The world’s biggest panoramic photography contest just named its 2026 winners, and the pictures are a reminder of what a wide frame can do. The 17th Epson International Pano Awards drew 4,084 entries from 93 countries. For anyone who photographs conferences, summits, or venue walk-throughs in San Antonio, the lesson is practical: sometimes one carefully stitched wide view tells the story of a room better than a stack of tight shots.
Who won
According to Photo Review’s coverage of the contest and the Epson International Pano Awards winners announcements:
- Open Photographer of the Year: Spanish photographer Daniel Viñé Garcia, for a portfolio that spans the high Andes and the Argentine Puna. His standout frame, The Sleeping Giant, shows Chile’s Parinacota Volcano as a 360-degree aerial panorama built from 33 exposures.
- Amateur Photographer of the Year: Tomás Sánchez Ruiz, also of Spain.
- Open Nature and Landscape: Mikel Iraeta of Spain, for Double arch on Milford Sound, a composite made from 107 frames under tough weather and access limits.
- Epson Digital Art Prize: Preeti and Prashant Chacko of India, for The Rugby Players, a creative panorama of white rhinos in Kenya’s Solio Game Reserve.
- New this year: Aerial categories drew 680 entries, and the overall field was up about 19 percent from 2025.
We have not entered this contest, and we are not reviewing the winning files. Photo Review, iPhotography, and The Guardian’s gallery coverage are good places to see the full set. The point for working photographers is what these pictures prove about planning, overlap, and light.
Why panoramas still matter at events
At Grey Bug Photography we shoot events and headshots in San Antonio on Nikon Z9 and Z8 bodies, and we have used both since launch. A panorama is not a gimmick for us. It is a tool when:
- The room is too wide for one lens position. Ballrooms, arena setups, and outdoor plazas often need a stitched view so clients can see the stage, the tables, and the scale of the space.
- You are documenting a setup before guests arrive. Empty chairs, lighting, and branding look cleaner in a level wide frame.
- You want one hero “you are here” image for a gallery cover or a planner packet.
You do not need a drone or 33 frames to start. Three or four overlapping handheld or tripod frames, kept level, will stitch in most editing software.
Practical tips you can try this week
- Keep the camera level. A slight tilt makes stitching harder and bends vertical lines.
- Overlap by about 30 percent between frames so the software has matching detail to lock onto.
- Lock exposure and white balance. Shoot in manual so brightness does not jump from frame to frame.
- Use a sturdy support when you can. A solid tripod helps keep the camera consistent for cleaner stitches. If you are shopping for one, you can buy a tripod at Adorama.
- Watch faces and privacy. Wide venue frames are usually fine. Tight recognizable faces of attendees still need care.
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links, which means Grey Bug Photography may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
What this means for San Antonio clients
If you are planning a conference, gala, or team day in San Antonio, ask your photographer for at least one strong wide view of the space in addition to the close moments. That single panorama helps stakeholders who were not in the room understand the layout, the turnout, and the production value. We build galleries that mix those room-defining frames with the handshakes, speakers, and headshots you actually need to share.
Curious how we cover venues around town? Reach out to Grey Bug Photography and we will talk through timing, lighting, and the shots that make your event feel big without losing the human details.
Sources: Epson International Pano Awards 2026 winners announcements; Photo Review coverage of the 17th contest; iPhotography November 2026 news roundup; The Guardian’s 2026 Pano Awards gallery.
