SUMMARY
Australian photographer Elle Leontiev won the Open Photographer of the Year title at the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 for her portrait of volcanologist Phillip Yamah. The striking image was taken at Mount Yasur in Vanuatu, a hostile environment with falling acid rain and ash clouds. Leontiev used a full-frame camera and a 24mm lens for the shot, which captures Yamah's deep connection to the volcano and his ancestral land. The photograph was taken in a challenging 20-minute window, highlighting the extreme conditions faced by those who study and live near active volcanoes.
TAKEAWAYS
Elle Leontiev won the Sony World Photography Awards 2026 for a portrait of a volcanologist.
The photo features Phillip Yamah, a self-taught volcanologist, at Mount Yasur, Vanuatu.
The image was captured in extreme conditions with acid rain and ash clouds.
Leontiev used a full-frame camera and a 24mm lens for the award-winning shot.