The 16th edition of the Epson International Pano Awards has unveiled its winners, once again celebrating the art of ultra-wide and immersive landscape photography. Italy-based photographer Alex Wides claimed the top honor as Open Photographer of the Year 2025 with spectacular images captured across four corners of the world. In the Amateur category, San Francisco-based Kevin Nyun took home the grand prize with his breathtaking natural landscapes.

Established in 2009, the Epson International Pano Awards has grown to become the world's largest competition dedicated to panoramic photography. Supported by Epson Australia and Epson Southeast Asia, the event recognizes technical excellence and creativity among photographers specializing in the panoramic format. Contest curator and founder David Evans noted that the 2025 edition marks a new milestone in the evolution of panoramic photography.

According to Evans, photographers have explored territories that remain underrepresented, from Algeria to Saudi Arabia, while also reimagining iconic destinations like Iceland, the Dolomites, and the Lofoten Islands. "Each year, the Pano Awards push the boundaries of perspective a little further," he emphasized. "The panoramic format remains one of the most powerful ways to tell the story of our contemporary world." The competition features two main categories: the Open category for professional or advanced photographers, and the Amateur category for non-professional enthusiasts.

Alex Wides, recognized for his extreme approach to panoramic photography, has developed a unique technique through years of experimentation that allows him to merge multiple perspectives into immersive visions of striking precision. His award-winning series features three powerful works: "Last Fireworks," "Jackpot," and "Mann." In "Last Fireworks," captured in the heart of the Algerian desert, the sky ignites in an explosion of colors at sunset—a moment he describes as "the fireworks of an unforgettable nomadic journey."

"Jackpot," photographed on Norway's Senja Island, immortalizes a spectacular aurora borealis after ten days of bad weather, creating a panorama of light and patience. Finally, "Mann," taken in the Italian Dolomites during a freezing night at -15°C, reveals the poetry of moonlight on snow, with each texture illuminated by lunar light. "These are scenes that demand as much endurance as technique," confides the photographer, who sometimes works entire nights to construct his panoramas.

Russian-Chinese photographer Vitaly Golovatyuk secured second place and first prize in the Aerial and Vertical category with a photograph taken at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. The image is the result of forty-eight shots captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Pro drone, then meticulously assembled and inverted to transform the city into an almost abstract landscape.

In the Amateur category, San Francisco-based Kevin Nyun earned the Photographer of the Year title for his images "The Altiplano Landscape," "Frozen," and "Remnants," which translate a sense of wonder at nature's beauty. In "The Altiplano Landscape," he used a drone to capture the Bolivian highlands at nearly 16,400 feet altitude. "Frozen" captures a glacial morning in the North Pacific mountains, where he braved extreme cold to seize the bluish glow of early dawn.

"Remnants," also taken in Bolivia, reveals the volcanic traces of an orange desert swept by clouds. The second place in the amateur competition went to Pedro Nogales for his image taken in Madrid, showcasing the PwC Tower, one of four iconic skyscrapers in the financial district.

Several special prizes complete the 2025 awards. The Epson Digital Art Prize went to Spanish photographer Daniel Viñé for "Women of the Coast," a poetic image captured in a Vietnamese village. Viñé also received the RAW Planet Award for "Cathedral of Shadows," an aerial panorama of Utah's desert landscape.

The Curator's Award, presented by contest founder David Evans, recognized American photographer Chris Byrne for "Elysium," an alpine landscape captured at the foot of Mount Rainier in Washington State. The floral and luminous scene summarizes the ephemeral beauty of nature. The competition also featured numerous other outstanding entries from photographers worldwide, showcasing diverse landscapes from China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and the United States.

All award-winning and finalist photographs can be viewed on the official contest website. Registration for the next edition of the competition will open in spring 2026, continuing the tradition of celebrating the most innovative and technically accomplished panoramic photography from around the globe.