Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People’s Choice Award finalists
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Drawing over 48,000 entries from 100 countries, the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards is not only well-known, it’s also the world’s longest-running photography competition. Thanks to a partnership with LUMIX, the public can have their say in which shortlisted image should win. 25 photos have been selected by a panel of judges and anyone can vote for their favorite here.
‘The LUMIX People’s Choice images capture the essence of the competition; they all ignite a reaction about the natural world and make you see it differently. Showcasing breath-taking beauty, compassion and cruelty, it is impossible not to be moved by them – I think everyone who votes has a tough decision to make,’ said Tim Littlewood, the National History Museum’s Executive Director of Science and member of the judging panel.
Those in close proximity to the Natural History Museum of London can view all 25 shortlisted images at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. It will be open for viewing until voting closes on February 2nd. The entry that receives the most votes for the LUMIX People’s Choice Award will be on display until the exhibition concludes on May 31st. The winner plus four other top entries will be featured online at The Wildlife Photographer of the Year hub where they’ll be seen by millions of online visitors from all over the world.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is an annual event hosted by the Natural History Museum. Its goal is to shine a light on nature photography as an art form while challenging the viewer to question the plights facing animals and our planet. Entries for the 2020 competition are open until Thursday, December 12th. Photographers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to submit their work.
Shortlisted image: Matching outfits by Michel Zoghzoghi, Lebanon
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About the photo: Michel was in the Pantanal, Brazil photographing jaguars. One afternoon, as he was on the Três Irmãos River, a mother and her cub crossed right in front of his boat. He watched, mesmerized, as they left the water holding an anaconda with a very similar pattern to their own.
Gear and specs: Canon EOS 1D X Mark II +500mm f4 lens; 1/1250 sec at f13 (-1e/v); ISO 1250.
Shortlisted image: What a poser by Clement Mwangi, Kenya
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About the photo: In Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, Clement spent time observing this beautiful leopard as she soaked up the last warm rays of the setting sun. Clement is mindful to remember to take pleasure in life’s simple moments – being all too aware that sometimes, as a wildlife photographer, you can miss the exceptional while looking for the unusual.
Gear and specs: Canon EOS 5D Mark III + Sigma 150-500mm lens; 1/320 sec at f6.3; ISO 1250.
Shortlisted image: Inquisitive by Audun Rikardsen, Norway
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About the photo: From a hide on the coast of northern Norway, it took Audun three years of planning to capture this majestic bird of prey in its coastal environment. After some time, the golden eagle became curious of the camera and seemed to like being in the spotlight.
Gear and specs: Canon 6D Mark II + Canon 8-15mm f4 lens; 1/640 sec at f18 (-1e/v); ISO 400, Canon 600II Flash; Siuri tripod head; motion sensor.
Shortlisted image: Tender play by Steve Levi, USA
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About the photo: It was early March and Steve spotted this mother polar bear and her two cubs after 10 days of looking. They had recently left their birthing den in Wapusk National Park, Canada, to begin the long journey to the sea ice so their mother could feed. After a nap the cubs were in a playful mood.
Gear and specs: Nikon D850 + 800mm f5.6 lens + 1.25x teleconverter at 1000mm; 1/1250 sec at f10; ISO 640.
Shortlisted image: Family get-together by Michael Schober, Austria
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About the photo: Marmots have become accustomed to the presence of humans in Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria and allow people to observe and photograph them at close range. This behaviour is beneficial for the marmots, as human company deters predators such as golden eagles.
Gear and specs: Nikon D4 + Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 lens; 640 sec; ISO 400.
Shortlisted image: Training session by Stefan Christmann, Germany
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About the photo: When Stefan came across this penguin couple in Atka Bay, Antarctica, seemingly with an egg, he was surprised as it was too early in the season for egg-laying. Upon closer inspection he discovered the egg was a snowball! Perhaps the diligent couple were practicing egg transfer in preparation for when their real egg arrived. This is possibly the first time it has ever been witnessed and documented.
Gear and specs: Nikon D810 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 400mm f2.8 E FL ED VR lens; 1/1000 sec at f4.0; ISO 800.
Shortlisted image: Beak to beak by Claudio Contreras Koob, Mexico
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About the photo: Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in the state of Yucatán is home to Mexico’s largest flock of Caribbean flamingos. This chick is less than five days old – it will stay in its nest less than a week before it joins a crèche of other youngsters who wander around the colony searching for food.
Gear and specs: Canon EOS 5D Mark II + Canon 300mm f2.8 Lens + Canon 2X Teleconverter II; 1/160 sec at f11; ISO 1600; Camo throwover blind.
Shortlisted image: Teamwork by Jake Davis, USA
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About the photo: Jake was on a boat off the coast of Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada where he watched humpback whales bubble-et feeding. Here the leader whale dives to locate the fish, once the fish are located, the rest of the pod swim in decreasing circles while blowing bubbles which create a net, trapping the fish.
Gear and specs: Canon EOS 1D X Mark II + 100-400mm lens; 1/500 sec at f5.6; ISO 2500.
Shortlisted image: A pulsing sea by David Doubilet, USA
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About the photo: A school of red tooth triggerfish form a cloud of silhouettes above a river of convict blennies flowing over the coral in Verde Island Passage, Philippines. The Passage, a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world.
Gear and specs: Nikon D3S with Nikon 17-35 mm f/28 lens in SEACAM Underwater housing. Sea & Sea YS 250 strobes at ½ power 1/50th sec f/10 at ISO 250.
Shortlisted image: Station squabble by Sam Rowley, UK
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About the photo: Sam discovered the best way to photograph the mice inhabiting London’s Underground was to lie on the platform and wait. He only saw them fight over scraps of food dropped by passengers a few times, possibly because it is so abundant. This fight lasted a split second before one grabbed a crumb and they went their separate ways.
Gear and specs: Nikon D500 + 105mm f2.8 lens; 1/125 sec at f2.8; ISO 1000.
Shortlisted image: Ocean’s signature by Angel Fitor, Spain
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About the photo: Angel took this image in the waters off of Alicante, Spain. Immersed in a strong current, an otherwise slightly undulating salp chain twists and turning forming whimsical shapes. Salps move by contracting, which pumps water through their gelatinous bodies.
Gear and specs: Nikon D800 + Sigma 20 mm f1.8 lens; 1/250 sec at f16; ISO 50; Nexus D800 housing; Two Retra strobe.
Shortlisted image: Losing the fight by Aaron Gekoski, UK
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About the photo: Orangutans have been used in degrading performances at Safari World, Bangkok – and many other locations – for decades. The shows were temporarily stopped in 2004 due to international pressure, but today the shows continue – twice a day, every day – with hundreds of people paying to watch the orangutans box, dance, play the drums and more.
Gear and specs: Canon 5D Mark II +100-400mm f4.5/5.6 lens; 1/100 sec at f5.6; ISO 800.
Shortlisted image: The surrogate mother by Martin Buzora, Canada
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About the photo: Elias Mugambi is a ranger at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. He often spends weeks away from his family caring for orphaned black rhinos like Kitui here. The young rhinos are in the sanctuary as a result of poaching or because their mothers are blind and cannot care for them safely in the wild.
Gear and specs: Nikon D4S + 85mm f1.4 lens; 1/5000 sec at f1.4; ISO 800.
Shortlisted image: Captive by Marcus Westberg, Sweden
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About the photo: A giant panda sits in its cage in a breeding center in Shaanxi, China. With a growing wild population and no realistic plan of how to breed and raise pandas for rerelease into the wild rather than a life in captivity – not to mention lack of habitat being the largest barrier to the continued spread of the wild population – it is unclear how such centers will benefit the species.
Gear and specs: Canon 1D X Mark II + 16-35mm f2.8L III lens at 20mm; 1/60 sec at f28; ISO 2500.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)