2024 International Landscape Photographer of the Year
“I look for minimalism - simple uncluttered compositions and small intimate scenes”, answered Andrew Mielzynski, the 2024 International Landscape Photographer of the Year.
“I’m a very passionate and dedicated amateur photographer, with a deep connection to the natural environment and a love for capturing its magnificence, splendour and glory. I have always enjoyed spending time in nature and photography has been a gift that has enabled me to see and appreciate things that would not have been noticed otherwise.”
Citing influences such as Eliot Porter, Shinzo Maeda, Charles Cramer, Freeman Patterson, William Neill, Alex Noriega, Richard Martin, Bruce Percy, Jennifer Renwick and Eric Bennett, he has developed a style and direction that embodies a straight forward approach which leaves us wondering why we hadn’t seen it as well.
“I love to slow down, observe and discover small, intimate scenes. Photography has given me a tremendous amount of joy throughout my life, especially the ability to capture moments in time inspired by the natural world.
“When I was young, our family used to stay in a cottage in Ontario, Canada. I remember long hikes through the landscape, talking about the plants and animals and enjoying the amazing sunsets over Georgian Bay. One time, my parents invited a good friend up for the weekend. He brought his Minolta SLR film camera and encouraged me to take a few photographs with it. Two weeks later, he showed up with three prints, one of a pair of flying ducks, one of a frog and the third of one of our fabulous sunsets. I still have those prints all these years later. The images were all soft and blurry, but when I saw them, I was filled with an immense feeling of pride and accomplishment. I was hooked!
“Unfortunately in those days, 12 year olds didn’t have cameras, or phones for that matter. I had to wait until I finished university and started working before I could purchase my first film camera, a Nikon FA. I had also started a family at that time and while two young children would keep me very busy, still I would wake up early every morning, before anyone else and go out to photograph small scenes, like frost on strawberry plants, raindrops on leaves and textures on driftwood. My love for small intimate scenes started early on and has never waned.”
Today Andrew uses a Canon EOS R5 mirrorless cameras with EF 16-35mm f4, RF 24-105mm, EF 70-200mm f2.8 and EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM lenses. On his computer, he uses Lightroom, Photoshop, Topaz and Helicon Focus.
“I try not to do too much in my post processing and generally stay away from the saturation slider.”
Andrew says he entered ILPOTY last year for the first time, so his record of first and second is pretty good. However, we won’t give him a chance to win again this year because he’ll be our fifth judge!
“I enjoy the process of entering the competition and wanted to enter again this year because it forces me to get organised, work on my photographs, get them ready and submit.
“I also love the book and find it extremely satisfying to be included with so many fabulous landscape photographers from around the world.”
