Today is Nature Photography Day, and we’re very excited to announce the winner of our competition! Our guest judge, photographer Ben Porter, has spent some time looking through each of the amazing entries we’ve received and, after much deliberation, has kindly put together a list of finalists…including an over-all winner! So, without further ado, allow Ben to introduce his top five photos, before revealing the winner!
The Finalists
Small Copper Butterfly by Emma Furniss
Whilst many wildlife images focus in on the subject and isolate the animal from its surrounds, Emma has taken a step back here and captured this beautiful butterfly in its wider habitat. The colours of the vivid wildflower meadow contrast effectively with the orange forewings of this small insect.
Grizzly Bear Cubs by Amanda Morrison
Lying belly-down on the beach as these bear cubs approached, Amanda has been able to use the depth of field effectively to capture such a unique perspective: a beautifully detailed close-up of these formidable beasts, whilst incorporating the stunning vista of Alaska’s Lake Clark Nation Park in the backdrop. A superb image.
Gozo’s Azure Window by Amman Shergill
The golden hours of light – just after sunrise and prior to sunset – are times that photographers live for. Amman was in place at just the right time to produce this superb landscape of a striking coastal landform, with moody clouds overhead and movement in the azure waves adding extra interest. It’s even more impressive that this was taken with a smartphone!
Monkeys by Annette Wilson
Paying attention to the form and composition is a key element to producing striking photographs. The framing of this baby monkey in its mother’s arms draws the eye into the image and focusses your attention on the main subject. Annette has chosen an effective portrait crop that highlights this delicate young primate.
The Winner Of Our Nature Photography Day Competition
Cape Fur Seal by Be Tischii
Photographing this seal in silhouette, Be has produced a striking image that captures its elegant form beautifully. Braving the cold waters off South Africa, the seal has very much been framed in its element, highlighted from below against the graded dark blue tones of the ocean.
Many thanks to Ben for his time, and for selecting our winner. Huge congratulations to Be Tischii – we’ll be in touch shortly with the details of your prize!
If you’d like to see some of Ben’s own work, head to the following websites:
Website: www.benporterwildlife.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/benporterwildimages
Twitter: @bardseyben
