$50,000 and 10 days later, it’s official: Iceland defies bad photography. Although not from lack of trying, the airline dares amateur photographers to capture its rugged beauty.
The Contest That Captured How Icelandair Challenges Amateur Photographers
Earlier this year, the company put amateur photographers to the test by launching a unique photography contest to find the world’s worst photographer. The prize? A free trip to Iceland and $50,000 in cash. The goal was to prove that Iceland’s striking landscapes are so dazzling that even the worst photographer couldn’t ruin them.
The response was overwhelming. Icelandair received a staggering 127,642 entries from 178 countries. It took over 2,000 hours to sift through all the submissions, which were, by all accounts, stunningly awful.
By June, 28-year-old Blanche Mortemard from Paris, France, was crowned the winner for her notable lack of technical skill as she took on the challenge. Mortemard then ventured to Iceland to test her abilities—or lack thereof—against the raw beauty of the landscape.
A Test of Beauty over Skill
During her 10-day adventure, Blanche shot landscape images with no filters, no retouching, and no AI. While some photos suffered from classic blunders like fingers in the frame, Iceland’s terrain shone bright regardless. Blanche admitted, “Iceland makes it almost impossible to take a bad photo, despite my total inability to straighten the camera or take one without my thumb in shot.”
For another unique perspective on capturing stunning visuals, discover Kristina Makeeva’s surreal ballet photography, showcasing awe-inspiring beauty through artistic lenswork.
The Journey Continues as Icelandair Welcomes Amateur Photographers
Inspired by this quirky contest, you can explore Blanche’s work at the “Iceland by the World’s Worst Photographer” exhibition. Join the showcase at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch, London, on September 11–12. Admission needs to be booked. If London isn’t convenient, Icelandair plans to bring the exhibition to various cities across North America and Europe.
And let’s face it—we all secretly wish we could have embarked on this extraordinary journey where the contest defies amateur photographers again.
Source: dpreview.com
Frequently asked questions
What did Icelandair challenge amateur photographers to do?
Icelandair challenged amateur photographers to capture Iceland’s rugged beauty as part of a contest aimed at finding the world’s worst photographer. The intent was to prove that even the worst photographer couldn’t ruin Iceland’s striking landscapes.
Who won Icelandair’s worst photographer contest?
28-year-old Blanche Mortemard from Paris, France, won the contest for her notable lack of technical skill and took on the challenge of capturing Iceland’s beauty.
Where can you see the ‘Iceland by the World’s Worst Photographer’ exhibition?
The exhibition ‘Iceland by the World’s Worst Photographer’ can be seen at White Rabbit Studios in Shoreditch, London, on September 11–12. Admission needs to be booked.