A panoramic photograph of the Milky Way arching over Milford Sound has won the open nature and landscape category at the 2026 Epson International Pano Awards, 1News reports. The picture, titled Double Arch on Milford Sound, was taken by Spanish photographer Mikel Iraeta and stitched together from 107 separate frames.
Iraeta said getting the shot was close to impossible because the Fiordland sound sees rain on around 300 days a year, and a fully clear, moonless night is rare. The road to the sound had been shut over avalanche risk the day before he took the image.
He said the win surprised him, as it was the first time he had entered the competition, which is the world's largest for panoramic photography. Spanish photographers also took the overall open and amateur photographer of the year titles.
Source: 1News
