Photography Awards, Certifications & Judging

Throughout his career, Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove has received multiple international photography awards, nominations and official selections, recognising his work in landscape photography, wildlife photography and drone photography. His images have been featured, shortlisted and awarded in leading photography competitions worldwide.

In addition to being an award winning photographer, Jeroen has also been invited to serve as a judge for international photography competitions, evaluating submissions across landscape, wildlife and aerial photography categories. These judging roles reflect both his technical expertise and his standing within the professional photography community.

Below you will find an overview of Jeroen’s photography awards, certifications, nominations and competition judging experience throughout his career.

FEP Awards 2023 - Silver Award in Category Nature (& More!)

'Highly Commended' by Natural Landscape Photography Awards

I Am Master Qualified European Photographer (MQEP) Qualified!

2026

2nd Place in the Nature’s Studio Category (awarded by GDT – April 2026)
Jeroen received second place in the Nature’s Studio category in the GDT European Nature Photographer of the Year competition with his photo of a “Lava Dragon” taken during the 2023 Litli-Hrútur eruption.
8th Place in the Mammals Category (awarded by GDT – April 2026)
Jeroen received eight place in the Mammals category in the GDT European Nature Photographer of the Year competition with his photo of a polar bear taken in Greenland.
Silver (2nd Place) in the Landscape Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – April 2026)
Jeroen won Silver (second place) in the Landscape category with three of his photographs in the 2026 FEP Awards. The award ceremony took place on his home turf in Reykjavík (Iceland) at the end of April 2026.
Bronze (3rd Place) in the Nature Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – April 2026)
Jeroen won Bronze (third place) in the Nature category with three of his photographs in the 2026 FEP Awards. The award ceremony took place on his home turf in Reykjavík (Iceland) at the end of April 2026.
Finalist in Landscape & Nature Categories (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – March 2026)
Jeroen has the pleasure to be a finalist in the Landscape & Nature categories for six of his photographs in the 2026 FEP Awards. The award ceremony takes place in Reykjavík (Iceland) at the end of April 2026.
Judge in the FEP Young Photographer Award (awarded by Federation of European Photographers – February 2026)
Jeroen was honored to be part of the jury in the FEP Young Photographer Award, which awards the best European photographer under the age of 30. This prestigious award aims to highlight the incredible capabilities of young & talented photographers in Europe.
Final Round of Wildlife Photographer of the Year – WPY (selected by Natural History Museum of London – February 2026)
Jeroen went through to the final round of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which is a highly regarded photography competition, organised by the Natural History Museum, that awards the best wildlife photographs each year.
Selected in Myndir Ársins (Photos of the Year) 2025 photo exhibition (awarded by Blaðaljósmyndarafélag Íslands (Photojournalist Association of Iceland) – January 2026)
Two of Jeroen’s landscape images were selected to be a part of the annual Myndir Ársins photography exhibition, organised by Blaðaljósmyndarafélag Íslands (Photojournalist Association of Iceland), which showcases the best photos of the previous year. The exhibition opened in April 2026 in the Photography Museum of Reykjavík.

2025

First Place In Category “The World (De Wereld)” (awarded by Lowland Photo Contest / Lowland Photo Festival – December 2025)
Jeroen received first place in the only category in the Lowland Photo Contest that allows images to be submitted that were not taken in Belgium or the Netherlands. This is by far the largest category of this competition, which combines both wildlife and landscape photography.
‘Seascapes’ Special Award (awarded by the International Landscape Photographer Of The Year – November 2025)
Jeroen received this Special Award, together with two other top 101 places, in the prestigious International Landscape Photographer Of The Year 2025 awards.
Combined Portfolio in Final Live Voting (NLPA – Natural Landscape Photography Awards – September 2025)
Jeroen’s work made it to the final round of portfolio and image voting in the prestigious Natural Landscape Photography Awards.
Judge in the 2025 Belgian Photo Awards (Belgian Photo Awards – September 2025)
Jeroen judged the landscape & wildlife categories in the 2025 edition of the Belgian Photo Awards.
Judge in the 2025 Swedish Championships in Photography 2025 (SM i Fotografi – July 2025)
Jeroen judged the landscape & wildlife categories in the 2025 edition of the Swedish Championships in Photography 2025.
Shortlisted in the 1st International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards (International Aerial Photographer of the Year – June 2025)
Jeroen was shortlisted in the first edition of the International Aerial Photographer of the Year awards, which focuses on aerial and drone imagery from around the world.
Fifth Place in Landscape Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – April 2025)
Jeroen had the pleasure to place fifth in the Landscape category for three of his photographs – taken in 2024.
Fifth place in Nature/Landscape in WPC 2025 (awarded by the World Photographic Cup – March 2025 – Certificates)
Jeroen received fifth place during the award ceremony in Quito (Ecuador) in the Nature/Landscape category of the World Photographic Cup 2025.
Finalist in Landscape Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – March 2025)
Jeroen has the pleasure to be a finalist in the Landscape category for three of his photographs in the 2025 FEP Awards. The award ceremony takes place in Copenhagen (Denmark) at the end of April 2025.

2024

Best of Nation (for Belgium) & Finalist in Nature/Landscape in WPC 2025 (awarded by the World Photographic Cup – December 2024 – Certificates)
Jeroen won the Best of Nation award for Belgium, which means he received the highest score for Team Belgium. He also is one of the 10 finalists in the Nature/Landscape category in the World Photographic Cup 2025.
‘Snow and Ice’ Special Award (awarded by the International Landscape Photographer Of The Year – November 2024 – Certificate)
Jeroen received this Special Award in the prestigious International Landscape Photographer Of The Year 2024 awards.
Bronze in Landscape Nature category (awarded by the Belgian Photo Awards – October 2024 – Certificate)
Jeroen received third place in the Landscape Nature category of the first edition of the Belgian Photo awards. He also received several other commendations.
Highly Commended in Abstract category (awarded by the Siena International Drone Awards – September 2024 – Certificate)
Jeroen has been Highly Commended in the Abstract category of this prestigious, international drone photography contest with his image ‘Elddreki / Fire Dragon‘. The image put him in the top 5 within the Abstract category.
Judge in the 2024 Swedish Championships in Photography 2025 (SM i Fotografi – July 2024)
Jeroen judged the landscape & wildlife categories in the 2025 edition of the Swedish Championships in Photography 2024.
Sixth Place in Nature Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – April 2024 – Certificate)
Jeroen had the pleasure to place sixth in the Nature category for three of his photographs of the ongoing volcanic eruptions in Iceland. In addition Jeroen received several Distinction and Merit awards for other submitted work.

2023

Selected as part of Team Belgium for the World Photographic Cup 2024
Jeroen’s photograph ‘Skýjasnúningur/Cloud Inversion‘ was selected as part of Team Belgium to participate in the World Photographic Cup 2024.
‘Highly Commended’ for ‘The Fagradalsfjall Fires’ project (awarded by Natural Landscape Photography Awards – November 2023)
Jeroen’s volcano photography received a “Highly Commended” distinction from the Natural Landscape Photography Awards jury. NLPA is a competition for digital and film photographers who value realism in their images and edit with this in mind.
Commended Nature Drone Photos (awarded by Siena Drone Photo Awards – June 2023)
Jeroen received two commendations for two photographs he submitted for the Siena Drone Photo Awards. Drone Awards is the most important worldwide competition about aerial photography and video.
QEP Qualification (awarded by FEP – June 2023 – Certificate)
The Qualified European Photographer (QEP) qualification aims to recognise and reward excellence in European Professional Photographers. It is designed to complement national awards systems and has over the years created a Europe-wide network of over 500 certified experts who share a passion and talent for professional photography.
Silver Award (2nd Place) in Nature Category (awarded by Federation of European Photographers (FEP) – April 2023 – Certificate)
Jeroen had the pleasure to receive the Silver Award (second place) in the Nature category for three of his photographs of the Fagradalsfjall eruptions in Iceland during 2021 & 2022. The photographs involved are Hraunhjarta, Skýjasnúningur and Meradalagos. Each photograph received an Excellence award. In addition Jeroen received a Distinction award and a few Merit awards for other submitted work.

2022

Honourable Mention in the Wildlife category at the reFocus 2022 One Shot Photo Contest (awarded by reFocus – September 2022)
Jeroen’s photograph Hungry Puffin got an honourable mention at the reFocus awards. The complete contest results can be seen on the reFocus One Shot Awards website.
Silver Award in the Abstract category at the reFocus 2022 One Shot Photo Contest (awarded by reFocus – September 2022)
Jeroen’s photography Lava Dragon got a Silver Award (2nd place) in the Wildlife category at the reFocus awards. The complete contest results can be seen on the reFocus One Shot Awards website.
First Place in Abstracts at World Landscape Photographer 2022 (awarded by WLP – July 2022)
Jeroen’s photograph Lava Dragon got first place in the Abstracts category at the World Landscape Photographer 2022 awards.

2021

Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2021 (selected by Capture The Atlas)
Selected by Capture The Atlas as a Northern Lights Photographer of the Year 2021 with Jeroen’s Volcanic Aurora Borealis photograph, taken at the eruption in Geldingadalir.
Canon Young Talent 2021 (selected by Canon Belgium)
Selected by Canon Belgium as one of 2021’s Young Talents. Jeroen got the opportunity to speak at the Photo Days in Brussels, Belgium.

2018

PX3 – Silver Award in the Nature/Landscape category (awarded by Prix de la Photographie Paris – June 2018)
Obtained the a Silver Award at Prix de la Photographie Paris 2018 awards.
PX3 – Honorable Mention in the Nature/Landscape category (awarded by Prix de la Photographie Paris – June 2018)
Obtained an honorable mention at Prix de la Photographie Paris 2018 awards.

2017

Land und Meer Fotowettbewerb 2016 (awarded by CEWE and Land Und Meer magazine – April 2017)
First prize in the Land und Meer Fotowettbewerb, a German magazine (link to the publication).

2016

Finalist at FEP Photographer of the Year Awards 2016 (awarded by FEP – March 2016)
Certified finalist in the landscape category at the FEP European Professional Photographer of the Year awards 2016.
FEP Landscape Merit Award 2016 (awarded by FEP – March 2016)
Obtained the FEP Landscape Merit Award at the FEP European Professional Photographer of the Year Awards 2016.

2015

EP Qualification (awarded by FEP – December 2015)
The European Photographer (EP) qualification aims to recognise competence and a professional standard for those who earn their lives as Professional Photographers. It is designed to complement the lack of a specific title to uphold the professional status.