The photo taken by a Pole was awarded in the prestigious nature photography competition. As the author of the shot, Mr. Paweł Zygmunt told on TVN24, its performance was not easy and required traveling to the inaccessible region of the world.
On Thursday, the British-Irish edition of the National Geographic magazine announced the winners of the competition for the best travel photography. Among the awarded photos was a shot taken by a Pole, Paweł Zygmunt. The photographer immortalized on him one of the hot sources lying in the Hveravellir geothermal field in Iceland.
On the volcanic desert
In an interview with the editors Contact24 Mr. Paweł explained that he was from Żoryhowever, he has lived in Ireland for about 20 years and is a professional photographer. – The photo I submitted for the competition was taken during a ten -day photo trip to Iceland, which I took in July 2023. I took the photo with a drone in an interior in Central Iceland, where you can only reach during the summer months, because at other times the area is so icy and snowy that it prevents it from moving around it – he reported.
– I got to this place in a wild road, about 60 kilometers deep into the area. It is actually a volcanic desert, where the sources of hot water from the inside of the earth beaten, so during the journey everything seems to evaporate and bubble. On the day I got there, it was still very windy, which significantly hindered photography, but ultimately I was able to erect a drone high enough and with its help I could search the area in search of an interesting view – he explained.
– It seems to me that the recipients of this photo were surprised and intrigued, because at first glance it is difficult to assess what it is. The photo resembles the eye of a creature, maybe he talks. And I think that this mainly decided that this photo won – said the author of the photo in the program “Facts in the afternoon” on TVN24.
Hveravellir geothermal field – photo awarded in the “Landscape” category of the National Geographic UK 2025 competitionPaweł Zygmunt
Return to Iceland
As Paweł explained, a lot of photos are taken on this type of expedition. Their selection, review and preparation takes some time. He admitted that after the announcement of the results of the competition, his social media “warmed up to red.”
– Although no gala was organized on this occasion, but it is such a prestigious distinction that I wanted to share it. I have been photographing for years, I have already visited the Sheep Islands three times, I was in North Norway or Italian Dolomites. I always find a moment, even during my family holidays, to slip out of the hotel with a camera to admire new places – he noted.
The author revealed that he is already planning a return to Iceland. In four weeks, Mr. Paweł will once again immortalize the landscapes of the middle of the island – as he explained, you can get amazing, rare staff that no one has ever done.
Source of the main photo: Paweł Zygmunt