The Fantastic Finalists of the 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

Jul 29, 2024

Jeremy Gray

Left side: A person with short, wavy black hair poses with fingers on their cheek and lips as a hand holds a reflective sheet over their forehead, creating an optical illusion. Right side: A small, humanoid figure with a mossy cap stands on a log in a dark forest surrounded by glowing fireflies.

The Siena Awards unveiled the finalists for the 2024 Creative Photo Awards, showcasing 36 images across seven categories.

The finalists below are from Animals and Pets, Architecture, Fine Art, Nature and Landscape, People, Open, and Series categories. Notably, nominees for additional Advertising and Wedding categories have yet to be shared.

Animals and Pets

A newborn monkey sleeps peacefully, cradled in its mother's arms. The mother's brown fur contrasts with the baby monkey’s delicate, lighter skin. The image captures a tender moment of maternal care and protection. — ‘A Tranquil Moment’ by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod (Sri Lanka) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A clouded leopard climbs a moss-covered tree branch, stretching its body with its front paws up and its tail extended. The background features a misty waterfall and dense forest, giving the scene a mystical and serene ambiance. The image is in black and white. — ‘Braving the Strings to Destiny’ by Cheraine Collette (The Netherlands) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A playful polar bear lies on its back in the snow with its paws raised in the air. Its mouth is slightly open, and its fur is fluffy and white. The background is also white, blending seamlessly with the bear's fur. — ‘Come Play With Me’ by Eberhard Ehmke (Germany) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A mother bear and her cub sleep on the edge of a rocky cliff under a starry night sky. The Milky Way is visible, adding to the serene, dreamlike atmosphere of the scene. — ‘Dreaming Above the Univesre’ by Lurdes Santander (Spain) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A lone white wolf stands on rocks at the base of a dark, tall, and jagged cliff. The stark contrast of the white wolf against the black cliff creates a dramatic and solitary scene. — ‘King of Mordor’ by Denisa Zbranková Albaniová (Czechia) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A humpback whale gracefully swims underwater, illuminated by sunlight filtering through the blue ocean. The whale's tail is slightly curved as it ascends, creating ripples on the water's surface. Tiny air bubbles can be seen around the whale. — ‘Whale Dreams’ by Remuna Beca (USA) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

Architecture

A black-and-white image of a person walking through a futuristic, wavy architectural tunnel. The tunnel curves organically, opening to the sky on the left side where a contrail from a passing airplane is visible. The person is silhouetted against the bright light. — ‘Crank’ by Marcel Van Balken (The Netherlands) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A person walks alone in a vast open space near a large, modern architectural structure featuring a domed roof and curved lines. The black and white photo emphasizes the contrast and shadows, giving the scene a futuristic and minimalist feel. — ‘Neimeyer’ by Rafael Garcia Luna (Spain) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A person stands on a vast, white, undulating surface under a pale blue sky. The geometric, almost abstract landscape appears barren and endless, with the lone figure adding a sense of scale and solitude. — ‘Sahara di Cemento’ by Antonio Simone Verde (Italy) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A modern building with a glass facade features a wavy, sail-like roof structure. The intricate roof pattern and the reflective glass create an artistic, dynamic appearance against a blue sky backdrop. — ‘Storm on the Elbe’ by Anna Wacker (Greece) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A row of modern, wave-shaped apartment buildings with white facades stand along a calm waterfront. The unique architecture features curved roofs and large windows. The structures are mirrored in the still water below, creating a symmetrical reflection. — ‘Waves’ by Ursula Reinke (Germany) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

Fine Art

A person stands against a backdrop covered in densely packed handwritten text. The person's body is also adorned with similar handwritten text, creating a continuous, immersive effect. The text appears to cover various passages, making the figure and background blend. — ‘Darling’ by Natalya Nova (USA) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

Six figures in uniform black dresses stand in a sea of crumpled cans. The central figure is adorned with green leaves and wears a white headpiece with a beard. The surrounding figures hold circular green shapes with cut-out eye shapes, obscuring their faces. — ‘Legacy for Children of the Future’ by Hardijanto Budiman (Indonesia) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A figure covered completely in pink fabric sits on a white surface against a pink background. The face area is adorned with pink flowers. Similar flowers float around the figure. The overall aesthetic is soft and surreal. — ‘Life in Pink’ by Anna König (Russia) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A woman stands in front of a contrast backdrop depicting a vibrant, colorful garden, which is juxtaposed against the stark, dilapidated buildings of a war-torn area. She is wearing a long, brown coat, dark pants, and black boots. The ground is barren and uneven. — ‘Stolen Spring’ by Alena Grom (Ukraine) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A surreal scene features a woman with a small model house on her head, holding an egg in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other. Her other hand rests on a lifelike mask of her own face. Several eggs and a magnifying glass lie on a table in front of her. — ‘The Juggler’ by Elena Paraskeva (Cyprus) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

Nature and Landscape

A solitary rhinoceros stands amidst tall grass and blooming pink flowers in a foggy field at dawn. The sun rises in the background, illuminating the hazy sky with a soft orange glow. The scene is serene and tranquil. — ‘Rhinoceros Unicornis’ by Himadri Bhuyan (India) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A lone tepee stands in a snowy expanse under a star-filled night sky. Warm light and smoke emanate from the top, illuminating the surroundings. The sky displays an array of colors, from deep blues and purples to subtle greens and oranges near the horizon. — ‘Space Link’ by Kirill Uyutnov (Russia) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A vivid astronomical image shows the Carina Nebula in deep space. Swirling clouds of gas and dust in vibrant colors of red, orange, green, blue, and black are illuminated by nearby stars. Tiny white stars are scattered across the dark background of the universe. — ‘Stellar Symphony’ by Taranjot Singh (Australia) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A person in a red jacket stands on a rock by a tranquil, reflective lake surrounded by jagged, snow-capped mountains under a starry night sky with a bright moon. — ‘To Just Let Go in Peace’ by Mo Sharaf (Egypt) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A solitary oryx stands on desert sand dunes with a few scattered trees. In the distance, the skyline of a modern city rises with the Burj Khalifa prominently towering amidst the hazy urban landscape. — ‘Worlds Apart’ by Dileep Ss (India) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

People

A person is crouched and partially hidden under a large, dense cluster of green cacti in a desolate, rocky landscape with a cloudy sky in the background. — ‘Fitting In’ by Agnieszka Ostrowska (Poland) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A person with light skin and curly blond hair sits on a stool against a grey background. They wear a light green blazer over a beige shirt and beige pants, with hands clasped in their lap and a neutral facial expression. — ‘Pigment’ by Andrea Zvadova (Slovakia) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A ballet dancer gracefully poses on pointe, wearing a patterned leotard and high ballet shoes. She holds a pink flower in one hand and is surrounded by decorative, woven baskets filled with tall grasses. The backdrop is a neutral, textured wall. — ‘Poppyseed Dancer II _08’ by Irina Jomir (Norway) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A person with a unique hairstyle holds a jagged, reflective fragment in front of their face, causing parts of their face to appear distorted. The background is a muted, dark blue, and the individual is wearing a sleeveless, beige outfit. The overall tone is surreal. — ‘Real and Sham’ by Chulin Zhang (China) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A person with a shaved head, possibly without clothes, rests their head on one hand while supporting their body with the other hand over a white background. The black and white image highlights the contours and details of their skin and face. — ‘Sculpted’ by Marcel Mellema (The Netherlands) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

Open Theme

A mysterious figure in a blue outfit, including a wide-brimmed hat and gloves, is seated at a blue-draped table. They are using a fork and tongs to handle a piece of octopus, surrounded by matching blue crockery and utensils. The entire scene has a monochromatic blue theme. — ‘Blue Plate Special’ by Tonya Wilhelm (USA) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A small, whimsical scarecrow-like figure with a stitched face and pointy hat holds a glowing lantern in a dark, dense forest. Bright fireflies illuminate the scene, creating a magical, enchanted atmosphere. — ‘Magical Realm’ by Pepe Manzanilla (Mexico) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A female tennis player, dressed in light blue, is captured mid-air as she extends her arm to hit a yellow tennis ball with her racket. The action takes place on a green and blue tennis court with a broken net visible below her. — ‘Over the Top’ by Hardijanto Budiman (Indonesia) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A black and white image depicting various sizes of screws arranged upright against a dark background, resembling a city skyline. The screws are reflected on the glossy surface below, adding a mirrored effect. — ‘The City’ by Antonio Bernardino Coelho (Portugal) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A vibrant mural featuring colorful birds, including parrots, falcons, and toucans, adorns a beige wall. A person dressed in black walks by, contrasting with the vivid artwork. The scene includes windows and street elements, creating an urban artistic atmosphere. — ‘Urban Serendipity’ by Sohel Ahmed (Bangladesh) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

Series

A nine-part photo collage showing nomadic life in Mongolia. Images include individuals in traditional attire, a yurt and people engaged in daily activities like herding sheep, drying clothes, and leaping in the air. The landscape features vast open fields and mountains. — ‘Descendants of Mongonlian Grassland’ by Bing Zhu (China) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A collage of nine images shows a man in professional attire experiencing stress and exhaustion. The sequence includes a messy bedroom, scattered paperwork, and the man appearing tired, overwhelmed, and pondering. The last image shows him presenting at a whiteboard. — ‘Ganbatte’ by Jairo Alvarez (Argentina) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A collage of nine photos features people in elaborate, colorful traditional costumes and masks. The settings include snowy landscapes, a wooded area, a beach, a river, a room, and a truck. The costumes vary with themes including animals, tall hats, and vibrant fabrics. — ‘Kukerland’ by Ivo Danchev (Bulgaria) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A 3x3 grid of black and white abstract images, each resembling various butterfly shapes. The butterflies are formed from intricate, symmetrical patterns, some with geometric and others with more fluid designs, creating a surreal and artistic visual effect. — ‘Other Worlds’ by Marcin Bawiec (Poland) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

A collage of nine images portrays a woman in a black dress in a minimalist room, interacting with various objects – a table, a plant, and a door. The lighting accentuates shadows and the room's muted blue and gray tones. Each scene depicts a different perspective and activity. — ‘Out of the Field’ by Andres Gallego Bellido (Spain) | 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards

The Siena Creative Photo Awards winners will be announced on September 28 at the annual Siena Awards Festival in Siena, Italy. The winners for the Siena International Photo Awards and Drone Photo Awards will also be revealed there.

In last year’s Siena Creative Photo Awards, photographers from 133 different countries entered, and Frank Zhang took home the top prize and coveted title, “Photographer of the Year.”

Image credits: Siena Creative Photo Awards 2024. The nominated photographers are credited in the individual image captions.