Towering volcanoes, swirling mist, and dawn’s first blush are everyday companions for Prianto Puji Anggriawan. Raised in a small village on the slopes of East Java’s Mount Bromo, the Indonesian civil servant spends his workdays at Probolinggo City Hall—and his sunrises chasing light across some of the archipelago’s most dramatic peaks. That lifelong dance between duty and discovery is what propelled him to the top of our “Wonder Landscapes” photo contest. With an eye trained by years of mountaineering and a heart attuned to the quiet poetry of the natural world, Prianto turns fleeting moments of volcanic majesty into images that feel both intimate and epic. In this interview, he shares how a college competition sparked a decade‑long love affair with photography, why full‑manual shooting keeps him in creative flow, and what it really takes to capture a landscape that lingers in viewers’ memories.

Tell us a little about yourself—where do you call home, and what does a typical day look like when you’re not behind the camera?
I was born and live in a small village near Mount Bromo, in the province of East Java, Indonesia. In my daily life, I'm a civil servant in Probolinggo City Government. That's me when I'm not behind the camera.

How did your journey into photography begin, and what drew you specifically toward landscapes?
I started my photography journey when I was still in college in 2010 and at that time, I won an inter-campus photo competition but at that same time, I didn't know at all about techniques of photography so I immediately bought a camera to learn photography and finally I really liked it until now and maybe forever. I love landscape photos because I was adventurous and climbed mountains when I was in high school, so photographing landscapes is my way of expressing my admiration for God's creation and it gives me peace of mind and life.

Can you walk us through the exact instant you pressed the shutter—what were you feeling, and what caught your eye first?
When I press the shutter button, I feel more alive and what I always see first are the unexpected moments of beauty  that are instantly presented or connected to other events afterwards, which I have imagined in my brain and mind, and I feel the need to bring that light to the canvas to create a photo that tells a story.

What gear and settings did you use, and why were they crucial for achieving the mood you envisioned?
I usually use my favorite full-frame camera, Canon EOS 6D Mark II and 3 lenses that I  always carry around, namely, Canon L-Series 16-35mm F/2.8 Mark II, a wide lens, then, a fix lens Canon 100mm F/2.8 Macro (now changed to 50mm F/1.8), and a telephoto lens, Canon 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 Mark I, while for camera settings I always use full manual mode because I really like and often change the exposure triangle to adjust to the natural conditions outside. In addition, other additional equipments that I alwas rely on are glass filters from NiSi Filters, there are ND and GND filters, and tripods that support me to create landscape photos that match what I want, of course this can create a happy mood when I'm able to capture moments with complete and adequate equipment.

Landscape photography is a crowded field—what do you think sets your winning image apart from the countless vistas we see every day?
Actually, I didn’t think anything if winning this time, I just wanted to participate in the Top Photo Awards by giving one of my best works, and I really didn’t expect to win this. I just gave one of the photos of Mount Bromo that I liked the most and had the best light and colors that the rest of my collection.

What was the biggest obstacle you encountered while creating this photograph—logistics, lighting, or environmental conditions?
Mostly the biggest obstacle of most landscape photos and especially this photo, is the obstacle of the environment because nature is completely out of our control but that is the obstacle that is a challenge for me to overcome.

 How do you strike the balance between enhancing an image and keeping it authentic to what you witnessed?
I try balance keeping my photos true to reality but also fulfilling my  idealism by always being guided by true colors, with lighting that is still logical without reducing the beauty that exists. I usually reduce and emphasize the light and dark parts in accordance with my ideals and try to expand the dynamic range for my photos.

 What one practical tip would you share with photographers aiming to stand out in next landscapes contest?
I just suggest to my photographer friends who want to enter the next photo contest, don't be inferior to your works, give the best one and make sure it makes a difference from the others.

Prianto Puji Anggriawan

Inspired by Prianto’s vision? Dust off your camera, lace up your hiking boots, and enter our brand‑new “ Hidden Gems of Earth: Nature Photo Contest" —an open invitation to honor the wild places that move you most. We can’t wait to see the earth through your lens!