Renowned conservation organisation Rainforest Rescue has announced the winners of the sophomore year of their international rainforest photography competition, The Canopy Awards 2023.
The Canopy Awards represents the pinnacle of rainforest photography and are designed to enhance and promote the art and technical mastery of the subject, help raise awareness about the nature and culture of rainforest habitats and above all, encourage their protection.
Photographers from across the globe were invited to enter photographs in three categories: Habitats, Characters and Hidden Gems.
Australian photographer Benjamin Maze’s image of a towering myrtle beech tree from a low-angle perspective within the Blue Tiers Forest Reserve in north eastern Tasmania was selected by judges for the Canopy Awards’ Grand Prize.
The accolade celebrates the image the judging panel felt best-captures the spirit and ideals of the competition.
Convened by Rainforest Rescue Ambassador Darren Jew, the Canopy Awards judging panel comprised multi-award-winning nature photographer Georgina Steytler, acclaimed landscape photographer and last year’s Grand Prize winner Matt Palmer, and conservationist Steven Nowakowski whose photography in the Wet Tropics has raised awareness internationally of the fragility of rainforest ecosystems.
“The Canopy Awards reminds us of the complexity and beauty of reality. These photographs are magic portals that take us to real places, through the eyes of real people who have been immersed in these habitats, glimpsed the behavior of these characters, and discovered these hidden gems.”
Darren Jew, Rainforest Rescue Ambassador
“Everyone is busy leading their lives so spending time in remarkable natural wonders like rainforests, and the Daintree in particular, can be difficult.
Rainforest Rescue’s CEO, Branden Barber
But what if we can bring some of the awe of rainforests to people?
That is what we are attempting to do here.
Photographers so richly capture the most interesting and emotive aspects of rainforests that their art and passion boost the experience for the viewer.
We protect what we care about.
Rainforests are beautiful – and they are essential for life on Earth to continue to evolve.
People need to FEEL the power and the beauty and the uniqueness of rainforests – so we can help protect them together.
I am grateful for these talented photographers who share with us the magic that lies within the rainforest.”
THE PRIZE WINNERS
