ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Ice cell is one of the images from my 2021 Ice Anatomy project photo series. Ice Anatomy is an aerial series of photos of the Cuejdel Lake in Romania during the winter when it is completely frozen. The fresh snow and ice cracks created these shapes resembling neurons or cells. My project Ice Anatomy follows the ice transformations on the lake over several winters. This is a subject that I have been pursuing for more than two years and I came up with the idea during a winter when I observed the shapes and cracks appearing on the lake's surface after the frosting and defrosting.

AUTHOR
Gheorghe Popa is a Romanian nature photographer, internationally recognized for his stunning images that capture wild landscapes, abstract compositions, and unique natural details. By combining aerial photography with classic techniques, his work highlights both the beauty and fragility of the environment.
He has been awarded in some of the world’s most prestigious photography competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year (London), GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Germany), Asferico (Italy), MontPhoto (Spain), Nature Photographer of the Year – NPOTY (Netherlands), International Landscape Photographer of the Year (Australia), Drone Awards, Epson Pano Awards, and Memorial Maria Luisa. In 2024, he secured 3rd place at ILPOTY and won the special award for Best Aerial Photograph twice.
Beyond competition achievements, Gheorghe Popa has served as a jury member for several major international contests, including NPOTY (Netherlands), Asferico (Italy), and Golden Turtle (Russia). He has also been invited as a guest speaker at events such as MontPhoto and NPOTY, where he shared his creative vision and professional experience in landscape photography.
His photographs have appeared on the covers of leading international magazines such as National Geographic Traveler, Nature, Emergence Magazine, Elements Magazine, OnLandscape, and Pianeta 2030, reinforcing his status as a prominent visual artist.
One of his most acclaimed projects, The Poisoned Beauty, is a powerful documentary series on environmental pollution, published globally by National Geographic. His photo book Cuejdel – A Tale from the Carpathian Wilderness, dedicated to Cuejdel Lake, has also received high recognition at competitions like IPA International Photography Awards, Tokyo International Photo Awards, and PX3 Paris.
Gheorghe Popa actively shares his work on Instagram (@gheorghepopa__gphoto) and on his official website, gheorghepopa.com, inspiring nature and photography lovers through powerful visual storytelling.

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