Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

During a three-week stay in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania,Martin encountered this female leopard several times. CalledFundi by local guides, she was well known in the area. Late oneafternoon, Fundi left the tree she was resting in and stopped byMartin’s car, fixing him with her magnificent gaze. Martin van Lokven

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

Nature is amazing. End of discussion.

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

During a three-week stay in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania,Martin encountered this female leopard several times. CalledFundi by local guides, she was well known in the area. Late oneafternoon, Fundi left the tree she was resting in and stopped byMartin’s car, fixing him with her magnificent gaze. Martin van Lokven

The Natural History Museum has released the much-anticipated shortlist for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, in the “People’s Choice” category.

After a total of 50,000 submissions from 92 countries were perused by the Museum, they whittled their finalists down to a collection of 24 photos. Incredibly, three South Africans feature on the list, for outstanding snaps taken of local wildlife.

Who has been nominated for Wildlife Photographer of the Year?

Charl Senekal, Peter Chadwick, and Jan Kolbe are representing Mzansi. Shortlisted images are currently on display at the highly-acclaimed Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London. Here are the trio’s outstanding entries:

1) The Nightcap
Charl Senekal

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

For Charl, nothing beats the excitement and anticipation of sitting in wait at a waterhole during the dry season, knowing that anything can appear out of the darkness. The herd of zebra in South Africa’s Zimanga Game Reserve surpassed his wildest wishes, and the still conditions resulted in a near perfect reflection.

(Nikon D5 + 24 70mm f2.8 lens at 38mm; 1/400 sec at f2.8; ISO 5000.)

2) Bloody Ivory
Peter Chadwick

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

In a protected area of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, a ranger’s bloody hand rests on a heavily grained ivory tusk, also covered in the blood of an African elephant. The bull had to be destroyed due to a severe tusk infection that couldn’t be treated. The tusks were removed to a place of safekeeping, where they were carefully catalogued in accordance with legislation.

(Nikon D3S + Nikon 24–70mm f2.8 lens; 1/2000 sec at f4; ISO 200.)

3) What Are You Looking At?
Jan Kolbe

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

Jan spotted this small southern white-faced owl in a tree at a campsite in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. These owls have black-tipped ‘ear’ tufts and usually lay their eggs in the old nests of other birds. Jan was able to frame a shot of this striking bird looking down at him as it didn’t seem bothered by the comings and goings of the campsite.

(Canon EOS 7D + EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens; 1/250 sec at f10 ; ISO 400; Canon EOS 7D flash.)

Other nominations for Wildlife Photographer of the Year

It looks like South Africa will have some stiff competition this year, though. We’ve picked out five other pictures from the final 24 that took our breath away:

1) Land of Snow and Ice
Josh Anon, USA

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award
The Arctic is beautiful year-round, but it’s stunning in the winter when everything is white and the sun stays low to the horizon. On my first night on a boat-based trip in Svalbard, right after leaving Longyearbyen, we encountered this polar bear walking along the edge of the ice. She was curious, walking past us twice, with her full white coat glowing beautifully in the setting sun, and after growing bored with us, she silently walked off into the distance.

2) Pikin and Appolinaire
Jo-Anne McArthur, Canada

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award
Pikin, a lowland gorilla, had been captured and was going to be sold for bush meat but was rescued by Ape Action Africa. Jo-Anne took this photograph as the gorilla was being moved from her former enclosure within a safe forest sanctuary in Cameroon to a new and larger one, along with a group of gorilla companions. She was first sedated, but during the transfer to the new enclosure she awoke. Luckily, she was not only very drowsy, but she was also in the arms of her caretaker,Appolinaire Ndohoudou, and so she remained calm for the duration of the bumpy drive.

3) Warm Embrace 
Debra Garside, Canada

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award
When polar bear mothers and cubs emerge from their dens inthe early spring, the cubs stay close to their mothers for warmth and protection. Once the cubs are strong and confident enough,they make the trek to the sea ice with their mother so that she can resume hunting for seals. Debra waited six days near the den of this family, in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada, before they finally emerged.

4) Grooming the Descendant 
Claudio Contreras Koob, Mexico

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award
This fluffy Caribbean flamingo chick is less than five days old and is being preened by one of its parents in the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán, Mexico. Chicks remain in the nest forless than a week; they then wander around the colony in crèches and start to feed for themselves, although their parents still continue to feed them for several months

5) Leopard Gaze
Martin van Lokven, The Netherlands

Pictures: Three South Africans up for Wildlife Photographer of the Year award
During a three-week stay in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania,Martin encountered this female leopard several times. Called Fundi by local guides, she was well known in the area. Late one afternoon, Fundi left the tree she was resting in and stopped by Martin’s car, fixing him with her magnificent gaze.

How to vote for the People’s Choice Award

The top five People’s Choice Award images will also be displayed on the Natural History Museum’s website, joining the 100-strong winning portfolio chosen by the esteemed panel of judges. The winner of the vote will then be showcased until the exhibition closes on 28 May 2018.

To register your vote for the top photographer, follow this link.

Also see: Twenty lions meet for a drink