Inspirational Glimpses of Nature

Breathtaking Moments Impeccably Captured.

Here are five of our favourite hiking and trail shots from 2014’s Outdoor Photographer of the Year Winners competition and boy, are they inspiring. Snapped around the world, they capture some of the planet’s most staggering views.

 

Treat yourself to an eyeful of inspiration below, then put on your hiking shoes, grab your camera and get snapping!

 

 

 

Above: GREG WHITTON (UK) – SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS, ICELAND

“After a long week of hiking in the southern highlands of Iceland, it was our last night of wild camping. We pitched our tents below a minor peak, and the view from the top was incredible. Thick
cloud to the west was all but blocking the sun, however, so, rather dejected, I began to descend to camp after waiting several hours at the top. After about 50 metres of descent across loose vegetation
and rock a small gap in the clouds suddenly appeared, and along with the changing azimuth of the sun they combined to gloriously illuminate the landscape. The light lasted no longer than a few minutes, and I was fortunate to find some kind of foreground element to compose the vista against. There was no time for filters, and only just enough time to erect the tripod, compose and fire bracketed exposures all on instinct.”

 

 

 

 

Above: MARCO BARONE (ITALY) – DARK LAKE

“I captured this photograph in the mountains around Petit Mont Cenis in Savoie in France. I went to this place many times to find the right weather conditions to capture the gloomy shot I’d had in mind for a while. On this occasion, I went during a storm, and just before sunset the rain stopped. The light filtered through the clouds, creating the right atmosphere.”

 

 

 

 

Above: SANDI BERTONCELJ (SLOVENIA) – SKI TOURING, SLOVENIA

“The weather conditions were extraordinary that day on 2104m Vajnež mountain in the Karavanke Alps in Slovenia. When we arrived on skis under the saddle we were confronted with a heavy windstorm. The sunbeams were penetrating through the thin clouds and the spindrift. I wanted to capture the sense of struggle involved as the heavy gusts tried to throw us off balance. After taking the shot, it was just another 500 metres to where there was some shelter from the wind, and from there we decided to continue our expedition to the summit.“

 

 

 

Above: GREG WHITTON (UK) – WILD MOUNTAIN: THE RIDGE I

“Wild Mountain: The Ridge I is the first in a mini-series of images taken on UK mountains, which are processed in a manner intended to convey the often claustrophobic and threatening nature of these majestic lumps of rock. This image is from Striding Edge in the Lake District.”

 

 

Above: SHAUN WALBY (UK) – RIVER WHARFE, YORKSHIRE DALES

“The river Wharfe has it origin in the upper northern Yorkshire Dales, and it narrows considerably at a place known as ‘the Strid’ on the Bolton Abbey estate. There was a lovely thick fog that particular morning. I got to work quickly as the light and weather conditions were changing rapidly. It was the combination of elements within the scene that raised my interest level as soon as I looked through the viewfinder. Golden autumn leaves on the ground balanced the heavy damp air and foliage, and the central river merging with the fog in the distance provided a sense of depth. I chose a long shutter speed to soften the water movement and to instill a sense of time. The ever-strengthening autumn sun filtered by the fog provided wonderful diffuse light.”

 

 

Feeling inspired to get outside? Check out this article: Adventures Are Good For Your Soul.