Thursday 26 April 2012

Stunning images unveiled in nature photography competition... but you'll never guess which one won it

By Leon Watson
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Some are incredible - some are awe-inspiring. But don't be surprised if you can't pick the winner...
These stunning images beat off competition from thousands of entries to be named finalists of the Nature Photographer of the Year.
The photos, which showcase some of the most stunning scenes in nature from across Europe, were all finalists in the competition, organised by the Society of German Nature Photographers.
Approach by Werner Bollman: These are the stunning images which 
beat off competition from thousands of entries to be named finalists of 
the Nature Photographer of the Year. But can you guess which one won?
Approach by Werner Bollman: These are the stunning images which beat off competition from thousands of entries to be named finalists of the Nature Photographer of the Year. But can you guess which one won?

Journey To The Centre by Bernd Nill: The judges liked this 
incredible web captured on film by one of the finalists
Journey To The Centre by Bernd Nill: The judges liked this incredible web captured on film by one of the finalists
Ermine Fullspeed by Rolf Muller: The competition was organised by 
the Society of German Nature Photographers
Ermine Fullspeed by Rolf Muller: The competition was organised by the Society of German Nature Photographers
More than 200 members of the society, from seven different countries submitted 3,252 images to the contest.


The overall competition was won by Klaus Tamm from Wuppertal, with his image 'Toad Migration'.

Klaus said: 'One evening in early April I was out to save common toads crossing the road from being run over by approaching cars.
'I had wanted to photograph this situation for quite some time, so I parked the car on a quiet road to compose some images of a migrating toad.
Grouse portrait by Klaus Echle: More than 200 members of the 
society, from seven different countries submitted 3,252 images to the 
contest

Grouse portrait by Klaus Echle: More than 200 members of the society, from seven different countries submitted 3,252 images to the contest
Mute Swans in the hail storm by Ingo Plenk: The photos, which 
showcase some of the most stunning scenes in nature from across Europe, 
were all finalists in the competition
Mute Swans in the hail storm by Ingo Plenk: The photos, which showcase some of the most stunning scenes in nature from across Europe, were all finalists in the competition
Blazing Pine Forest by Dr Martin Schmidt: This was another 
finalist, which shows red sunlight shining on trees
Blazing Pine Forest by Dr Martin Schmidt: This was another finalist, which shows red sunlight shining on trees
Carabus Auronitens by Bernhard Brautlecht: This picture of an 
insect on wood was one of the competition finalists
Carabus Auronitens by Bernhard Brautlecht: This picture of an insect on wood was one of the competition finalists

The Little One by Claudia Muller: Shows a single small mushroom 
amid a green surrounding
The Little One by Claudia Muller: Shows a single small mushroom amid a green surrounding

The animal moved very slowly due to the cool evening temperatures and I managed to create a photograph in the vehicle's beam of light.
'The wet surface of the road with its reflections added to the successful composition of the image.'
After a pre-jury had made their choices from the 3251 submitted images, ten images were selected from each of the seven categories: Birds, Mammals, Other Animals, Plants & Fungi, Landscapes, Nature's Studio, and this year's special category 'Marine Habitats in Germany'.
The exhibition of awarded photographs will be showcased at different venues throughout Germany.
A selection of the images will also be shown at the GDT International Nature Photography Festival which runs from October 26 to 28.

Titled Sylt by Stefan Puetz. This stunning horizon snap shows a 
blue sky stretching out and a single gull flying across an expanse of 
water
Titled Sylt by Stefan Puetz. This stunning horizon snap shows a blue sky stretching out and a single gull flying across an expanse of water
Petrified Sand Dunes by Harald Metzer: Shows this amazing 
naturally-created swirl of sand
Petrified Sand Dunes by Harald Metzer: Shows this amazing naturally-created swirl of sand
Fox Gate by Hermann Hirsch: Just one eye and the ear of a 
silver-looking fox are showing in this black and white picture
Fox Gate by Hermann Hirsch: Just one eye and the ear of a silver-looking fox are showing in this black and white picture

Surf by Hermann Hirsch: Crashing waves are pictured below a craggy
 scene that almost looks like the outline of a human face
Surf by Hermann Hirsch: Crashing waves are pictured below a craggy scene that almost looks like the outline of a human face
Booked Cathedral by Michael Lauer: This picture showing trees in a
 forest is beyond be-leaf
Booked Cathedral by Michael Lauer: This picture showing trees in a forest is beyond be-leaf
Knots by Uwe Naeve: A flock of birds
Knots by Uwe Naeve: A flock of birds

Chamios by Gisela Schmid: While this picture got to the final, it 
got a frosty reception from the judges when compared to the winner
Chamios by Gisela Schmid: While this picture got to the final, it got a frosty reception from the judges when compared to the winner
In The Forest by Dr Ralph Graf: As soon as this snap was taken, it
 didn't take long for the photographer to twig how good it was
In The Forest by Dr Ralph Graf: As soon as this snap was taken, it didn't take long for the photographer to twig how good it was
The Sandstorm by Michael Lohmann: A penguin on its own
The Sandstorm by Michael Lohmann: A penguin on its own

But the winner was...

And the winner is... The overall competition was won by Klaus Tamm
 from Wuppertal, with his image Toad Migration
And the winner is... The overall competition was won by Klaus Tamm from Wuppertal, with his image Toad Migration


1 comment:

  1. The first and foremost point of becoming a nature photographer is passion. You need to be passionate and ambitious toward natural life. You have to show your interest and confidence to achieve something big. Without self-motivation and vast knowledge, you cannot be succeeded in this competitive field. So you need to research deeply and involve yourself with the natural world.

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