Curious deer takes first place in PEFC Italy’s photo contest

3 September 2021 Forests in photos

The winning images of PEFC Italy’s 2021 Photo Contest show amazing forest landscapes and a surprising encounter in the forest.

The Italian jury had the tricky task to choose three winners from more than 400 photos that entered the contest.

The winners

First prize went to Paola Toniutti, for her photo ‘Incontri emozionanti’ (‘Exciting encounters’). The image shows a roe deer on a grove in Codroipo in Udine, Northern Italy, looking curiously at the photographer.

In second place was Simone Spina, for the photo ‘Bosco Incantato’ (‘Enchanted Forest’), taken in a beech forest in Lioni, Southern Italy (Campania Region).

“My passion for photography stems from the desire to immortalise the beauty of my surroundings to the best of my ability,” he said.

“I took my photo during an educational trip with my university friends. I didn't have much time, so I freehanded this glimpse of the forest with the anemones in the foreground and the sun illuminating the forest with this star effect.”

Sonia Fantini (the 2019 PEFC photographer of the year!) won the bronze medal for the photo ‘Autunno al lago Federa’ (‘Autumn at Lake Federa’), showing a larch grove in Cortina d'Ampezzo in Northern Italy.

“Lake Federa is a wonderful place in the Ampezzo Dolomites that becomes even more magical when the larch trees turn yellow in autumn.”

The prizes

For first prize, Paola Toniutti can look forward to a weekend for two at Tenuta di Paganico, in the heart of the Grosseto Maremma in Tuscany. The prize includes one night's accommodation at the estate's farmhouse, including dinner for two and a guided tour of the estate and forest.

For second place, Simone Spina receives a PEFC-certified solid wood table, handcrafted by the Aschieri De Pietri company of Casalmaggiore.

Sonia Fantini gets a kit consisting of a notebook, diary and many other PEFC-certified stationery items.

To see all the photos entered into PEFC Italy’s photo contest, head to Instagram and search for the hashtag #scattailboscoPEFC21.