• Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
    Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
  • Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
    Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
  • Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
    Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
  • Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
    Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
  • Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
    Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
  • Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
    Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
  • Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
    Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
  • Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
    Allen Koppe, 'Sails in the sky', 2019 Black and White Photographer of the Year.
  • Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
    Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
  • Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
    Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
  • Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
    Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
  • Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
    Henry Howard, 'View from Afar', 2019 Junior Photographer of the Year.
  • Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
    Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
  • Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
    Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
  • Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
    Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
  • Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
    Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', 2019 Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
  • Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
    Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
  • Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
    Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
  • Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
    Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
  • Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
    Alice Mariette, 'The many shadows of Mr 4', 2019 People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
  • Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
    Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
  • Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
    Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
  • Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
    Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
  • Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
    Luke Fazekas, 'Streets of Pyongyang', 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year.
  • Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
    Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
  • Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
    Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
  • Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
    Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
  • Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
    Jakob Kennedy, 'Snowshowmen', 2019 Action Photographer of the Year.
  • Alex Ham, 'Toxic Beauty', 2019 Photo of the Year.
    Alex Ham, 'Toxic Beauty', 2019 Photo of the Year.
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Updated: 2019 Photographer of the Year presented by Panasonic: Winners, runners up and top entries in each category

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From mysterious shadow portraits to amazing aerials, stunning images of the ocean to the creatures inhabiting a Sunshine Coast backyard, the winners of the 2019 Photographer of the Year presented by Panasonic have been announced.

The annual competition, now in its seventh year, is the largest competition for amateur photographers in Australasia, and for 2019 had a prize pool of more than $25,000 across eight categories – Landscape, Wildlife and Animal, People and Portrait, Black and White, Travel, Action, Photo of the Year and Junior.

The overall title of Photographer of the Year 2019 was awarded to Melbourne obstetrician and gynaecologist Anthony Lawrence, for his beautifully stark series Winter in Biei Japan. The series was a tribute he says, ‘to the simple elegance inherent in Japanese culture.’

For the judges, it was a popular series in what is always the most fiercely competitive genre—landscape. Judge Douwe Dijkstra said the images portray a sense of peace and zen in a freezing environment.

“These are a wonderful series of Japanese winterscapes, with minimal hints of colour creating an almost monochrome mood.”

As overall winner, Lawrence takes home a prize pack valued at more than $10,000, including a Panasonic LUMIX S1R camera and lens kit valued at $6,899, a Wine Country Camera 100mm Starter Filter and Holder kit valued at $1,299 and $2,000 cash.

Other winners included a series of beautifully paired back images of the Sydney Opera House by Allen Koppe, rarely seen images from the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea by Luke Fazekas, and stunning aerials from WA by 17-year-old Henry Howard.

We would like to say a huge thank you to our amazing sponsors, without which the competition could not run: major sponsor Panasonic, and category sponsors QNAP, Manfrotto, Eizo, Camera House, Aurora Expeditions, The Brownbill Effect, Wine Country Camera, Sandisk and WD.

We would also like to extend our thanks to our judging panel of professional photographers who took on the task of assessing the thousands of entries in the competition for 2019: Alex Cearns OAM, Jacques Van As, Anthony McKee, Lisa Michele Burns, Douwe Dijkstra, Petra Leary, Drew Hopper, Rohan Kelly, Dylan Fox, Shannon Wild, Helen Whittle, Steve & Ann Toon, Hillary Younger and Tanya Stollznow.

Below you can see the winner and runner up from each category, along with links to the top entries in each category. 

The February 2020 issue of Australian Photography also includes the Top 20 images and portfolios in the Landscape; Wildlife and Animal;  People and Portrait; and Photo of the Year categories, and the Top 12 in the Black & White; Travel; Action; and Junior categories. The February edition also includes judges’ comments and photographer profiles.

Get yourself a copy – in newsagencies now – or you can get a digital copy online here, or subscribe to the print edition here

Finally, to everyone who entered this year, thank you. Your work continues to excite, challenge and entertain us, and for the judging panel only gets more difficult to evaluate every year.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on what you like and dislike about Photographer of the Year. You can send us an email with your feedback at contact@australianphotography.com. ❂

Landscape | Sponsored by Wine Country Camera

Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
Anthony Lawrence, 'Landscapes of Biei, Japan'. Overall Winner, 2019 Photographer of the Year. Winner, 2019 Landscape Photographer of the Year.
Niall Chang, The surreal landscapes of the deserts of Northern Argentina, Runner up, Landscape Photographer of the Year.
Niall Chang, The surreal landscapes of the deserts of Northern Argentina, Runner up, Landscape Photographer of the Year.

TOP 30: LANDSCAPE
1. Anthony Lawrence, Winter Landscapes of Biei Japan
2. Niall Chang, The Surreal Landscapes of the Deserts of Northern Argentina
3. Allen Koppe, Trees
4. Alex Ham, The Price we Pay
5. Allen Koppe, By the Sea
6. Tim Wrate, Salis
7. Gergo Rugli, Tales of the Wind
8. David Dahlenburg, Australian Tailing Dams
9. Samuel Markham, Amaroo – Aboriginal Meaning Beautiful Place
10. Timothy Moon, Abstract Landscapes
11. Matt Fieldes, Orange & Blue
12. Michelle Bowen, Earth's Changing Face
13. Graham Earnshaw, Beauty Amongst the White Fluffy Stuff
14. Lianne Manley, Fin Forest
15. David Dahlenburg, Salt Mining
16. Benjamin Maze, Seascapes of the South
17. Alan Daniel, Water Falling
17. Matt Fieldes, Blue & Green
19. Russell Curr, Eternal Mist
19. Robert Morello, Metamorphic
21. Paul Dodd, Sports Grounds from the Air
21. Prithvi Bhattacharya, Vertical Pixel
23. Braeden Tairi, Mountain Ashes
24. Craig McGowan, Greenland Fjords
25. Prithvi Bhattacharya, Australia Coast to Coast
26. Bob Walpole, The Rugged Beauty of Central Western Australia
27. Nick Wain, Sydney's Ocean Pools
28. Jon Corpus, Kimberley Tones
29. Wayne Riley, Pink Lake
30. Diny Jones, Patterns in Agricultural Landscapes

Wildlife and Animal | Sponsored by Aurora Expeditions

Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', Winner, Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
Ethan Mann, 'The Wild Backyard', Winner, Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
Jari Cornelis, Beauty of the Beasts, Runner up, Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.
Jari Cornelis, Beauty of the Beasts, Runner up, Wildlife and Animal Photographer of the Year.

TOP 30: WILDLIFE AND ANIMAL
1. Ethan Mann, The Wild Backyard
2. Jari Cornelis, Beauty of the Beasts
3. Bob McDonald, Seal Heaven
4. Louise Wolbers, Betta Fish
5. Naomi Strong, Dumpling Squid – The Adorable Cephalopod
6. Graham Earnshaw, Iguanas of the Galapagos
7. Zach Parker, Dream World
8. Jesslyn Saw, A Day in the Life of a Jumping Spider
9. Bee Elle, Macropod Love
10. Suzanne Nelson, Seal of Approval
11. Darren Gentle, Water Droplets
12. Farzin Sahebjam, Mysterious Animals
13. Simon Pierce, Ice Bears
14. David Bryan, At the Night Hide
15. Christian Spencer, Winged Prism
16. Jiri Herout, Wildlife
17. Gary Meredith, The Jilbup Mob
18. Daniel Towns, Tame but Wild
19. Neil Vincent, Underwater Symbiosis
20. Sheldon Labriola, Snakes of Western Australia
21. Heather Rose, Puffins of Iceland
22. Bronwyn Hughes, Mark's Troop
22. Tim Robinson, Southern Crested Caracara
24. Robert Walpole, Birds of Brazil
25. Jannico Kelk, Trapped in the Dark
26. Geoffrey Vines, Backyard Bugs
26. Bob Walpole, Toco Toucans in the Wilds of Brazil
26. Fiona Klat, Macro Flowers
29. Ron Lovatt, Rainbow of the Amazon Under Threat
30. Robert Smith, Humpbacks of Tonga

People and Portrait | Sponsored by Camera House

Alice Mariette, The Many Shadows of Mr 4, Winner, People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
Alice Mariette, The Many Shadows of Mr 4, Winner, People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
Carole Mills Noronha, Family Heirlooms, Runner-up, People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.
Carole Mills Noronha, Family Heirlooms, Runner-up, People and Portrait Photographer of the Year.

TOP 30: PEOPLE AND PORTRAIT
1. Alice Mariette, The Many Shadows of Mr 4
2. Carole Mills Noronha, Family Heirlooms
3. Jill Velinos, Hospital Admission
3. Paul Thompson, Siren
5. Adrian Thornton, Swimming at Sunrise
5. Fiona Bowring-Greer, At home: Exposed
7. Kate Lionis, Lost in the Landscape
8. Rob Cox, Who is Simon?
9. Alana Green, Our Mad, Beautiful Blur
10. Benjamin Hunt, Better than Lego
11. Rod Evans, In the Limelight
12. Alana Green, Just Add Water
12. Renee Hibbert, The Debutante
14. Cameron Meacham, Child’s Play
15. Jeanette Scales, Raw Emotions of a Dancer
16. Jodie Stallard, The Everyday
17. Brett Ferguson, Remnants
18. Anthony Lawrence, Devotional Dance
18. Richmond Dido, Lost Boy from Neverland
20. Derek Hamlin, Dancing with Flour
21. Adam Jordan, Valentine’s Day
21. Farzin Sahebjam, Siesta
21. Kajal Krishna, Brittle Twigs
24. Duane Bridger, Portrait of Schizophrenia
24. Annette Collins, Max
26. Chris Dynia, Graceful and Strong
27. Anthony Lawrence, Final Preparations Ready for Lord Krishna Birthday Celebrations
28. Ruth Woodrow, Poetry Laid Bare
28. Wendy Wiseman, Emerging
30. Keith Costelo, Kissed by Sunset
30. Sue Joy, Siblings

Black and White | Sponsored by QNAP

Allen Koppe, Sails in the Sky, Winner, Black and White Photographer of the Year.
Allen Koppe, Sails in the Sky, Winner, Black and White Photographer of the Year.
Steven Algie, The Great Depression, Runner up, Black and White Photographer of the Year.
Steven Algie, The Great Depression, Runner up, Black and White Photographer of the Year.

TOP 20: BLACK & WHITE
1. Allen Koppe, Sails in the Sky
2. Steven Algie, Great Depression
3. Allen Koppe, The Bridge
4. Jeanette Scales, Light On Concrete
5. Theresa Lee, Ageing Beauties
6. Steven Algie, After the Flood
7. Irina Mitin, Oriental Minimalism
8. Bala Krishnan, Urban City
8. Julie Brown, Macro Eremophila Flowers
10. Thomas Chau, Strangers
11. Santosh Mitra, Birds and Sticks
12. Steve Day, Susum
13. Andrew Lance, Bungendore Rodeo
14. Jacqueline Hammer, Oil and Water Abstracts
15. Steven Algie, Ebb and Flow
16. Michael Stringer, Ebb & Flow
17. Louise Wolbers, Spanish Architecture
18. Elmar Akhmetov, Rock with the Flow
19. Steven Algie, Time
20. Nola Sumner, Looking Up, Looking Through

Travel | Sponsored by Manfrotto

Luke Fazekas, Streets of Pyongyang, Winner, Travel Photographer of the Year.
Luke Fazekas, Streets of Pyongyang, Winner, Travel Photographer of the Year.
Karoly Nemeskeri, Runner up, Travel Photographer of the Year.
Karoly Nemeskeri, Runner up, Travel Photographer of the Year.

TOP 20: TRAVEL
1. Luke Fazekas, Streets of Pyongyang
2. Karoly Nemeskeri, Travel
3. Louise Browne, Arctic Holiday
4. Sharron Leppien, Traversing Madagascar
5. Irina Mitin, Amazing China
5. Ruth Woodrow, Havana ooh na-na
7. Genevieve Ackland, The Summer Life of Biarritz
8. Luke David, Guilin
9. Genevieve Ackland, Cinque Terre on Film
9. Kevin Norris, Handmade in the Middle East
11. Anthony Lawrence, Sanganer Dyeing Works
12. Neil Brink, Steptoe Butte
13. Graeme Mell, Hello Sri Lanka
14. Grant Hunt, London Calling
15. Luke David, Moving Tokyo
16. Jiachen Ji, I am in My Photos
16. Niall Chang, French Alps
16. Tiago Silva, The Old Man and the Bridge
19. Margot Hughes, Varanasi
20. Graham Earnshaw, Midwest American Living

Action | Sponsored by WD and Sandisk

Jakob Kennedy, Snowshowmen, Winner, Action Photographer of the Year.
Jakob Kennedy, Snowshowmen, Winner, Action Photographer of the Year.
Ian Hollis, Oceanic Power, Runner up, Action Photographer of the Year.
Ian Hollis, Oceanic Power, Runner up, Action Photographer of the Year.

TOP 20: ACTION
1. Jakob Kennedy, Snowshowmen
2. Ian Hollis, Oceanic Power
3. Robert Saunders, The Art of Physics/The Science of Art
4. Dennis Mitchell, Banzai Pipeline
5. Andy Owen, In, On and Under
6. Victoria McNeill, Battle of the Boards
7. Florent Rols, Acrobats of the Coast
8. James Rolevink, Avalon Airshow 2019
9. Victoria McNeill, The Super Crit
10. Troy Harradine, BMX from Above
11. Simon Bischoff, Deep Play
12. Grant Faulkner, The Many Faces of Susan Gilmore Wedge
13. Susan Zackrisen, Outback Rodeo Action
14. Louise Wolbers, Battle in the Sky
15. Grant Scott-Hayward, Flying Low, High and Fast
16. Andrew Edwards, Liquidity
17. Colin Rosewarne, Motorsport Dry and Wet
17. Kym Douglas, Freestyle Motocross
19. David Bassett, At the Rodeo
20. Susan Zackrisen, Polocrosse Fall

Photo of the Year | Sponsored by Sally Brownbill

Alex Ham, Toxic Beauty, Winner, Photo of the Year.
Alex Ham, Toxic Beauty, Winner, Photo of the Year.
Leigh Miller, Pink Lake, Runner up, Photo of the Year.
Leigh Miller, Pink Lake, Runner up, Photo of the Year.
Kimberley Wallis, No-one, Runner up, Photo of the Year.
Kimberley Wallis, No-one, Runner up, Photo of the Year.

TOP 20: PHOTO OF THE YEAR
1. Alex Ham, Toxic Beauty
2. Kimberley Wallis, No-one
2. Leigh Miller, Pink Lake
4. Jan Wilson, Himba Mother & Child
5. Rebecca Harrison, Spoonbill Swish
6. Jeanette Scales, Spiral Architect
6. Samuel Markham, Final Stand
6. Gergo Rugli, Inferno
9. Eamon Porter, Morning Swim
10. Kai Clark, Kobe Chinatown
11. Neen Magro, O Sole Mio
12. Jack Anderson, Guacamayo
12. Fiona Moult, The Apprentice Eagle Hunter
12. Allen Koppe, Last Light
15. Chandra Bong, Log and Horns
16. Theresa Lee, On Board the Dragon
17. Eugen Naiman, Golden Dune
17. Kiyan Ahmadizadeh, Single Image
19. John Julian, The Emerald of the Ocean
20. Polly Fenton, Best Friends
20. Chris Gordon, Shades of Blue

Junior (under 18) | Sponsored by Eizo

Henry Howard, View from Afar, Winner, Junior Photographer of the Year.
Henry Howard, View from Afar, Winner, Junior Photographer of the Year.
Harman Singh Heer, This is Africa, Runner up, Junior Photographer of the Year.
Harman Singh Heer, This is Africa, Runner up, Junior Photographer of the Year.

TOP 20: JUNIOR
1. Henry Howard, View From Afar
2. Harman Singh Heer, This is Africa...
3. Henry Openshaw, Small Town Minimalism
4. Tess Poyner, Rainforest
5. Matthew Barrett, Glowing Sun
6. Sonya Clarke, Landmarks of a Country
6. Harman Singh Heer, Worth More Alive
6. Isabelle Rebetzke, Ollie
9. Michael Li, One Step at a Time
10. Tess Poyner, South Australia
11. Connor Murkies-Hirsch, A Leopard Gazes at his Surroundings
12. Joss Cleland, Primrose Hue & Soporific Tones
13. Jacob Ditter, Pedal Prix 24 Hour
13. Alex Gualtieri, The Great Outdoors
15. Annie Chen, Moments of Silence
15. Matthew Barrett, Look up at Night
15. Liam Haendel, Tropical Treats
18. Morrissey Whelan, Nature Walks
18. Michelle Tu, Dad
20. Connor Murkies-Hirsch, The Leopards of Londolozi

Photographer of the Year 2020 will open for entries in June 2020. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter for the latest updates.

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