These photos from the Siena International Photogaphy Awards are awesome

These beautiful photos are just a few of the top entries in the first-ever Siena International Photography Awards.

Entrants from over 100 countries around the world submitted more than 15,000 images for consideration by the judges, who included professional award-winning photographers such as Melissa Farlow, Beth Wald and Gmb Akash.

Categories included Open Colour, Nature, Travel and Architecture.

Some of the images look more like paintings than photos. The 'dancing mantis' photo, above, was taken by Hasan Baglar from Cyprus and was the overall Nature category winner. The photographer says he took the image after trying to touch the insects. They opened their wings in an "attack" and started to follow him. "They looked like smiling dancers" he says.

See also: Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners 2015


See also: Landscape Photographer of the Year winners 2015

The overall winner of this year's competition (above), taken by Vladimir Proshin, shows Chinese fishermen on the Ou river close to the city of Lishui. The photo displays an ethereal quality which beautifully captures the nuances of light, depth and reflection.

The inaugural event was supported and promoted by a number of Italian and international photography magazines, and the organisers say they hope the awards will become a springboard for new talents.

An exhibition showcasing the prize-winning photographs and runners up of the competition is being held across different venues in Siena, Italy, ​until November 30 2015 (so if you happen to be in the area, it's well worth going along).

If you're inspired, and fancy entering the competition next year, the 2016 awards will be accepting entries from December 15. Applicants have until May 2016 to enter.
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Check out some more of the beautiful entries in the slideshow below.