Xavier de Bolós has won the 2024 photography contest organized by Geosciences Barcelona (GEO3BCN-CSIC) with an image of Mount Hood in Oregon, USA. Mar Moragas took second place with a photograph of the Aurlandsfjorden fjord in Norway, and Stephanie Barde-Cabusson secured third with an image of Mount St. Helens, also in the United States.

Xavier de Bolós’ photograph, which received 179 votes, captures Mount Hood, part of the Cascade Range – a volcanic chain that includes active volcanoes such as Mount St. Helens, Rainier, Adams, and Shasta. Mar Moragas’ image, with 171 votes, showcases Aurlandsfjorden, one of Norway’s deepest fjords, shaped during the glacial maximum over 18,000 years ago. Stephanie Barde-Cabusson’s photograph, which received 168 votes, features Mount St. Helens, known for its 1980 eruption that reshaped the landscape through landslides, ash clouds, and pyroclastic flows.

These three images will be on display throughout 2025 in the Institute’s Office Hall. They are also part of GEO3BCN-CSIC’s 2025 institutional calendar, along with the nine highest-scoring photographs from the voting period.

This year, a total of 38 photographs were submitted to the contest – one fewer than in 2023. The competition, held annually since 2015, is open to all GEO3BCN-CSIC staff, who also participate in the voting process.

2024 Winter Event

The results were announced during the institute’s winter event, held on December 18 at GEO3BCN-CSIC. In addition to unveiling the winning photographs, the institute’s management team presented a scientific and institutional summary of the year. The event also featured a screening of the documentary Echoes of the Rainforest, created by Dael Sassoon as part of the PALOMA project. The event concluded with a performance by the choir ДВА КОЛЬОРИ (Two Colors), which includes researcher Hanna Liventseva among its members.

List of the 12 Selected Photographs

• Mount Hood (Oregon, USA). Xavier de Bolós.
• Clouds over the fjord (Norway). Mar Moragas.
• Autumn colors at Mount St. Helens (Washington, USA). Stephanie Barde.
• The shapes of salt (Cardona, Catalonia). Lara Expósito.
• Mirant dins la Fournaise (Illa de la Reunió, França). Stephanie Barde.
• Diamond Head from above (Hawaii, USA). Stephanie Barde.
• Snow-covered Sherkhota Volcano (Greater Caucasus, Georgia). David Cruset.
• Snow-covered Sherkhota Volcano (Greater Caucasus, Georgia). David Cruset.
• Canigó through the Oegues d’Illa (French Pyrenees). David Cruset.
• Volcanic crater lake of Atexcac (Mexico). Xavier de Bolós.
• Fuego de Colima Volcano (Mexico). Xavier de Bolós.
• Sheath folds (Bedretto, Switzerland). Ramon Carbonell.
• Rock formations and beach among cliffs (Cantabria). Lara Expósito.