December 4, 2025, 3:41 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Impressive worlds of images: The “International Landscape Photographer of the Year” awards showcase the (photographic) fascination of our Earth. Since 2014, the expert jury has selected the most spectacular landscape snapshots from around the world–TRAVELBOOK presents the top contenders.
For the 12th time, the jury of the “International Landscape Photographer of the Year” (ILPOTY Award) selected the most beautiful landscape photos. From over 3,600 submissions worldwide, the jury chose the top 101. These will also be published in a book. We present a selection of the winning photos and photographers.
The Best Photographer 2025
U.S. photographer J. Fritz Rumpf won this year’s “International Landscape Photographer of the Year Award” as the best photographer. To win the category “International Landscape Photographer of the Year,” a single extraordinary photo is not enough. A portfolio is required. Based on four photographs, the jury ultimately placed Rumpf at the top.
One of them stands out in particular–the large photo above, which at first glance almost looks like abstract painting. But it is actually an aerial shot of an impressive natural wonder in Brazil–the dune landscape Lençois Maranhenses in the north of the South American country. “River and Dunes” is the title of the image.
The award-winning photographer says about his spectacular photo from Brazil: “Flying over this otherworldly landscape in a Cessna was an experience I won’t soon forget. The incredible colors and patterns in the riverbed are created by decaying plant matter, resulting in a breathtakingly beautiful image that is made even more dramatic by the stark contrast to the white dunes.”
Lençois Maranhenses translates to “Bedsheets” of Maranhão in English. From above, the dunes look like giant white sheets draped over the land, creating slight indentations, much like the sheets on a recently used bed.
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The Best Landscape Photo of the Year
Lukas Trixl from Austria secured first place in the competition for the best landscape photo of the year. With his shot “A Land Before Time” on New Zealand’s North Island, he captured a scene of pristine beauty. It almost feels like being transported back to the time of dinosaurs, which Trixl conveys with the title of the winning photo.
Lukas Trixl says about his fascination: “Landscape photography has taught me to be more attentive when spending time outdoors. Nowadays, I feel that we take too many things for granted–especially nature. Photography is a wonderful way to slow down, take time, notice things that would otherwise go unnoticed, and view the world from new perspectives. That’s what I love about it.”
Other Winning Photos at a Glance
Special Prize Category “Stormy Sky”
Special Prize Category “Black and White”
Special Prize Category “Seascape”
Special Prize Category “Snow and Ice”
Special Prize Category “Lonely Tree”
The photos shown here represent a selection of winners from various categories. All 101 photos that made it into the book, as well as other images that particularly impressed the jury, can be found on the website of the ILPOTY Award.