"Sensaziono, Etna in Eruzione"

Nature, First Place: This image shows the magnificence of erupting magma, ash and gas, during the first days of December 2015, which rose to a height of several kilometers above the summit of Mount Etna. (Giuseppe Mario Famiani / Siena International Photo Awards)

A jaw-dropping shot of an erupting Mount Etna, a breathtaking image of a doomed sardine migration and a daredevil skier in action in Norway are just some of the spectacular winners of the .

The prestigious competition received over 45,000 photographs as entries from professional and amateur photographers and new talent from 127 countries around the world. The submissions, judged by illustrious photographers, critics and photo editors, showcased scenes of travel and adventure, captured remarkable moments in wildlife and sports and highlighted the beauty of the natural world.

The winners were revealed at a ceremony held in Siena, Italy on October 29 and the winning images will be displayed through November 30 in the "Beyond the Lens" exhibition at the Siena Art Photo Travel Festival. The images are also featured in a book.

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Ardun Rikardsen from Norway was named "Siena Best Author of the Year 2016." Rikarden, who won first place in both the Wildlife and Sport categories, for his shot of a killer whale and a skiier, has had a lifelong fascination with the Arctic's nature and culture, both above and below the ocean's surface.

The title of "Siena Photographer of the Year 2016" was awarded to French underwater photographer Greg Lecouer, who captured a spectacular shot of marine predators closing in on a sardine migrations. "I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time to photograph their capture," he said about winning photo.

To learn more about the Siena International Photography Awards and see all the winning images from this year and the previous year, visit their .