Landscape nominee

In Iceland, a land of paradoxes, the silent volcanoes beckoned. Unlike their erupting kin, these slept soundly. Yet, their beauty was no less captivating.

Walking amidst them, one couldn't ignore the distinct, almost alien-like hue. The orange and yellow rocks underfoot, devoid of any active lava flow, had a surreal glow. Every step I took felt like a foray into the unknown, a journey on a distant planet: Mars.

These colors, so unexpected on Earth, painted a landscape that seemed to belong to another world. Vast stretches of burnt orange merged with splotches of deep yellow, creating an endless canvas of otherworldly beauty.

I'd often close my eyes, feeling the cold Icelandic wind against my face, and imagine the ground below warm and throbbing, like the surface of the Red Planet. The crunch of volcanic rock beneath my feet would transport me millions of miles away.

Iceland's dormant volcanoes, with their Martian hues, became my portal to the cosmos. In their quiet majesty, I found the thrill of interstellar exploration, without ever leaving Earth.

Hello! I'm Jan-Tore Oevrevik, known as JT, or Jan-Tore Øvrevik in Norwegian. As a Norwegian-American photographer, my passion for capturing life's moments sparked in 1998 in a makeshift darkroom in my bathroom. This early exploration in a local photography course opened a world of endless photographic possibilities.

My journey has been richly shared with my wife, Ambreen, my steadfast partner and source of inspiration. Together, we've traversed diverse landscapes, from tranquil natural scenes to bustling urban environments, capturing the essence of each place. Ambreen's unwavering support during our travels has been instrumental in bringing depth to my photography.

Photography for me is a unique blend of personal expression and capturing the world's diverse stories. Along the way, I've been fortunate to meet and befriend incredible photographers, each sharing their unique perspectives and enriching my approach to photography.

My dedication to this art form has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the "Discovery of the Year" from reFocus and the "Best Artist Fall 2022" from Photoserge Academy. My work has been featured in esteemed venues such as the Valid World Hall Gallery in Barcelona and the prestigious Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, as well as in notable publications like PPA.