Bangkok-based photographer Wutimet Bunyasirisith has won The Pano Awards Southeast Asia Open Photographer of the Year 2026 at the 17th Epson International Pano Awards. His winning panorama, “The Emerald Arch Over Lofoten, Norway”, captures a rare full-arch aurora borealis framing a snow-dusted peak. At the same time, a freezing coastline below mirrors the scene.
Epson describes the awards as the world’s premier panoramic photography competition. This year also marks Epson Southeast Asia’s third consecutive year as joint major sponsor alongside Epson Australia. As a result, the regional category continues to highlight the rising technical artistry of photographers across Southeast Asia.
How Wutimet Captured the Emerald Arch
“This photograph came to life as the Northern Lights flared up and curved perfectly around the mountain,” Bunyasirisith shared.
However, the display was so immense that even his 12mm ultra-wide lens could not fit it into one frame. So, he shot a panorama instead. “It wasn’t until I stitched the frames together that I realised the aurora had formed a flawless, complete arch framing the peak,” he said.
Moreover, conditions that night were brutal. In fact, he battled freezing cold and biting winds, and even waded into icy seawater. “Given all the challenges faced in those harsh elements, bringing this vision to reality is something I am truly proud of,” he added.
Pano Awards 2026 Spotlight on Southeast Asian Talent
“We are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional talent emerging from Southeast Asia for the third year running,” said Alvin Tan, Managing Director, Epson Malaysia.
According to Tan, Wutimet’s success reflects a growing trend of Southeast Asian photographers capturing world-class panoramas in distant landscapes. “His work has shown us the relentless passion, vision and technical discipline that defines our region’s creative community,” he added.
Meanwhile, competition curator David Evans praised the skill behind the image. “Wutimet’s ability to execute a flawless full-arch composition in sub-zero temperatures is nothing short of masterly,” he said. He also called the region’s push on scale and narrative one of the competition’s most rewarding aspects.
Southeast Asia Open Finalists at the Pano Awards 2026
Overall, Wutimet led a strong field of ten finalists from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines. Together, their images travel far beyond the region, from Kenya and Greenland to Western Australia and Japan.
Malaysia
Notably, Malaysia’s Ow Terence placed three images among the finalists. First, “The root of the city” looks down on Kuala Lumpur’s tangle of highways and towers. Next, “The Celestial Handover” pairs a setting moon with the rising Milky Way over The Pinnacles in Western Australia. Similarly, “Silent Guardians of Lake Dowerin” frames dead trees beneath a glowing Milky Way arch.
Also from Malaysia, Chee Gin Tan’s “Urban Arteries at Dusk” traces the light trails of Damansara’s elevated highways from above.
Singapore
From Singapore, Ranjan Ramchandani’s “Back to back” shows elephants at a floodlit waterhole at night in Kenya. Meanwhile, Joseph Goh’s “Releasing Wishes” captures thousands of floating lanterns and fireworks over Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Vietnam
Vietnam also made a strong showing. For example, Viet Bui Xuan’s “Arctic Breath in midnight sun” shows whales surfacing beside the ice in Greenland. In addition, Le Hong Ha’s “The Awakening of Bromo Volcano” frames Indonesia’s Mount Bromo above a sea of cloud.
The Philippines
Finally, Francis Leslie Zabala from the Philippines earned a place with “Setsuri”, which shows cranes wading through a misty, frost-lined river in Hokkaido, Japan.
Explore the Full Epson Pano Awards 2026 Gallery
As joint major sponsors, Epson Southeast Asia and Epson Australia support photographers with imaging technology, including Epson SureColor professional photo printers and ultra-slim projectors.
To see every winning and top-scoring image, visit the official Pano Awards 2026 winners gallery.
