The Motif Collective Jul 2023

"Stormy Day" 2023 THEME WINNERS

From a casual unplanned capture, to all out-storm chasing, the weather can affect the mood of an image more than anything else. Uncontrollable wind, clouds and rain, the beautiful powerful elements of life and nature are the subject or backdrop of many of the most amazing images ever captured. Even a hint of that power or just a mild touch of it during a light afternoon shower, has a very dramatic effect on our world's natural light, a light that only nature can produce!

Fire In Pantanal BY Bence Máté

Our First Place Winner was submitted by
Bence Máté from Pusztaszer, Hungary

Bence Mate is a Hungarian wildlife photographer, and the most successful participant in the history of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of The Year competition. He is the only person to be voted both 'Young Wildlife Photographer of The Year' and 'Wildlife Photographer of The Year', and he leads all the rankings in this competition. He is best known to the public as 'The Invisible Wildlife Photographer' from the title of a three-part series broadcast on Spectrum Television. Apart from these achievements he has also established an international reputation as a designer of specialist photography hides. According to a 2014 survey, he is the 9th best-known Hungarian in the world, and is also very successful in his own country.

Bence is an Ambassador for Panasonic cameras.

Books: The Invisible Wildlife Photographer (English, Hungarian), The Handbook of Bird Photography (Markus Varesvuo, Jari Peltomäki, Bence Máté; English, German, Finnish, French, Chinese); The Exhibition (English, Hungarian)

Visit more of Bence's amazing work online at:
bencemate.com

Elk Storm By Wes Uncapher

Our Second Place Winner was submitted by
Wes Uncapher from Riverton, Wyoming

I have been a photographer for thirty plus years trying to do a little better with each passing year. The daily goal is to make todays picture a little better than yesterday.

Visit more of Wes's amazing work online at:
www.belchingfrog.com

Dark Fjord by Juan Lopez Ruiz

Our Third Place Winner was submitted by
Juan Lopez Ruiz from Madrid, Spain

Amateur photographer born in Madrid, Spain.

My specialty is landscape photography but I have also developed a special interest in architectural and wildlife photography.

Visit more of Juan's amazing work online at:
www.jlopezruiz.com

Rough sea By Giovanni Allievi

Our Honorable Mention Winner was submitted by
Giovanni Allievi from Pietra Ligure, Italy

For over three decades, my photographic focus has centered on the mesmerizing world of sea storms. Since the mid-1980s, I have honed my craft, capturing the raw power and untamed beauty of these turbulent oceanic displays. Venturing to remote coastlines, I seize moments of elemental chaos, evoking awe and reverence for nature's grandeur.

Visit more of Giovanni's amazing work online at:
www.allievi-photography.com

Theme Shortlist

Below are the amazing images that shortlisted into the top tier of this themes competition. A big congratulations to all the talented photographers that participated!