The impressive image taken in Norway by Nima Sarikhani of a young polar bear sleeping on a block of ice drifting, as if it were a bed carved on a icebergwas chosen as the winner of the prestigious People’s Choice Award Wildlife Photographer of the Yearreported the London Natural History Museum.
“Ice bed” The winning work is titled, a smiling image that was captured in the middle of a thick fog, in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbardfrom an expedition ship in which he was traveling Nima Sarikhanibrand new wildlife photographer of the year.
A total of 25 images competed this year for the contest’s public award, which received a number vote recordwith more than 75,000 fans of the wildlife photography Worldwide.
“This moving image allows us see the beauty and fragility of our planet. Its image, which invites reflectionis a stark reminder of the integral link between an animal and its habitat and serves as a visual representation of the detrimental effects of climate warming and the loss of habitat“declared the director of the Museum of Natural History, Douglas Gurr.
The photographer himself told the behind-the-scenes story of the image: after three days searching for polar bears in the middle of a thick fog in front of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbardthe expedition ship on which he was traveling Nima He decided to change course and headed towards where there was still some sea ice. There they met two polar bears. Shortly before midnight, the young male climbed onto a small iceberg and, with his strong claws, he scratched it to make a bed. Nima captured the dreamlike moment when the young bear fell asleep.
“I am very honored to have won this year’s WPY People’s Choice Award, the most prestigious nature photography contest. This photo aroused strong emotions in many who saw it. Although he climate change It is the biggest challenge we face, I hope this photograph also inspires hope. We still have time to fix the mess we have caused“he added Gurr.
polar bear prize.jpg
Capture
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: what are the other winning images of the global contest
There are also four other images recognized with a special mention, from four finalists who also captivated the nature lovers of all the world. Among these photographs is “The happy turtle”of Tzahi Finkelsteina fascinating interaction between a Balkan pond turtle and a northern banded dragonfly that unexpectedly landed on the turtle’s snout.
For his part, the photographer Daniel Dencescu portrayed the moment when a mass of starlings swarms into the shape of a bird, in the Italian city of Romewhile two lionesses take care of one of the five cubs of the pride in Kenya, photo that its author Mark Boyd qualification Shared Parenting. The distinctions are completed with the impressive capture of Audun Rikardsen, “Aurora Jellies”which shows two moon jellyfish (easily recognized by their four rings) illuminated by the northern lights in a fjord of Norway.
The picture of Nima Sarikhani and the four finalists with special mention were selected from a list of 25 images chosen by the London Natural History Museumand an international jury, among almost 50,000 images submitted to the contest Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
prize turtle.jpg
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Where can you see the winning photographs?
The five images will be exhibited both online and in the exhibition at the London Natural History Museum, United Kingdomuntil the June 30, 2024.
The contest Wildlife Photographer of the Year “illuminates inspiring and impactful stories from the natural world to create defenders of the planet”indicated the organizers of the annual contest aimed at amateur and professional photographers of all ages and from all over the world.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
