Wildlife Photo Competition 1 2013 : Results

Judges Comment
A truly stunning action shot. Poetry in motion. Congratulations! This basilisk lizard, commonly known as the Jesus lizard because it can run on the surface of water, has been expertly photographed and has rightly stolen the show here. These are lightning-fast creatures and this photograph can only be the result of extensive work. Apart from the obvious subject appeal and the rarity of the moment the photographer has got him/herself down to the water’s level giving the lizard the tremendous presence it deserves. The focus is pin-sharp, the rapid movement perfectly frozen and the framing so strong, the water splashes adding further to the action. This is outstanding work and a worthy winner of this wildlife competition.
Photographers Comment
Thank you very much for this recognition! While Jesus had a divine energy to walk on the water this little creature uses his extreme speed to do the same. When I first saw this miracle in Costa Rica, I knew I could not come home without photographing this moment. Having learnt which spots they like the most for sunbathing, I was ready and took several shots.
www.matebence.hu

Judges Comment
This remarkable, high-contrast black and white photograph is just bursting with action, drama and energy. Once again the famously photogenic zebras are up with the best. The photographer’s low angle combines with the subject’s proximity to really make this an extraordinary picture. Those stampeding hooves are so close. Fantastic job! Story please…
Photographers Comment
Springtime at the San Diego Zoo. Animals are amazing to watch at this time of the year !

Judges Comment
Animal art and a firm favourite. This is a simple, beautiful and strong composition. The black and white works well for this elephant family portrait. The photographer’s imaginative approach has successfully transformed an already rare and very photogenic scene into an original, charming and balanced image... It is so difficult in the heat of the moment to find such a strong picture within the picture. Well done for a well deserved place on this outstanding podium.
Photographers Comment
This image was taken in Zambia in October 2012. There was a big family of elephants milling about a grove of trees feeding. We moved our jeep around to get the light and this pattern emerged. Shot with a Nikon D3s from about 25 feet away.
michaelscohen.smugmug.com

Judges Comment
Well I don’t know what feelings you all have about these fearsome creatures but this original shark picture surely sums up most of them! It is a brave contrasting pan shot with a great spooky background. The photographer has kept his/her cool and taken this smashing shot in a situation where most of us would have dropped the camera and swum off in panic ! Great effort, well done !
Photographers Comment
:-)
www.behance.net/solf

Judges Comment
The eye of the tiger. Here is a striking portrait of a great predator, as seen by the hunted, through the bush. It is a great effort with powerful visual impact thanks to the framing within the photo of that piercing eye. Stunning!
Photographers Comment
Taken with the Canon 40D, 70-200 IS, it is zoo shot. The habitat at the Oakland Zoo is natural and large and makes "stalking the game" fun. There is an area of over growth in the Spring and Summer that allows for these types of shots. Thank you for the honor. Leslie Cohelan
lesliecohelan.com

Judges Comment
Beautiful warm tones and backlighting add to the aesthetic appeal of this photograph. A telephoto lens makes a short depth of field; here this really brings these musk oxen’s faces to life, as they huddle together as one great beast staring at us. I love the atmosphere here. Great shot!
Photographers Comment
This shot was taken in Dovrefjell National Park, Norway. Muskoxen are prehistoric creatures that unlike the mammoth did survive the iceage. The're relaxed creatures, they stand and graze. But if you come within lets say a 100 meters of their personal space you will see their strength and speed. They either stand still or gallop. The Scandinavian autumn colors of moss and lichen are unmatched. Gilean Nolst Trenité. Canon 40D, 100-400mm @400mm f/8 1/250sec ISO400
www.gileanphotography.com

Judges Comment
This is a lovely natural scene with nice light and a powerful short depth of field. These great animals seem so content here wallowing around together in the reeds and the water. The communication between these two moose makes this image special. I also love the weed in the antlers and the drops of water. This is the wild, the atmosphere is so real, honestly, I am sitting in the canoe too!
Photographers Comment
My name is Randy Kroll. I captured this photo while on an afternoon hike at Silver Lake near the Brighton Ski resort in Utah. I used a Canon 20D and a 70/300 lens for this shot.
www.rkrollart.com

Judges Comment
A rare shot of a bobcat fight. I wonder if the photographer was actually there, so close, having a real adrenaline rush wildlife experience. Or is this is a remote camera’s shot? In either case it is a great success with undoubtedly lots of pre-planning involved. Big well done! Story please…
Photographers Comment
This shot was taken at the Wildpark Pforzheim. Actually I am shooting together with a friend, pics for the new calendar 2014 of this institution. On the right side of the pic you see Kasimir, the eldest animal in a group of 6 living together in this habitat. The young one on the left was furios because Kasimir came to close to the photographers and the food we carried with us. Other pics from this shooting can be found on my website: www.betz-naturfoto.de - special lynx close-up with the wide angle lens. Congratulations to Bence for the 1st place - great as usual. Thanx Stefan PS: Sorry for my bad englisch, I am from Germany. Shot taken with: Canon 5D Mark II + EF 70-200mm 2.8 @ 1/2500 f4 ISO 800 70mm Postprocessing in LR4 contrasts, saturation, denoise, in PS5 selective sharpening.
www.betz-naturfoto.de

Judges Comment
This is a very unusual composition of jellyfish. These usually slimy creatures have become quite beautiful, harmonious and graphical, nearly classical! I can imagine this on the wall in giant format. Well done!
calvinleephotography.zenfolio.com