1st place
gold star award
Placido Faranda
switzerland 
Photo © Placido Faranda
title
Solidified lava versus Forest
Those waves of lava are from Etna's big eruption back in 2002, this eruption was so spectacular that was recorded by Lucasfilm and integrated into the landscape of the planet Mustafar in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III
Since 2016 he’s focused exclusively on drone photography, with a very distinctive top-down style that’s gained international attention on social media (TOP 50 aerial photographer of 2016 on Instagram’s @FROMWHEREIDRONE, an authority on aerial photography)
In 2017, his picture “Lady in Red” was a finalist at the Sony World Photography Awards (travel category), placing it in the top 10 of 227,000 images entered from 183 countries. The same picture was also included in the World Photography Organization’s Sony Awards Traveling Exhibitions in London, Milan, Paris and Berlin.
Another of his pictures, "Solidified Lava vs Forest" was awarded second place at the 2017 PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris (landscape category). "Solidified Lava vs Forest" gained further worldwide exposure after being featured on National Geographic’s homepage as the “Picture of the day” in the United States, China, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Brazil and Portugal. In October 2017 the picture was awarded second place at the IPA (International Photography Awards) and chosen by the awards’ curator for the "IPA Best of Show" exhibition in New York.In November 2017 "Solidified Lava vs Forest" was awarded 1st place at ND awards 2017 and chosen over 6849 entries from 89 countries.
In 2018, for the second year in a row, his picture "The Big Meringue" is finalist at the Sony World Photography Awards (Landscape and Nature category) placing it in the top 10 of 129,338 images entered from 183 countries
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entry description
I shot this picture in Sicily, with my drone.Those waves of lava are from Etna's big eruption back in 2002, this eruption was so spectacular that was recorded by Lucasfilm and integrated into the landscape of the planet Mustafar in the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III
about the photographer
Placido Faranda is an award-winning aerial photographer whose style reflects a constant quest for new landscape colors and contrasts. Placido has been passionate about photography for over 10 years, combining DSLR and mirrorless camera technology to shoot travel and street photography.Since 2016 he’s focused exclusively on drone photography, with a very distinctive top-down style that’s gained international attention on social media (TOP 50 aerial photographer of 2016 on Instagram’s @FROMWHEREIDRONE, an authority on aerial photography)
In 2017, his picture “Lady in Red” was a finalist at the Sony World Photography Awards (travel category), placing it in the top 10 of 227,000 images entered from 183 countries. The same picture was also included in the World Photography Organization’s Sony Awards Traveling Exhibitions in London, Milan, Paris and Berlin.
Another of his pictures, "Solidified Lava vs Forest" was awarded second place at the 2017 PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris (landscape category). "Solidified Lava vs Forest" gained further worldwide exposure after being featured on National Geographic’s homepage as the “Picture of the day” in the United States, China, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Brazil and Portugal. In October 2017 the picture was awarded second place at the IPA (International Photography Awards) and chosen by the awards’ curator for the "IPA Best of Show" exhibition in New York.In November 2017 "Solidified Lava vs Forest" was awarded 1st place at ND awards 2017 and chosen over 6849 entries from 89 countries.
In 2018, for the second year in a row, his picture "The Big Meringue" is finalist at the Sony World Photography Awards (Landscape and Nature category) placing it in the top 10 of 129,338 images entered from 183 countries
back to gallery