In a remarkable showcase of talent, Fikri Muharom from Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, has claimed the inaugural title of Southeast Asia Open Photographer of the Year at the 15th Epson International Pano Awards. Out of over 4,500 submissions from 95 countries, Muharom’s stunning entry, The Volcanoes Theatre, which captures the breathtaking beauty of Mount Bromo at sunrise, stood out among a diverse pool of talent.
This year’s awards, renowned as the world’s largest competition dedicated to panoramic photography, saw entries evaluated by a prestigious judging panel that included top photographers and industry professionals such as Andy Chua, James Tan, Chris Yap, Hugh Hou, and last year’s winner, José D. Riquelme. The judging criteria focused on creativity, technical excellence, and originality.
The introduction of the Southeast Asia Open Photographer of the Year award led to a remarkable 70% increase in entries from the region, with submissions coming from countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Nguyễn Tấn Tuấn from Central Vietnam also made a significant impact, finishing as the overall runner-up in the Open competition and clinching the top spot in the Open Built Environment category.
The grand title of the competition was awarded to Kelvin Yuen, a landscape photographer based in Hong Kong. Yuen’s journey into landscape photography began at 18, following an impromptu hike near his home. His captivating works, including Power of Nature, Wilderness, and Mountain of Divinity, earned him the top honors in the Nature/Landscape category as well.
Participants in the Epson International Pano Awards competed for various prizes, including Epson SureColor printers and an ultra-slim projector, thanks to the generous sponsorship from Epson Australia and Epson Southeast Asia, which joined as a sponsor for the first time this year.
