Wetzel wins in Spain! His 33rd International Photography Award

Recently I ventured over to the northern region of Spain - Asturias, for an incredible weekend at the Award Ceremony of the 36th Edition of the Memorial Maria Luisa International Mountain, Adventure, and Nature Photography Contest. 

One of 8,000+ images submitted worldwide, my photograph, Eclipse Outlaw Chase won the Creative Category - one of fifteen categories at the MML, and my 33rd international photography award. The weekend kicked off in Infiesto Spain, bringing together some of the best photographers and filmmakers in the world for the opening night, and the unveiling of the month long exhibit in Infiesto.

Opening Night - Friday April 24th INFIESTO, SPAIN

The exhibit will travel to many more locations throughout Spain in 2026, showcasing an incredible portfolio of winning images from around the world on beautiful backlit screens - mesmerizing scenes from the depths of our oceans, vast deserts and forests, mountainous ceilings of the world,  remote cultures, and showcasing how we as humans interact with nature and these natural landscapes.

I was able to introduce my photograph to the public, briefly touching base on how the photograph was captured at 1:34pm on April 8th 2024 during the last Total Solar Eclipse in the USA until 2044.

There were roughly 100 photographs from the contest showcased throughout town, and we were able to take a walking tour of Infiesto with a large crowd of locals, fellow photographers, and media. It was inspiring to hear other photographers introduce their pieces, their motivation to pursue the photograph, and how they captured them within each breathtaking location. 

Award Ceremony - Saturday April 25th OVIEDO, SPAIN

The next day the capital of Asturias in northern Spain welcomed us - Oviedo, has a population of approximately 220,000 and is widely celebrated as one of the cleanest cities in Spain and the European Union. The city routinely scores near the top in European Commission quality-of-life surveys for its pristine urban environment. To be honest, it was absolutely immaculate, and everywhere I looked, there were city employees sweeping and cleaning throughout the day and night.

In the heart of the historic district, we convened at the University of Oviedo for award photos and a run through of the ceremony; instructions on the awards, and how we would enter the Teatro Filarmónica with a public procession with hundreds lining the streets, media, and hundreds of attendees in the theater. 

The award ceremony was absolutely incredible, held within a beautiful three tiered theater, and filled with performances by multiple opera singers, a tribute to a globally iconic local cinematographer, and all of the incredible winning photographs. We finished off the night with a late dinner at the Eurostars Hotel de La Reconquista, a stunning location where the King and Queen of Spain come to dine when they visit Asturias.  

All in all, the Memorial Maria Luisa truly rolled out the red-carpet for us and honored our work on an amazing level, the weekend was impressive. Although I've won this award and other similar awards from the MML in previous years, this was my first time attending the event, and I'll be sure to pencil it in my schedule in the years to come! 

View the contest imagery and category winning images here: https://www.memorialmarialuisa.com/uk/edicion36.php 

The largest and most influential newspaper in Asturias - Northern Spain, published an in depth Q&A on my work that has won multiple MML Awards, but also the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse in Asturias Spain on August 12th. Click the image below, or the link to read the full translated article. 

Feature Interview  | La Nueva España 

“Noah Wetzel, an American photographer born in Ripon, Wisconsin, has built an international career marked by his pursuit of complex and technically demanding images, especially in mountain environments and action sports. His work, which has won awards in competitions such as the Memorial Maria Luisa, and Red Bull Illume, stands out for its combination of creativity, planning, and technical precision.”

https://www.lne.es/asturias/2026/04/27/noah-wetzel-fotografo-eclipses-ver-129563960.html

After the awards, I was able to spend another two weeks shooting and exploring in Asturias Spain. From a coastline littered with dozens of world class beaches, to jaw-dropping mountains just an hour away, I was able to capture some beautiful landscape imagery and cinematic timelapses. I'll be sharing more soon via my social channels, and hopefully sharing a gallery of imagery here as well.

Thank you for the support! It gives me the opportunity to continue pushing my creative limits, capturing imagery and moments that no one has seen!

Limited edition pieces of Eclipse Outlaw Chase are available in both Color and BW. Fine Art Prints start at 40"w x 24"h, up to 80" and beyond. 

https://www.wetzelgallery.com/products/eclipse-outlaw-chase