And the Winners are… 2023 Canopy Awards Winners Announced!

We’re excited to announce the winners of the 2023 Rainforest Rescue Canopy Awards, in the second year of the international rainforest photography competition. 

Australian photographer Benjamin Maze’s image of a towering myrtle beech tree from a low-angle perspective within the Blue Tiers Forest Reserve in North-East Tasmania was selected by judges for the Canopy Awards’ Grand Prize. The accolade celebrates the image the judging panel felt best-captures the spirit and ideals of the competition.

The Canopy Awards represents the pinnacle of rainforest photography and are designed to enhance and promote the art and technical mastery of the subject, help raise awareness about the nature and culture of rainforest habitats and above all, encourage their protection. Photographers from across the globe were invited to enter photographs in three categories: Habitats, Characters and Hidden Gems. 

Judges chose a winner in each category, plus bestowed a special prize for the judge’s ‘Best of the Wet Tropics.’ To round-out the suite of prizes, a ‘People’s Choice’ popularity vote was cast via Facebook to include the public in judging and further share digitally the beauty and significance of rainforests.

THE WINNERS OF THE 2023 RAINFOREST RESCUE CANOPY AWARDS

Chosen from the 3 Category winners, the Canopy Grand Prize celebrates the image the judges felt best captured the spirit and ideals of the competition.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

BENJAMIN MAZE, Australia
A towering myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii) reaches towards the sky, the canopy turned gold by the afternoon sun. Blue Tiers Forest Reserve, North-East Tasmania, Australia
(Pictured above)

Benjamin has won a luxurious 5-night stay at Daintree Secrets, right in the heart of the Daintree rainforest, with activities on the Daintree River with Solar Whisper and in the forest with Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre.

 

CATEGORY WINNERS

All Category Winners have won a voucher from f-Stop for $375 for purchasing high quality camera bags and accessories, as well as a stylish and durable Will & Bear hat valued at AUD$120.

Habitats Winner – BENJAMIN MAZE, Australia
A towering myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii) reaches towards the sky, the canopy turned gold by the afternoon sun. Blue Tiers Forest Reserve, North-East Tasmania, Australia

Finalists: Benjamin Maze | Clay Hawker | Deb Ford

 

Characters Winner – ROMAN WILLI, Switzerland
An assassin bug catches itself a meal on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Finalists: Roman Willi | Jasmine Connors | John Benfer | Tracey Jones | Matt Cornish

 

Hidden Gems Winner – JUDITH MORGAN, Australia
At Wanggoolba Creek, K’gari, Great Sandy National Park, Australia

Finalists: Judith Morgan | Deb Ford | Margaret Bending | Madeleine Nielsen | Andrea Crimmins

Best of the Wet Tropics Winner – CLAY HAWKER, Queensland, Australia
Din Din (Barron) Falls, Kuranda, Queensland, Australia

Finalists: Clay Hawker | Matt Cornish | Tracey Jones | Jasmine Connors

We delved into our Judges rankings and identified the highest achieving entry that had been shot inside the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of North Queensland, where Rainforest Rescue is working hard to restore the biologically diverse regions on the planet. #TreesAreTheAnswer 

The winner will receive a voucher from f-stop worth $375, which can be used to purchase high-quality camera bags and accessories. Additionally, they will receive a stylish and durable Will & Bear hat valued at $120, perfect for exploring the great outdoors.

 

People’s Choice Vote – Winner: MATT CORNISH, Australia
Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

2nd Jasmine Connors | 3rd Deb Ford | 4th Isla Rumney | 5th John Benfer

Having received the most votes in the People’s Choice, Matt has won a prize pack which includes a sleek and stylish set of sunglasses worth $150 from The Sunglass Fix, as well as a cozy and beautifully designed rug worth $150 from Wandering Folk and a stunning print from The Scenic Route.

Convened by Rainforest Rescue Ambassador Darren Jew (Canon Master and six-time winner of the Australian Professional Nature Photographer of the Year Award) the Canopy Awards judging panel comprised multi-award-winning nature photographer Georgina Steytler, acclaimed landscape photographer and last year’s Grand Prize winner Matt Palmer, and conservationist Steven Nowakowski whose photography in the Wet Tropics has raised awareness internationally of the fragility of rainforest ecosystems.

“The Canopy Awards reminds us of the complexity and beauty of reality. These photographs are magic portals that take us to real places, through the eyes of real people who have been immersed in these habitats, glimpsed the behavior of these characters, and discovered these hidden gems,” said Darren Jew.  “It’s a reminder that we don’t need machine learning and supercomputers to build us fantasy worlds when we have photographers out and about, documenting and sharing the beautiful reality of rainforest”.

Rainforest Rescue’s CEO Branden Barber, agrees, adding: “Everyone is busy leading their lives so spending time in remarkable natural wonders like rainforests, and the Daintree in particular, can be difficult. But what if we can bring some of the awe of rainforests to people? That is what we are attempting to do here. Photographers so richly capture the most interesting and emotive aspects of rainforests that their art and passion boost the experience for the viewer. We protect what we care about. Rainforests are beautiful – and they are essential for life on Earth to continue to evolve. People need to FEEL the power and the beauty and the uniqueness of rainforests – so we can help protect them together. I am grateful for these talented photographers who share with us the magic that lies within the rainforest.”

Kristin Canning, Rainforest Rescue’s Partnerships Manager, added, “Being a part of the Canopy Awards is a natural extension for Rainforest Rescue’s partners, with the collective resources of our amazing sponsors helping to champion rainforest awareness. Their support not only made the Awards possible, but shows their respective strong commitments as champions of ecologically conscious businesses.”

Seen below are the Shortlisted entries, which were all considered for major prizes by the judging panel, before being presented to the public for the People’s Choice Vote on Facebook.

MAKING THE 2023 RAINFOREST RESCUE CANOPY AWARDS POSSIBLE

CANOPY AWARDS SPONSORS – GRAND PRIZE

Daintree Secrets | Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre | Solar Whisper

SPONSORING THE THREE CATEGORIES and SPECIAL PRIZES

f-stop Gear | Will and Bear

PEOPLE’S CHOICE PRIZE POOL CONTRIBUTORS

The Sunglass Fix | Wandering Folk | The Scenic Route

 

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