With some incredible Sony kit for prizes, the Autumn round of our Alpha Instagram competition has proved to be the most popular of the year. Vivid colours and dramatic light were the visual themes, but the winning images all had a story of perseverance and determination.

After the judging, the first place winner was Lukas Gallo’s beautiful shot of the last golden leaves set amongst the cool tones of a woodland fog.

The day that Lukas took the winning shot, he had been out shooting for hours in the pouring rain. Despite being soaked through, the weather didn’t deter him, and he was determined to capture the image he saw in his head with his trusted Sony Alpha 7R II. “After I found the tree, I took the shot with various focal lengths. I love the contrast between orange leaves and silhouettes of beech trees. It looks out of this world and magical, like an unknown gate to somewhere.”

As the first prize winner, Lukas is now the proud owner of a Sony Alpha 7CR, and the camera continues his journey using Sony E mount cameras. “I started with the Sony NEX-3 and currently use the Sony Alpha 7R II. I love the resolution and dynamic range. But I can’t wait to take the Alpha 7CR out landscape shooting; the 61-megapixel resolution will be a killer feature! I hope to get out shooting this winter.”

In second place was Kasia Załucka. “There’s a saying that goes: The only thing you can be sure of in the Dolomites in October is rain” says Kasia. “After spending three weeks there, I must agree. I was hunting for beautiful Autumn colours and breathtaking views, but I ended up with cloudy conditions and dull light.”

Like Lukas, Kasia didn’t give up hope and was determined to go home with the shots she had dreamed of getting.

Kasia took the shot with her Sony Alpha 7 IV in timelapse mode, ensuring she didn’t miss a second of sunrise. “I was overwhelmed by the number of stunning images to choose from. Instantly I knew I had captured the best images of the entire trip” she says.

This spectacular scene earned Kasia second place in the competition and a Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM lens. “I’m looking forward to taking photos of my cat with the lens! I can have the lens, and she will happily play with the delivery box!” jokes Kasia. “I also want to experiment with street photography and landscapes. I usually shoot with zoom lenses, so working with a fixed focal length will be a great new skill.”

Finally, Petter Askø Næss’s stunning image of a Siberian Jay received third place. “I often visit an old magical forest up in the Norwegian mountains” says Petter. “This Summer, I was fortunate to meet a group of beautiful Siberian Jays. So, this Autumn I decided I wanted to try to get some photos of them in flight, surrounded by Autumnal colours. Not an easy task, but, thanks to my trusty Sony Alpha 1 and my Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS, it was a piece of cake.”

Shooting on his Sony Alpha 1, at 30fps with Bird Eye AF tracking, Petter had hundreds of pin-sharp photos to choose from. However, the position of the bird and the warm colours set this shot apart from the others.

On his Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G lens prize, Petter notes “My biggest goal is to explore the world of wide-angle wildlife shots by placing my camera with the 16-25mm lens near the action and using the Sony Bluetooth remote to trigger the camera. It’ll be challenging but so much fun.”

We’re so excited to see what our Alpha Autumn winners will be shooting next! To be in with a chance of being featured or winning our next Alpha Universe Instagram competition, be sure to follow us on Instagram at alphauniversebysony.eu