Landscape nominee

The Namibian desert dunes stand as undulating monuments to the passage of time, their golden waves frozen in perpetual motion. In the dance of light and shadow, these colossal ridges create a mesmerizing play of contrasts. As the sun paints the dunes with a warm palette, shadows carve intricate patterns, accentuating every ridge and crest. The stark juxtaposition between the sunlit slopes and the cool, shadowed valleys enhances the dunes' sculptural beauty.

Each photograph captures a moment where the shifting sunlight unveils a new facet of this sandy landscape. The ever-changing interplay of light and shadow not only sculpts the dunes' physical form but also evokes a profound sense of transience. It is a visual poem of fleeting moments, where the ephemeral nature of light mirrors the impermanence of the desert itself.

In this series, the dunes become more than sand formations; they transform into embodiments of time's passage, whispering tales of ancient winds and timeless beauty. These photographs invite viewers to immerse themselves in the delicate equilibrium of contrasts, where the desert's vastness meets the nuanced dance of sunlight, casting a spell that transcends the ordinary and unveils the extraordinary.

Self-taught photographer and traveler, Thibault Gerbaldi documents people and places with a clear, dignified eye. His work has earned top honors, including first place at the Siena Awards 2025, the International Photography Awards 2025, and the International Travel Photo Awards.

In 2024, he received the Rising Talent Award from Travel Photographer of the Year, the world’s most prestigious travel photography competition. That same year, he was named one of AAP’s Emerging Talents to Watch.
In 2025, three of his photographs were selected for Around the World with the Leica, a major exhibition held at the Leica headquarters in Wetzlar to celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary. Chosen from over one million images submitted by more than 65,000 photographers worldwide, this recognition placed his work at the heart of Leica’s global centennial celebration.
His images have been published in Leica Fotografie International, All About Photo, Digital Camera, and various specialized media. His work travels the world—from Miami to Paris, Arles, Venice, Marrakech, Los Angeles and Rome.
Beyond photography, Thibault is committed to supporting humanitarian causes through his work. A board member of The Forgotten International since 2019, he donates a portion of his book and print sales to fund solidarity projects.