Wiki Loves Earth shortlists top 10 photos in Pakistan round

Pakistan won the competition in 2015 with a capture of Shangrila Lake winning the best international picture.
Published July 3, 2017

You may remember the international photography competition Wiki Loves Earth, a contest which was won by a Pakistani photographer's capture of Shangrila Lake as the best international picture in 2015.

Wikimedia Foundation ─ the California-based non-profit organisation which runs Wikipedia ─ has organised the global photography competition again this year, and the best pictures from Pakistan to go onto compete at the international stage have been selected.

The competition, aimed at documenting the world’s natural heritage under the free license of Creative Commons, recently concluded in Pakistan after receiving an overwhelming response.

Over 1,200 contestants in Pakistan sent in over 8,000 photographs making it the country with the third-largest number of submissions and the greatest number of participants this year.

Wiki Loves Earth 2017 has seen more than 15,000 participants from 36 countries, with over 130,000 photographs submitted throughout the month of May.

All submitted photos have a free license and can be re-used for any purpose, as long as the user attributes the photographer.

The contest was first run in Ukraine in 2013 and has since spread globally.

It is described as the 'sister competition' to Wiki Loves Monuments, which is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest photography competition in the world.

Pakistan became a part of the competition a few years ago and achieved the top spot amongst 28 participating nations in 2015.

The international winners of Wiki Loves Earth 2017 are yet to be announced, but the top 10 pictures to represent Pakistan as decided by Pakistan’s jury are below:

Passu Cones, Hunza Valley. ─ Photo by Shahbaz Aslam
Passu Cones, Hunza Valley. ─ Photo by Shahbaz Aslam

Jarbasu Lake, Skardu.  ─ Photo by Moiz Ismaili
Jarbasu Lake, Skardu. ─ Photo by Moiz Ismaili

Arang Kel. ─ Photo by Akaasi
Arang Kel. ─ Photo by Akaasi

Kalam, Swat. ─ Photo by Muhammad Akram Attari
Kalam, Swat. ─ Photo by Muhammad Akram Attari

A view of Siri from Paya, Shogran Valley. ─ Photo by Faisal Rafiq
A view of Siri from Paya, Shogran Valley. ─ Photo by Faisal Rafiq

Hunza Valley. ─ Photo by Asad Aman
Hunza Valley. ─ Photo by Asad Aman

Burawai near Naran. ─ Photo by Ghulam Murtaza
Burawai near Naran. ─ Photo by Ghulam Murtaza

Tao Butt, Gurais Valley. ─ Photo by Muhammad Akram Attari
Tao Butt, Gurais Valley. ─ Photo by Muhammad Akram Attari

Boyun Meadow, Swat. ─ Photo by Muhammad Akram Attari
Boyun Meadow, Swat. ─ Photo by Muhammad Akram Attari

Payee Meadows and Makra Peak. Photo by Syed Bilal Javaid
Payee Meadows and Makra Peak. Photo by Syed Bilal Javaid