The breathtaking winners of the 2021 panoramic photography awards revealed

Photography’s ability to mesmerise is demonstrated emphatically by the entries to the Epson International Pano Awards 2021, which showcases the work of panoramic photographers worldwide.

This year the competition received 5,378 entries from 1,245 professional and amateur photographers in 97 countries, with Joshua Hermann from the USA declared the overall winner.

The judges were left awestruck by his photographs of the swamplands of Louisiana, of trees – ‘ancient monoliths’ – that transported him ‘to the swamplands of ancient times’.

Competition Curator David Evans said: ‘We thought 2020 was a challenging year, but 2021 took things to a whole new level. That said, despite the pandemic and so many other challenges the entries this year were nothing short of amazing.

‘We are, yet again, overwhelmed with the level of support from entrants and sponsors, especially Epson, and we thank you all so very much and also congratulate all this year’s winners and entrants.’

Scroll down for MailOnline Travel’s pick of the shortlisted and winning snaps…

This picture, taken in a Louisiana swamp by overall winner Joshua Hermann, is called Eternal Triangle. Hermann said: ‘Growing up in south Louisiana and coming to know the swamp and marshlands from an early age, the unique beauty and interesting ecology of the area have stuck with me throughout my life. I hope to share the beauty of these places through my imagery’

One of the stunning images that earned Austrian Daniel Trippolt the accolade of 2021 Amateur Photographer of the Year. It shows the legendary Three Peaks in the Italian Dolomites. Trippolt said: 'Most landscape photographers are familiar with the legendary Three Peaks and are aware of the difficult accessibility in winter, as the road leading to the destination is closed in winter. But in my favour, I found out in early autumn that it had already snowed there and the road was still open. So I could reach this place under easier conditions. Nevertheless, the night demanded a lot from me'

One of the stunning images that earned Austrian Daniel Trippolt the accolade of 2021 Amateur Photographer of the Year. It shows the legendary Three Peaks in the Italian Dolomites. Trippolt said: ‘Most landscape photographers are familiar with the legendary Three Peaks and are aware of the difficult accessibility in winter, as the road leading to the destination is closed in winter. But in my favour, I found out in early autumn that it had already snowed there and the road was still open. So I could reach this place under easier conditions. Nevertheless, the night demanded a lot from me’

This mesmerising entry in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category by American photographer Simon Xu was taken in Iceland

This mesmerising entry in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category by American photographer Simon Xu was taken in Iceland

A stunning image of a cloud-enveloped Golden Gate Bridge by U.S photographer Wei Lian. It was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category

A stunning image of a cloud-enveloped Golden Gate Bridge by U.S photographer Wei Lian. It was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category

This entry in the Amateur Built Environment category is by Russian photographer Petr Ushanov. It shows a sunrise over Kizhi Island on Onega Lake in Russia's Republic of Karelia

This entry in the Amateur Built Environment category is by Russian photographer Petr Ushanov. It shows a sunrise over Kizhi Island on Onega Lake in Russia’s Republic of Karelia

Behold the winner of the Curators Award, a photograph taken in Switzerland by Max Rive, from the Netherlands. It is a view in mid-summer from 11,320ft over the Fieschergletscher with the 14,000ft-tall Finsteraarhorn on the right. Max explains that with a length of 10 miles (16km), the Fieschergletscher is the second-longest glacier in Switzerland after its neighbouring glacier, the Aletschgletscher, which is 14 miles (22.6km) long

Behold the winner of the Curators Award, a photograph taken in Switzerland by Max Rive, from the Netherlands. It is a view in mid-summer from 11,320ft over the Fieschergletscher with the 14,000ft-tall Finsteraarhorn on the right. Max explains that with a length of 10 miles (16km), the Fieschergletscher is the second-longest glacier in Switzerland after its neighbouring glacier, the Aletschgletscher, which is 14 miles (22.6km) long 

An amazing snap in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category. It was taken in Tenerife by Spanish photographer Carlos M Almagro

An amazing snap in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category. It was taken in Tenerife by Spanish photographer Carlos M Almagro

The awe-inspiring Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, captured in breathtaking fashion by Piriya Wongkongkathep from Thailand. This image was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

The awe-inspiring Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, captured in breathtaking fashion by Piriya Wongkongkathep from Thailand. This image was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

Spanish photographer Sebastian Tontsch was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category for this striking picture of Dubai. He called it 'Emerging'

Spanish photographer Sebastian Tontsch was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category for this striking picture of Dubai. He called it ‘Emerging’

The Amateur Nature-Landscape category was blessed by this entry, a snap of the Kuril Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Russian Far East. It was taken by Russian photographer Sergey Aleshchenko

The Amateur Nature-Landscape category was blessed by this entry, a snap of the Kuril Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Russian Far East. It was taken by Russian photographer Sergey Aleshchenko

U.S photographer Peter Jiang is behind this incredible picture of a lightning strike in Montana - a commended entry in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category

U.S photographer Peter Jiang is behind this incredible picture of a lightning strike in Montana – a commended entry in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category

This photograph, an entry in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category, is called 'Magic Forest'. It was taken on Tenerife by Spanish photographer Castro Pardo

This photograph, an entry in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category, is called ‘Magic Forest’. It was taken on Tenerife by Spanish photographer Castro Pardo

An out-of-this-world moonrise over Los Angeles, captured by American photographer Elliot McGucken. This was an entry in the Open Built Environment category

An out-of-this-world moonrise over Los Angeles, captured by American photographer Elliot McGucken. This was an entry in the Open Built Environment category

The fairy-tale Eltz Castle in Germany, captured in a wonderfully moody shot by German photographer Carl Loveall. It was an entry in the Open Built Environment Category

The fairy-tale Eltz Castle in Germany, captured in a wonderfully moody shot by German photographer Carl Loveall. It was an entry in the Open Built Environment Category 

An incredible shot of the very top of the 2,723ft-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai that was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category and taken by UAE photographer Khalid Al Hammadi

An incredible shot of the very top of the 2,723ft-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai that was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category and taken by UAE photographer Khalid Al Hammadi

This image, by Hong Kong resident Cp Lau, shows his city at its most enticing - shrouded in clouds just before sunrise. His shot was commended in the Open Built Environment category

This image, by Hong Kong resident Cp Lau, shows his city at its most enticing – shrouded in clouds just before sunrise. His shot was commended in the Open Built Environment category

An other-worldly shortlisted Amateur Nature-Landscape photograph of Bryce Canyon National Park by U.S photographer Abhijit Patil

An other-worldly shortlisted Amateur Nature-Landscape photograph of Bryce Canyon National Park by U.S photographer Abhijit Patil

Mallorca as you've never seen it before - in a jaw-dropping shortlisted Amateur Nature-Landscape snap by Spanish photographer Juan Pablo Dentone

Mallorca as you’ve never seen it before – in a jaw-dropping shortlisted Amateur Nature-Landscape snap by Spanish photographer Juan Pablo Dentone

The Torres del Paine National Park in a photograph shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category. It was taken by Chilean photographer Mauricio Narea

The Torres del Paine National Park in a photograph shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category. It was taken by Chilean photographer Mauricio Narea

Jatenipat Ketpradit, from Thailand, is behind this amazing snap - 'The Glory of Rome'. It was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category

Jatenipat Ketpradit, from Thailand, is behind this amazing snap – ‘The Glory of Rome’. It was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category

A spectacular lightning strike in Arizona captured by U.S photographer Peter Coskun. It was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

A spectacular lightning strike in Arizona captured by U.S photographer Peter Coskun. It was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

Fancy a trip to Iceland's Highlands region? If this picture by Kai Hornung from Germany doesn't sell it to you, nothing will. The image was shortlisted in the Open-Nature Landscape category

Fancy a trip to Iceland’s Highlands region? If this picture by Kai Hornung from Germany doesn’t sell it to you, nothing will. The image was shortlisted in the Open-Nature Landscape category

The amazing Maloja Pass in Switzerland, captured by Italian photographer Roberto Moiola. His snap was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

The amazing Maloja Pass in Switzerland, captured by Italian photographer Roberto Moiola. His snap was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

Chris Echavarry impressed the judges with this beguiling snap of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category

Chris Echavarry impressed the judges with this beguiling snap of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was shortlisted in the Open Built Environment category

This amazing picture of Senja Island in Norway was achieved by stitching together 18 shots. It was taken by Italian Alessandro Cantarelli, with his efforts getting him shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

This amazing picture of Senja Island in Norway was achieved by stitching together 18 shots. It was taken by Italian Alessandro Cantarelli, with his efforts getting him shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

A striking picture taken in New South Wales by Australian photographer Ray Jennings. It was shortlisted in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category

A striking picture taken in New South Wales by Australian photographer Ray Jennings. It was shortlisted in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category

Vietnam at its terraced best, captured by Spanish photographer Felipe Souto. An image that was shortlisted in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category

Vietnam at its terraced best, captured by Spanish photographer Felipe Souto. An image that was shortlisted in the Amateur Nature-Landscape category

Heidelberg in Germany looks magical in this photograph by German photographer Avishek Patra. It was shortlisted in the Amateur Built Environment category

Heidelberg in Germany looks magical in this photograph by German photographer Avishek Patra. It was shortlisted in the Amateur Built Environment category

Dobongsan mountain in South Korea's Bukhansan National Park, captured by South Korean photographer Nate Merz. This image was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category

Dobongsan mountain in South Korea’s Bukhansan National Park, captured by South Korean photographer Nate Merz. This image was shortlisted in the Open Nature-Landscape category