Apex Wins Gold at VIEpa Vienna International Photo Awards
In 2019, Australian seascape photographer Tal Lemmens was awarded Gold (1st Place) in the 'Our World' category at the prestigious VIEPA Vienna International Photo Awards 2020. His winning photograph, ‘Apex’, captured off the coast of Kiama, New South Wales, is a striking example of ocean art at its most sculptural — a symmetrical wave frozen in time with profound detail and clarity.
This international photography competition projected Tal’s work to a global audience, cementing his reputation as an award-winning ocean photographer known for capturing the power and subtlety of the sea.
As part of the award, ‘Apex’ was exhibited at the LIK GALERIE Summer Photo Festival in Vienna, Austria, and was featured in the official VIEPA 2020 competition book.
Surf Coast Photographer Featured in Media
Following the win, Tal was featured in major Victorian media including the Geelong Advertiser, Herald Sun, Surf Coast Times, and Bellarine Times — introducing his art to new audiences across Australia and highlighting his roots on the Surf Coast of Victoria.
From Injury to Inspiration
The award came at a personally challenging time. After a serious mountain biking accident in Geelong left Tal with a dislocated ankle and three fractures in his leg, he underwent multiple surgeries and spent several weeks in hospital. Unable to return to the ocean, he focused intensely on rehabilitation, using the goal of returning to the water — and to his camera — as creative motivation.
Tal is now back in the sea, creating new collections of limited edition seascape photography and expanding his offerings for both Australian and international collectors.
Explore the Winning Artwork
‘Apex’ is now available as part of Tal’s Sustainable Series of limited edition ocean artworks — a collection of large-format fine art prints, framed in sustainable Tasmanian Oak and printed to museum-grade standards. Only 5 editions of ‘Apex’ will ever be produced.