SEA photographers shine at Epson Pano Awards

Epson has congratulated the winners of the 16th Epson International Pano Awards, the world’s largest competition dedicated to panoramic photography, highlighting the strong participation and rising influence of Southeast Asian photographers.

This year’s Southeast Asia Open Photographer of the Year 2025 Award was won by Singaporean photographer William Chua for his panoramic image titled Wildebeest, praised for its dynamic visual storytelling and creative composition.

“I have witnessed the wildebeest migration countless times, and it never ceases to amaze me,” Chua said. “For this image, what caught my attention was a lone wildebeest turning back amidst the frenzy. In that instant, I knew that was the shot I wanted.”

Epson Southeast Asia, which joined Epson Australia as joint major sponsor of the awards in 2024, continues to support the competition by supplying professional imaging equipment. Prizes this year included Epson SureColor photo printers and an ultra-slim projector designed for high-precision color and archival-grade printing.

“We’re delighted to see strong participation from Southeast Asian photographers,” said Siew Jin Kiat, regional managing director of Epson Southeast Asia. “This reflects the creativity and growing influence of our region’s visual storytellers, and Epson Southeast Asia is proud to support the thriving community of creatives by championing the power of print.”

Southeast Asian photographers made a notable impact on the global stage, securing 6 of the 10 finalist spots in the Southeast Asia Open category. Vietnam emerged as a standout, while Thailand’s Athimeth Lerdkkitveruj also received recognition for his panoramic work capturing the desert landscapes of Namibia.

Competition curator David Evans noted that the growth of the panoramic format continues to expand worldwide.

“Each year, the boundaries of panoramic photography are pushed further, and 2025 has proven no exception,” Evans said. “The diversity, creativity and technical excellence on display reaffirm the panoramic format as one of the most powerful storytelling mediums in contemporary photography.”