Windswept Norwegian Scene Wins Outdoor Photographer Of The Year Competition

© Stian Nesoy 2017

Stian Nesoy has been crowned the overall winner of the Outdoor Photographer of the Year 2016 competition with an image of a windswept scene, taken in the Hardangervidda National Park, Norway, after days of snowstorms. 

Stian's image was selected from the list of category winners announced back in January and a lucky break in the weather gave Stian the opportunity to capture the winter-themed, otherworldly landscape near a couple of hunter's cabins. 

"The little footprints were left behind by a lone arctic fox during its relentless search for food in this barren wilderness," said Stian. "After scouting this frozen scene before sunrise, I discovered a spot with a snowdrift leading into the light. The placement of the hill to the left and the tracks made for a balanced image. The image is captured in a wide panoramic format to convey the vastness of the surroundings. I captured the image just before the sun broke the horizon, making for a softly lit scene that helps the textures come alive."

Overall, the competition received 17,000 entries and some of these are featured in the Outdoor Photographer of the Year: Portfolio II book, available now. 

For more information, visit the OPOTY website.