The EPSON International Pano Awards Gold Club
Armin Amano
Armin Amano
About Me
Although I was born in the city, I never truly felt at home there. My heart has always belonged to the mountains. Since I couldn’t escape the city, I used every chance I had to flee into the wild – spending countless nights in a tent and staying awake for days on high peaks, chasing the perfect light with my old, rusty Nikon gear.
Driven by passion and a deep connection to raw, untouched nature, I’ve dedicated myself to capturing the beauty of remote, almost unreal places – and sharing them with the world. Inspired by Japanese aesthetics and a sense of cosmic perspective, my work is a quiet reminder of how small we are, and how precious our time and planet truly are.
“If we are already so small – how big can our problems really be?”
Through my photography, I hope to inspire awe, stillness, and above all, the desire to protect the fragile beauty that surrounds us.
Let’s connect – I’d love to hear what stirs your soul when you stand beneath the stars or gaze at the snow-covered peaks.
Armin
Between majestic mountains and untouched landscapes, I find the soul of landscape photography: capturing not just what is seen, but what is deeply felt.
My images are shaped by raw nature, fleeting light, and the quiet power of solitude. A stag emerging from shadow, autumn birds in flight, light filtering through ancient trees – each moment tells a story of emotion, mystery, and reflection.
These photographs are more than visuals; they are inner landscapes. They speak of longing, freedom, and the delicate balance between darkness and light.
Through my work, I invite you to see nature not just with your eyes, but with your soul – and to feel the quiet magic that connects us all.
2017 Winner of the Red Bull - Terra Mater Photo Contest
2018 Gold Award Winner of the EPSON International Pano Awards
Exhibitions:
2025 „Night River“
2024 „Dolomites“
2019 „Photo+Adventure“
2018 „Alpenglow“
2017 „10.Anniversary“
2017 „Immortal“
2016 „A way of Life“
2016 „Dreamlife“
2016 „Art of Japan“
2015 „Color & Tone“
2014 „Kioku no Tabiji“
Press & Publications
* StarWalk App
* TOKYO TV
* Terra Mater
* Fine art printers
* Foto Objektiv
* SPIEGEL
* GEO
But everything changed on my third visit.
I found myself caught in the middle of a monsoon — heavy rain, dense fog, visibility near zero. Still, something told me to keep going. I started hiking downhill, hoping to escape the storm, guided only by a feeling that something extraordinary might be hidden beneath the fog.
And then, it happened.
As I descended, golden sunlight began to pierce through the mist. Slowly, the fog lifted — and revealed a landscape so surreal, so impossibly beautiful, it felt like I had stepped into another world. This moment, this light, this scene… it was pure magic. One of the most unreal and unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had behind the lens.
What I learned that day is simple, but powerful:
Sometimes, you just have to be lucky — in the right place, at the right time.
But you also have to keep going, even when it seems hopeless, to give that luck a chance to find you.
Then one evening, I took my partner to the top of Mount Pilatus in Lucerne to enjoy the view. I almost left my camera at home — I just wanted a quiet moment. Luckily, I brought it along.
Out of nowhere, a powerful thunderstorm rolled in. While others rushed to safety, something switched in me. I stayed. I set up my tripod, entered a trance-like state, and started shooting — fully focused, with no fear. Lightning cracked all around me. I was indirectly struck twice, once near a lightning arrester and once while climbing to a higher peak for a better angle.
I knew it was reckless. But in that moment, nothing else mattered. I wasn’t thinking — I was simply doing. Chasing light. Chasing the impossible.
That night I spent 8 hours on the mountain, soaked in rain and electricity, driven by passion. I named the final photo IMMORTAL — because somehow, I walked away unharmed. I wouldn’t recommend doing what I did. But when I hold a camera and the scene is right, something in me shifts — and I shoot with my whole being.
This image is more than a photo. It’s a story of risk, instinct, and an unwavering love for photography.
That moment taught me something I’ll never forget:
When you refuse to give up, you become unstoppable.
Keep going — even when it’s hard. Especially then.
Contact Information
Introducing The Pano Awards Gold Club
Gold Awards represent the top 2% of awards given each year. Receiving a Gold Award is one of the highest achievements in The Pano Awards.
All Gold winners and Judges are entitled to Gold Club membership – to provide additional recognition, exposure and valuable backlinks for photographers of the highest standard.
A Gold membership profile showcases your achievements, folio and website/social links in the Gold Club search directory. To keep your listing active, simply enter at least one image into the competition each year (by close of entries, judges excepted).
If you’ve previously received a gold award, or been a judge, and would like access to create your listing, please register below.
*Note: Gold Club registration/login is completely separate to award entry registration/login