Beautiful Baku

• Prize
  Silver in Fine Art/Architecture
• Photographer
  Christiaan van Heijst, Netherlands
• Date of Photograph
  24 sept 2018
• Studio
  jpcvanheijst
• Socials
• Website
  https://jpcvanheijst.com

The Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center is one of the most eye catching and striking architectural buildings in the rapidly developing capital of Azerbaijan.
Finished in 2013, it was meant as a symbol of Azerbaijan's hopes and dreams since the country broke away from Soviet rule in 1991.
The flow of modernism, elegance and ambition that characterises this building are typical for the direction Azerbaijan is aiming for in the future that awaits this fascinating country.

• Biography
  Christiaan van Heijst is a Dutch fine art photographer, writer and Boeing 747 captain. Working from a unique perspective above the world, he creates atmospheric images shaped by light, geometry, architecture and solitude. His work moves beyond traditional aviation photography and explores the psychological space between people, structures and landscapes. He has received numerous international awards and his photographs have been featured by National Geographic, CNN, BBC and The Times.
• Awards
  Christiaan van Heijst is an internationally awarded Dutch photographer whose work has received recognition across fine art, architecture, abstract, aerial and aviation photography. Major distinctions include Photographer of the Year at the 1839 Awards in 2025 and 2024; Netherlands’ Top 10 Fine Art Photographer 2024, ranked No. 1 by One Eyeland; Special Photographer of the Year at the International Photography Awards in 2019; Architecture Discovery of the Year at the Monochrome Photography Awards 2018/2019; and International Discovery of the Year at the International Photographer of the Year Awards in 2017. At the International Photography Awards, he was named Special Photographer of the Year and a finalist for the Lucie Awards grand prize in 2019. His IPA results also include category wins and podium finishes in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020, together with numerous Honorable Mentions and Official Selections. His book Cargopilot received first, second and third prizes across three IPA book categories in 2017. Further honours include Gold awards at PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, the Epson International Pano Awards, Budapest International Foto Awards, Moscow International Foto Awards, European Photography Awards, London Photography Awards, MUSE Photography Awards and reFocus Awards. His work has also been selected by National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine and Lonely Planet, and was named Aviation Photo of the Year by Aero International in 2013.