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
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.
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:
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.)
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.)
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.)
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:
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