The panel of the “Fotografare il Parco” international contest, organised by the Stelvio, Gran Paradiso, Abruzzo-Lazio-Molise, and Vanoise National Parks together with Swarovski Optik Italia, has chosen the winners of the 12th edition, among 3,000 pictures submitted by 373 authors.The panel had to take difficult decisions, given the high level of the participating pictures; here are the outcomes. 

 

Gianluca Damiani from Rome won the first prize with his photograph, titled “Apparizioni fugaci” (“Fleeting appearance”). The fugacity of a wolf spotting is very evocatively rendered thanks to the morning mist and the image’s peculiar composition.

“Gazè Moonlight” by Thomas Delahaye from Pralognan la Vanoise is the peculiar picture of a diurnal butterfly photographed at night-time, standing out against a sky of artificial lights, which won the second prize.

The third prize was awarded to “Tulipano di montagna” (“Mountain tulip”) by Lorenzo Shoubridge from Lido di Camaiore: the subject of the picture becomes its sole protagonist thanks to the skilful use of focus.

 

The best picture in the “Park landscapes” category is “Contrasti di luce” (“Light contrast”) by Elisabetta Faccin from Valdagno: the Larcher mountain hut overlooks steep walls and glacial moraines in a black-and-white contrast.

The best pictures for each individual protected area are as follows: for Abruzzo-Lazio-Molise National Park, “Il bacio” (“The kiss”) by Francesco Ferruzzi from Guidonia Montecelio, portraying Bosco della Difesa, a forest of gorgeous centuries-old trees; ice breaking on Lake Serrù is the subject of “Disgelo” (“Thawing”) by Pietro Ruffini from Tortona, which was selected as best picture for Gran Paradiso National Park; “L’apertura del ghiacciaio” (“Glacier opening”) by Valter Pallaoro from Ora is the best picture for Stelvio National Park, thanks to the unusual point of view from inside the glacier; best image for Parc national de la Vanoise is “Orage sur l’Esseillon” by Jean-Luc Viart from Modane, who has been able to render the light and darkness of a violent cloudburst above the ancient fortress of Avrieux.

 

The winner of the “Wild fauna in the Park” category is Roberto Boccucci from Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, with his picture “Volo” (“Flight”), capturing rock ptarmigans in their white winter plumage. The second prize in this category was awarded to a “Civetta capogrosso” (boreal owl) looking out its nest in the picture by Mauro Arzillo from Risano. The third prize went to the dynamic picture “Valanga di camosci” (“Chamois avalanche”) by Thomas Martini from Ville d’Anaunia/Tuenno.

 

Flowers and butterflies were the subject of the best pictures in the “Park micro-world and natural details” category, won again by Thomas Delahaye with his picture “Apollo trio”, while Massimo Arcaro from Quart won second place with “Delicatezze di fine estate” (“End-of-summer delicacies”). The third prize was awarded to “L’incontro” (“Meeting”): two tiny snails met on the water surface, and were photographed by Luigino Zangobbo from Tombolo.

 

“Anemone epatica” (“Hepatica nobilis") by Melchiorre Pizzitola from Bologna won the first prize in the “Park plants” category. Lorenzo Shoubridge also won the second prize in this category with his dream-like picture “Fungo” (“Mushroom”). The third prize went to Fabrizio Stefani from Besana Brianza, thanks to the wintery black and white of his “Confini” (“Borders”).

 

The single prize of the “Digiscoping in the Park” category was awarded to the portrait of a young “Coturnice” (rock partridge) among the branches, by Giancarlo Giudici from Tovo Sant’Agata.

 

The high quality of submitted images compelled the panel to mention seven further pictures by photographers Tommaso Renzi, Alberto Olivero, Maurizio Pol, Valter Pallaoro, Andrea Roverselli, Daniel Durand and Sara Di Maro.

 

The increasing number of submitted pictures confirms the growing interest of photographers for the protected areas’ contest. Increasingly, these National Parks are seen not only as places to protect and enhance nature and culture, but also as privileged spaces to exercise one’s aesthetic sense and photographic skills.

 

Winners will receive the prizes provided by the protected areas, Swarovski Optik Italia, Photogem and Edinat.

 

Bormio/Turin, 15th January 2018