Being in a state of solitude and mindfulness brought about while snowshoeing in the frozen coastal mountains of British Columbia inspired photographer Matt Jackisch to produce this year's winning entry to the Epson International Pano Awards. The image, dubbed Spring Hibernation, was captured while Jackisch was high in the mountains in March, where it was still very wintry and covered in snow and shows the faintest hint of life from a buried tree waiting for the spring thaw.
![Amateur Winner Juan Lopez Ruiz's image - Light and dark on the Towers, Cuatro Torres financial complex in Madrid](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/S2XFKMLW3HTBIZZFK4GLJCQTXE.jpg?auth=f0399ce13a4c8e7fdd35e66a98726ae18118a115851b74e250d0c1f7a8698168&width=16&height=8&quality=70&smart=true)
The Pano Awards showcases the work of panoramic photographers worldwide, receiving nearly 6000 entries from 1452 professional photographers from 96 countries this year – a record for its 11-year history – competing for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes from major sponsor Epson Australia.
![Colin Leonhardt's stunning abstract image in the Built Environment/architecture section of Mine waste, Collie, Western Australia](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/RTRBPSBVSLDHKVRXZODZGFRON4.jpg?auth=288328087eba9e81dd0a56cd1a27c0826444d07049e8c6e13204f089f90a6088&width=16&height=8&quality=70&smart=true)
The winning pictures offer a wide range of views covering the natural and built environments.