, and the magic was real! Grace's image was sent to one of the leading Photoshop Masters in the world, Jesús Ramirez who has 1.9 million subscribers on his Photoshop Training Channel on Youtube. After going through a significant health challenge himself in 2021, Ramirez is even more connected with the project. He created a masterpiece for Grace who shared about how much she loves dogs.

Editor: Jesús Ramirez

“These photos are beautiful and we will treasure them forever,” shared one family. “We have never been able to take our son for a photo with Santa, so this means a lot to us.”

Amelia (Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide). Amelia, 14 years old, was very active in sports and dance prior to being admitted to hospital in July. Amelia was unable to move her body from the neck down. However, In just a few short months with determination and a bubbly personality, she has come such a long way and now has an artwork of her dancing with Santa.

Editor: Kelly Clark

Editor: Joel Robison

Editor: Colin Smith

Editor: Mark Heaps

Editor: Bren Slade

heART Project: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by heART Project.

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