Volker Birke
Germany

Honorable Mention

"Standing Strong"

Nikon D810, beech trees taken at Nienhagen, Baltic Sea, during a fantastic moonlit night.

Biography: I can't draw, but release the shutter. I've been fascinated with nature, especially sea and landscapes, all my life, and how it relates to personal feelings, atmosphere and moods. Got my first camera around the age of ten. Therefore, artistic landscape photography has always been a favorite subject, also viewing landscape paintings (e.g., created by Caspar David Friedrich or William Turner). However, I'm much interested in other genres of photography as well. For the last 15 years I have primarily used digital SLR cameras, though still employing and developing (b&w 35 mm) film...