Spring 2026 Competition Winner
The Spring 2026 edition of the Sony Alpha Universe competition has reached its climax with a bevy of bright and beautiful photos competing for the three brilliant Sony Alpha prizes. We asked Sony photographers from across Europe to share their best shots focusing on the renewal and vibrancy of the new year and the results didn’t disappoint with thousands of Instagram users showing their images of blossom, sunshine and glorious colour.
After much deliberation, top place went to Vladimir Klement’s photo in which he captured the vibrant energy of Spring across the rolling fields of South Moravia in the Czech Republic.
© Vladimir Klement | Sony α7R V + FE 200-600mm f/6.3-8 G OSS | 1/250s @ f/6.3, ISO 100
I love the awakening of nature in Spring. All of it inspires me, its bright colours, blooming trees, sun-lit landscape and the smell of flowers in the air, everything is alive again. The feeling in that moment is so strong and the challenge is to capture it in a photo.”
South Moravia is a popular spot for photographers thanks to its rolling fields, and Vladimir arrived at the location well before sunset, so he could spend time exploring compositions. “I noticed a local farmer who was working in his field and about to do some spraying of grain,” he says. “I chatted to him and realised the tractor would make a great addition to the scene I had in mind.”
Although the image was unplanned, Vladimir recognised the potential of the moment as the tractor moved into position and the evening light illuminated the hills. “It was my first time at this place, and I had a bit of luck, but many of the best things cannot be planned exactly,” he continues. “Also, travelling by bicycle meant I couldn’t bring my tripod and was shooting handheld, relying on instinct and timing as well as my Alpha 7R V’s image stabilisation.”
Photography has been part of Klement’s life since childhood, beginning in the days of film before eventually moving to Sony digital cameras. “Today, landscape photography is my primary focus,” he says, “and my Sony cameras’ excellent dynamic range is vital for that. I also use new features like focus bracketing, which helps keep scenes pin-sharp from near to far.”
Receiving a new Sony Alpha 7R V body for his winning entry, Vladimir says he plans to continue shooting landscapes, taking advantage of the compact body’s revolutionary blend of sensor size, resolution and portability.
Fabio Mueller was chosen as runner up with his striking wildlife image featuring a roe deer standing among a sea of spring flowers in the Swiss Alps.
© Fabio Mueller | Sony α1 II + FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS | 1/800s @ f/2.8, ISO 100
Captured in the soft light of early morning, the photograph combines patience, timing and an intimate connection with the natural world,” says Fabio. “Everything simply came together perfectly, light, colours, atmosphere and the direct gaze of the deer. Moments like these are rare in wildlife photography, so right away, I knew this image was something truly special and would become one of my personal favourites.”
Spring inspires Fabio every year because of the sense of nature returning to life after the long winter months. “Suddenly there is colour, light and energy everywhere,” he says. “I wanted to capture exactly this feeling of renewal and natural beauty in my image. The blooming meadow and the elegant appearance of the deer perfectly reflect the magic of spring and show how vibrant and fascinating this season can be.”
Early in the morning, he waited patiently for the moment the deer paused and looked directly towards the camera. “What fascinated me most was the calm and almost magical atmosphere,” he says. “I used my Sony Alpha 1 II together with the FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS, making the most of the camera’s superb subject-detection autofocus to shoot through a curtain of flowers.”
For his runner-up image, Fabio receives a Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II lens. “I’m especially looking forward to photographing landscapes and wildlife during my travels with this lens, because those focal lengths can show more of the animals’ natural habitat and surroundings,” he says. “It will open up so many creative possibilities!”
In third place was Francisco Garcia with his image transporting viewers to Lanzarote, Spain, where in the Spring, vibrant poppies emerge from the island’s distinctive black volcanic landscape.
© Francisco Garcia | Sony α7R III + FE 14mm f/1.8 GM | 1/500s @ f/5, ISO 100
On that day, Francisco made five bracketed exposures, which he later merged in order to combine the subject, the dramatic scenery with its iconic black sand, and delicate beauty of spring flowers in all their contrasting glory.
The thing is,” he admits, “though I bracketed to achieve the widest dynamic range, the regular photo showed that I didn’t really need the rest of exposures, because of the exceptional range in shadows and highlights that the Sony Alpha 7R III’s sensor brings!”
To capture the scene, he used the ultra-wide perspective of his FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens, capturing both the field of poppies and the surrounding environment. The expansive view highlights the contrast between colour and terrain, while he also shot at sunset, taking advantage of the warm light across the scene and the vivid colours it brought.
With his image winning him a Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G lens, Francisco says “this is actually my first Sony zoom lens. I shoot mostly with primes, but I will definitely use the 20-70mm when travelling and for street photography. It sounds so good it could be the only lens I need.”
Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who entered. To participate in future competitions and showcase your talent, make sure you follow @sonyalphaeu on Instagram.
