THE JUDGES
We're delighted to announce the judging panel for The Landscape Awards 2025.
Matt Palmer
Matt Palmer is a landscape photographer focused on conservation issues based in Bright, Victoria. With his partner Mieke Boynton he operates the Alpine Light Gallery. Matt has been recognised as a Master of Photography in Australia and New Zealand, and in 2019 his documentation of fires in Tasmania won him AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year.
Matt has a diverse history in photography, including 15 years of documenting some of the world's most influential musicians from Metallica, Pearl Jam, TOOL, Nick Cave and hundreds more. He also is a former AIPP Australian Professional Sports Photographer of the Year for his documentation of the sport of Muay Thai, and he has acted as an ambassador for Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania as well as collaborating with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy.
Matt has also been the chief photographer and creative director for Brisbane Roar FC, run a wedding and portrait photography business, and worked with a children's hospital to create images and designs to assist fundraising for medical care and research.
www.mattpalmer.co
Petra Leary
Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Petra Leary is a celebrated aerial photographer whose award-winning work has garnered global attention. Her images have graced Times Square billboards, appeared in campaigns, and featured on platforms like The Guardian, Instagram, Type7 by Porsche, Accidentally Wes Anderson, Sony World Photography, and SkyPixel.
As an ambassador for DJI and ADHD New Zealand, Petra’s influence extends beyond her photography. Her artistic style, marked by a blend of strong graphic elements and minimalist design, has made her a sought-after judge for photography competitions, including the Australian Photographer of the Year for the past six years.
In 2019, Petra was the subject of a documentary on her artistic and personal journey, showcased on New Zealand's Loading Docs platform and featured at the NY Doc Festival in New York.
Serena Dzenis
Serena Dzenis is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland. She uses her imagery to tell stories about science, conservation, environmental issues and the future of mankind.
Serena’s work places a strong emphasis on storytelling within the landscape – connecting with the land and immersing oneself in the rhythms and dangers associated with the living presence of this world. Her hope is to deliver the voice of nature through visual storytelling to a much broader audience in collaboration with researchers, scientists and media outlets.
Having originally made her name in the world of music photography, Serena’s work has continually evolved over time to include documentary, landscape and nature photography, as well as journalism and public speaking. She was named Architectural Photographer of the Year in the 2022 ND Photography Awards. Her current project, “2021 ± II: Utopia Broadcasting”, has been exhibited in several countries and achieved accolades worldwide, including being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards 2022.
Previously, Serena was the Senior Vice President for the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) in Australia, where she used her organisational abilities to motivate change. She also has over a decade of experience as a Mental Health clinician in youth early psychosis crisis assessment and treatment, as well as adult forensic psychiatry. Whilst maintaining a career in the health sector, she continued to work as a freelance photojournalist.
Given her unique background, Serena’s photographs depart from the traditional, with a focus on capturing the otherworldliness that is sometimes associated with nature on our own planet. Through her work, she has embraced the challenge to inspire others to think more deeply about our actions as a species, one image at a time.
serenavsworld.com
Will Patino
William Patino is an award-winning landscape photographer and educator based out of Te Anau in the South Island of New Zealand. Will's work has been collected around the world and he has had the pleasure of teaching thousands of students through his workshops and online courses.
Will is most passionate about pursuing dramatic moments in the grand landscape, with his work placing an emphasis on atmosphere, light and expressing emotion.
Although originally from the coastal shores of Wollongong Australia, Will's passion and calling is for the rugged mountain and forest scenes of Fiordland NZ, where he resides with his wife and two young children.
williampatino.com
Steph Vella
Steph Vella is a passionate travel, landscape and portrait photographer based in Sydney, Australia.
She loves capturing and sharing the natural beauty of the world. Along with shooting, she also loves teaching others through her private and group workshops. She is also the co-founder of the In Focus Women community, which celebrates, supports and inspires women in landscape photography from around the world.
stephanievella.com.au
Anthony McKee
Anthony McKee is a Melbourne-based writer and social documentary photographer. In 2014 he was named AIPP 2014 Australian Documentary Photographer of the Year. He has also won awards for his landscape photography. He has judged professional and amateur photography awards on both sides of the Tasman and in 2013 was made an Honorary Fellow of the NZIPP for his services to photography. He is a regular contributor to Australian Photography magazine.
anthonymckee.com.au
Ignacio Palacios
When it comes to photography and travel, few can rival Ignacio Palacios’ experience, skill, and passion. A third-generation photographer, Ignacio has been honoured with over 100 prestigious photography prizes and awards from around the world and has travelled to over 107 countries in his 26 years career. It’s little wonder he’s developed a reputation as a leading photographer in the fields of travel, landscape, and wildlife photography.
Born in Spain, Ignacio now calls Sydney, Australia home – though his unmistakable Spanish spirit continues to influence his work and define his signature style.
Combining his love of travel and photography has proved a powerful combination, and today Ignacio leads some of the world’s best photography tours to incredible destinations around the world. As an AIPP double Master of Photography, Ignacio shares his insight, experience, and technique with his clients to help them find their own success and joy on their photographic journey.
“I hope that through my images and my tours, I can open people’s eyes to the incredible world we live in. I want to give my guests both travel and photographic experience. We are privileged to have such a beautiful planet and it’s our responsibility to respect, cherish and protect it.”
Ignacio’s distinct, award-winning style can be defined by his mastery of composition, colour, and light. With his minimalistic style and unique ability to connect with his audience through storytelling through his images, Ignacio invites his audience to experience the subject not as how he captured it, but how he experienced it, evoking an emotional connection between the viewer, subject and artist.
Photography and travel will always be Ignacio’s passion, and he is dedicated to helping others ignite their passion too.
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