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Check out the breathtaking winning images from Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2023


Winners are chosen in the categories of Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Conservation Focus, Creative Nature Photography and Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat.

This year’s winners of the NatureinFocus Photography Awards were announced at the Nature inFocus Festival, held at the Jayamahal Palace in Bangalore, India. 

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From a heartwarming portrait of a Bonobo nurturing a mongoose pup, to a fierce battle for mating rights among male Nubian Ibexes in Israel’s Zin Desert, these images capture unique moments in natural history and address crucial conservation matters.

The winners were whittled down from a total of 24,000 submitted photographs from 1,500 photographers around the world. 

Below is a stunning collection of some of the winning and highly-commended images from the competition. 

Animal Behaviour winner: Shell I Eat You? by Sankhesh Dedhia

This stunning action shot captures a rarely-seen natural history moment, where the legendary Arrowhead of Ranthambhore fishes out an Indian Softshell Turtle from the lake for lunch. A tiger’s diet in the wild can be very varied as the felid can prey on pretty much everything on its turf, even a turtle, hence proved!

Animal Behaviour winner: A Love Like No Other by Afroj Sheikh

Caught in the crosshairs of a hungry leopard, the vulnerable mother and baby langur had little chance of survival. The hunt and the chase had led the predator and prey up a tree before the mother succumbed to the suffocating hold of the large cat. But in embracing death, the mother was able to save her offspring.

Animal Behaviour winner: A Sappy Alliance by Avinash PC

Symbiotic relationships are plenty in the natural world! But none as sappy and sugary as the mutualistic relationship between ants and aphids. Aphids are tiny, sap-sucking insects that are serious plant pests. They secrete a sugar-rich liquid called honeydew, a favourite food of ants! So much so that the ants protect these insects from other predators and even shepherd them to the healthiest parts of the plant to maintain a steady stream of sweet honeydew!

Conservation Focus winner: Cry Me a River by Hiren Pagi

The Australia Bushfire 2020 had devastating impacts on its wildlife. An estimated three billion animals were killed or displaced in the fires that season. The NGO ‘Vets For Compassion’ actively worked in the Mallacoota, Victoria region to find and rescue Koalas and other animals that were affected by the fires. They made their way past blockades, searching for animals in the most severely affected areas. In this photograph, veterinarian Chris Barton looks for survivors amidst a burned eucalyptus plantation.

Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat winner: The Things You Do for Love by Amit Eshel

Looks like the set for the next Mission Impossible, but for Nubian Ibexes, the high-altitude rocky terrains are home. The vulnerable ibex species is known for many things–large semi-circular horns, the ability to scale mountains with ease and the territorial fights that males engage in during the rutting season. Displays of dominance begin with showing off their impressive horns. If that doesn’t do the trick, it’s time to escalate by pushing and shoving the opponent and literally locking horns with them. Ibexes also stand on their hind legs as they get ready to strike.

Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat winner: Worlds Apart by Dileep SS

Think Dubai and the first thing that comes to mind is architectural marvels that make the sky seem at arm’s reach. The tall buildings may be Dubai’s trademark visuals, but another world coexists alongside the dazzle, where wildlife thrives in the desert. The image juxtaposes these two worlds—the towering skyscrapers and the endless sands—a gentle reminder to look beyond the concrete.

Creative Nature Photography winner: All That Glitters Are Spores by Anirban Dutta

The bristles are the brightly-coloured protective hairs of the Slug Moth larvae. The glitter-like effect is because of mushrooms releasing spores. When the photographer found the larvae positioned right next to the sporing mushrooms, he did not want to miss the opportunity to capture the dramatic frame, and dramatic it is!

Creative Nature Photography winner: Symmetry in Mimicry by Arkaprava Ghosh

Mimicry is the highest form of flattery, they say. But in the animal world, it is among the best defence mechanisms. Here, Line-forest Skimmers position themselves aptly on the perennial Phanera vahlii creeper to resemble an inflorescence. Notice how the dragonflies have raised their abdomens in unison? Fooling a predator never looked this intricate.

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Animal Portraits winner: The Bonobo and His Pet by Christian Ziegler

The last great ape to be described, the Bonobo, is one of our closest living relatives. Here, a wild Bonobo who caught a mongoose pup is looking after it like a pet. He later released the animal unharmed. This behaviour has only been recorded once before by Prof Barbara Fruth at this site.

Animal Portraits winner: Inspector Booby by Suliman Alatiqi

Brown boobys spend a significant portion of their lives in the open ocean. Their clumsy nature on land earned them their namesake, derived from the Spanish word bobo, which means stupid or daft. They are excellent foragers of the sea and plunge-dive to feed on anything from anchovies and sardines to squid and shrimp. The photographer watched this individual dipping its head underwater at short intervals and got in position to capture a close-up portrait of the bird from the perspective of its fated prey.

Young Photographer winner: Raiders of Hives by Pranav Mahendru

In the dense forests of Satpura, a pair of oriental honey buzzards raid a beehive. These raptors hunt for food in beehives and wasp nests but, unlike what their name suggests, they prefer bee and wasp larvae over actual honey.

Young Photographer winner: Slender in the Night by Arnav Deshpande

Like the spiders they are commonly confused with, opiliones too have eight legs – mostly long and thin in contrast to their bodies. They are living fossils, the original ‘Daddy Longlegs’, having remained unchanged for millions of years. On a rainy night, the young photographer spotted this opilione sheltering in a crevice, raindrops glistening on its limbs.

Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat special mention: The Land of Stripes by Amit Vyas

If the essence of Ranthambore could be captured in one frame, this would be it. Only once in a blue moon does the landscape become this misty at Ranthambore. And when a tiger chooses the opportune moment to show itself, it almost feels too good to be true. The historical architecture of the landscape, its species and the cerulean backdrop create an image that has magic written all over it. 

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Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat special mention: The Rarest of Them All by Sergey Gorshkov

One of the rarest cats in the world, the Amur leopard certainly makes you earn your sighting. The critically endangered felid faces several threats, including poaching for its fur. While suitable habitats are present across Russia and China, these leopards are threatened by the scarcity of prey animals. 

Animal Behaviour special mention: It’s a Cat-eat-cat World by Karthik Mohan Iyer

It takes a moment before you go, ‘Woah!’. Though tigers and leopards share the same prey base, they tend to be non-confrontational and mostly stay away from one another. But when threatened by competition, tigers can eliminate other predators in their territory, such as leopards. 

Animal Behaviour special mention: Lights Will Guide You Home by Merche Llobera

A pod of spinner dolphins dives back into the beautifully lit waters of the Pacific Ocean, creating this stunning scene of a cetacean avalanche. One of the dolphins can be seen gazing into the camera lens, adding a touch of curiosity and connection to the frame. 

Young Photographer special mention: Gecko’s Garage by Vidyun Hebbar

The Andaman day gecko or the green emerald gecko is a bright-coloured gecko endemic to the Andaman Islands. The young photographer was on vacation when he spotted this shy creature lurking inside a light shade.

International Tiger Day: A wildlife photography exhibition in Visakhapatnam on June 29 and 30


An image of a purple heron in flight with a catch at Mangalajodi that was captured by photographer K Bhaskar Rao.
| Photo Credit: K Bhaskar Rao

Lions in the African grassland, Kenya’s wildebeest migration, a royal Bengal tiger at dusk, spectacular flights of migratory birds of Odisha and many other images of wildlife shot by photographers across Andhra Pradesh will be on display this weekend. A two-day wildlife photography exhibition is being organised by Vivid Photography at Hawa Mahal in Visakhapatnam on July 29 and 30. A total of 130 images by 13 photographers will be showcased. The exhibition will bring to light the hidden side of forest life as seen through the lenses of a team of experienced photographers.

Depicting some rare candid moments of wild animals in their habitats, the photographs are life-like and have been captured at the wildlife sanctuaries and birding spots in India and across the world.

A tiger at Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. 
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“The photography exhibition aims to raise awareness on wildlife conservation, reconnect people with Nature and provide a global perspective. We have been conducting the annual photography exhibition to mark World Photography Day. This year we are hosting it on the theme of wildlife on the occasion of International Tiger Day (July 29),” says K Subrahmayam, founder of Vivid Photography and curator of the exhibition.

Leopard
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The photography exhibition will also showcase works of veteran photographers of Visakhapatnam. K Bhaskar Rao will be exhibiting his shots taken in Kenya’s Masai Mara and Mangalajodi wetlands of Odisha. “One of my rare captures is that of a lioness attacking a wildebeest in Masai Mara. We came across this rare lioness in a hunting mode during our evening safari,” says Bhaskar Rao.

The exhibition will also showcase images of tigers of Tadoba National Park, one of the most popular forests of Maharashtra with high tiger density.

The exhibition will be held at Hawa Mahal on July 29 and 30 from 10am to 7pm.

Wildlife Habitat Council: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Supporting Conservation Through Photography


NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2023 / Wildlife Habitat Council

Originally published on wildlifehc.org

We’ve all heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Science has even backed up the powerful impact of imagery, with research showing that people tend to remember ideas presented in pictures better than in words.

Professionals who work in sustainability often find themselves needing to make the case for conservation. Whether that’s championing an effort like composting waste scraps from the campus cafeteria, securing funds to plant a pollinator garden on-site or informing community members about a local threatened species, convincing the stakeholders involved in these decisions requires using all the tools available – and that’s where conservation photography comes in.

Like all forms of photography, conservation photography tells a story, often about the beauty and majesty of nature as well as the factors that threaten species’ or ecosystems’ survival. When it comes to getting buy-in from key decisionmakers, educating students or just inspiring the general public, conservation photography is a powerful way to demonstrate the far-reaching impact of conservation work. This blog will explore how corporate conservation professionals (or anyone!) can use photography to support their conservation goals.

Bring wildlife close to home

Photography literally provides a close-up look at species or environments that people might not encounter otherwise. It can be easy to focus only on the animals or plants we see every day, which means it can also be easy to forget about those that exist half a world away. Conservation photography is a helpful reminder of the sheer diversity of life on earth. It also provides perspective, serving as a reminder that even the ecosystems and species found at one’s own workplace or in the backyard are just as valuable as those in exotic locales.

Tell a story

Like all artforms, conservation photography is storytelling at its core. Neuroscience confirms that stories impact the brain’s neurons, making them fire similarly to the person telling the story and creating a bond between the storyteller and the audience. This even leads to the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical that helps people recall the story later. Using still images or video to illustrate the needs and experiences of a particular species reaches audiences on a visual, intellectual and emotional level.

Wildlife filmmaker and WHC Board member Chris Morgan is no stranger to the power of storytelling. Through his documentary projects like BEARTREK and Path of The Bear, Morgan’s own story and the stories of biologists and conservationists coincides with the bear species he is documenting. BEARTREK, for example, charts Morgan’s seven-year journey across three continents to understand the conservation efforts protecting species like the spectacled bear, polar bear and sun bear. By weaving human stories into the stories of rare species, conservation photographers and filmmakers build a strong bond with their audience.

Contribute to scientific research

Conservation photography provides visual data, especially when it comes to rare species. In addition to observing what a specific plant or animal looks like, photographers are incidentally also identifying its abundance, location, condition and behavior, which are all important data for understanding a population. Contributing to citizen or community science efforts allows anyone to be part of the study of a particular ecosystem or species. Amateur and professional photographers alike can submit photos and other data to initiatives like NestWatch, iNaturalist and other community science programs in order to contribute to the widespread understanding of a species.

Demonstrate a change over time

Nature is fluid, constantly evolving and adapting. Conservation photography illustrates both the harmful and beneficial changes that have occurred in an environment over time. Taking a photo of the same location at different times throughout the year – also called photo point monitoring – can show the effects of industrialization or habitat degradation; however, these repeat photographs can also showcase the positive effects of conservation efforts, from grassland restoration to the return of a species that had previously lost its habitat.

Get employees involved

One way to encourage conservation photography as well as employee engagement is through contests. Employee photography contests showcase the on-site biodiversity to a company’s entire employee base, explained Ann George, Senior Scientist at WHC member mining company Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), which has held an employee contest for over 10 years. “When people think of a mining company, they don’t think of wildlife,” George said, so a photography contest is a great way to educate employees and the broader community about how a company is managing and preserving biodiversity.

FCX develops a specific set of criteria for entries, including the exclusion of any invasive or ornamental species. The company’s biodiversity task force reviews the entries, of which they receive 400-500 each year, and the top choices are submitted to WHC’s annual calendar, printed and hung in the corporate office and showcased on computer lock screens across the company.

WHC member CEMEX also holds a photography contest for employees. “CEMEX’s ‘Nature Positive’ photo contest has helped us to connect with our employees around their positive experiences with nature on our sites, while demonstrating the important role that industry can play in halting and reversing biodiversity loss,” explained Jerae Carlson, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Communications & Public Affairs at CEMEX USA. Not only does the contest raise awareness about on-site wildlife, but it also creates connections between coworkers. “Employees are often eager to share their positive experiences with nature and to see nature through the lens of their colleagues.”

For companies thinking about starting a photography contest, Carlson and George provided some tips. “Make it easy for everyone to participate,” said Carlson. CEMEX developed several submission options for employees, including a specific email address as well as a QR code that allowed employees without a company email to submit photos from their phones. Promoting the contest is also key: George recommended publicizing the contest thoroughly to employees and marketing it as an opportunity to hone photography skills while learning more about the company’s biodiversity projects.

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to have a positive impact on conservation with your photos. Armed with a smartphone, a keen sense of observation and a little bit of patience, anyone can capture moments in nature that support greater conservation goals.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wildlife Habitat Council on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Wildlife Habitat Council
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wildlife-habitat-council
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Wildlife Habitat Council

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/767403/A-Picture-Is-Worth-a-Thousand-Words-Supporting-Conservation-Through-Photography

Extraordinary Travel and Wildlife With Netflix’s New ‘Our Planet II’


Wander the world with wide-eyed wonder from the ease of your armchair, as Our Planet II, an inspiring new Netflix four-episode docuseries (premieres June 14), unveils answers to mysteries about why and how billions of animals relentlessly migrate — phenomenal travel adventures that have criss-crossed our globe for millennia. Silverback Films and its Emmy Award-winning team behind Planet Earth and Our Planet dazzle once again with gorgeous swoop-and-soar, dive-and-discover, cutting-edge cinematography, which showcases intimate storylines that are pulse-racing, perilous, enlightening, tender and joyful. “Only now are we beginning to understand that all life on Earth depends on the freedom to move,” declares narrator Sir David Attenborough, British author, biologist, broadcaster and natural historian, whose famously gold-standard soothing voice resonates. “Experience the extraordinary journeys that shape our world,” he invites. “For many animals, the instinct to move is overwhelming, despite the dangers. But for every trip that ends in tragedy, countless millions reach their destination.” This is an opportunity to peek at far-flung getaways and creatures that you might otherwise never see. Orchestrating this ambitious project, the program’s crew touched down in 21 countries on seven continents, tallying up 934 filming days, 292 travel days and 85 quarantine days. More than 200 people were involved in creating the show, including 50 camera operators. Special kudos to music composers Jasha Klebe and Thomas Farnon, who have scored stellar high notes for this production; the official soundtrack (released June 14) is available to stream/download on Amazon and other major digital music services. Series Producer Huw Cordey and Executive Producer Keith Scholey share their personal behind-the-scenes insights below.

Four thematic narratives — World on the Move, Following the Sun, The Next Generation and Freedom to Roam — weave this extravaganza together. Each episode covers three months of Earth’s orbit, celebrating key animal movements. At every hour of every day, astonishing masses of animals — gigantic and minuscule; in the air, on the ground, throughout the seas — are guided by instinct, sun position and a compass-like mental-mapping agility that is intrinsic to their essence, replicating the same often arduous routes that their ancestors followed eons ago, seeking havens to eat, drink, breed, give birth and secure safety. Each episode culminates with a cliffhanger.

Elegant drone shots record landscapes’ grandeur, as well as ride the skies alongside flocks of birds, so proximate that you can stare at their eyes and almost sense the air currents uplifting their wings. Newly advanced low-light camera technology now makes possible documentation of night activities and the infiltration of darkest rainforest hideaways. Underwater camera submergence spotlights splashy revelations.

For travel lovers, destinations abound. Among the favorites: lions and buffalo in Botswana; humpback whales in the Bering Sea; Laysan albatross and tiger sharks in the Northern Hawaiian Islands; lions, zebras and wildebeests in Tanzania’s Serengeti; rarely seen Tawaki penguins in Fiordland, New Zealand; elusive pumas in Patagonia; nesting turtles on Mexico’s Escobilla Beach; elephant seals in the Falkland Islands; Gentoo penguins in Antarctica; gray whales off the coasts of California and Mexico; orcas (killer whales) hunting in California’s Monterey Bay and, in the Himalayas, Demoiselle cranes that forge the most strenuous migration of any bird species, navigating at heights of almost five miles above sea level over the stupendous Asian mountain range and continuing across the desolate Gobi Desert in Mongolia before wintering in Khichan, India, where villagers kindly welcome them.

Understanding The Importance of Migration

Huw Cordey, Series Producer: “The integrity of every habitat is dependent on the animals moving in and out of it, particularly those in the more Northern and Southern parts of our planet. But, even in jungles along the Equator, you have animals moving very large distances. Movement is absolutely fundamental to every single habitat on Earth.”

Keith Scholey, Executive Producer: “It’s also about the life cycles of animals, and how crazy they sometimes are. The journey of the sockeye salmon is familiar, but I think a lot of people don’t realize that they are actually programmed to breed and die. They spend their life as an ocean fish until that one journey up the river.”

Embracing a Team Spirit

Scholey: “The scientists in the field, the ones who live in these remote places, are the people who know those stories. We are totally dependent upon their knowledge and their skills. Once we actually get on location, our experienced producers, directors and cinematographers can jump in and choose which of those stories to follow.”

Cordey: “That’s why I don’t believe in storyboards for wildlife films. It’s not that we don’t think very carefully about the sequences that we’re going to film, but if you go into a shoot with a storyboard, you will miss important things. Animals don’t read scripts. They do unexpected things and you have to be prepared. I try to get my teams to tear up the shot list at the airport. But we can’t make films without the scientists, or at least the scientific information that they provide.”

Scholey: “When that perfect combination of scientists and filmmakers come together, it’s really powerful. Sometimes the scientists even look at our footage and say, ‘Wow, I never knew that. That’s really helpful.’”

Cordey: “Obviously this is an entertainment series, and we do need to get the big iconic animals in there. But while the audience might come to it for polar bears and lions, I always think the things they remember are the smaller stories. Locusts, for example. Christmas Island crablets. When it comes to migrating animals, some of the best stories are birds, because of the distances they travel. We tried to use a balanced approach, and keep in mind that some shoots won’t work out the way we hoped they would. Although I have to say that for a project that was three years in the making, covering many different species across every single continent, there was very little that didn’t work out – which is, in my experience, quite unusual. I think we got a little lucky with some of the stories, but our research was also very good.”

Excelling at Exciting Film Advances

Cordey: “Nighttime and drone technology have vastly improved in the last five years. Macro technology, too – there are some very, very innovative macro lenses out there. Our bee shoot is a good example of a very special grip. It was designed by the cameraman that shot the bee story, and the whole shoot was probably a year in the planning. We were working with some very experienced beekeepers in Germany, as well as a photographer who has done an amazing book on bees and a scientist who had been studying bees for years. That was a classic example of where we’re dipping into years of experience to try to film the very best sequence we possibly can.”

Surprising With Spectacular Animal Stories

Cordey: “In the case of the Laysan albatross, we had the rare opportunity to spend almost the entire shoot following the trials and tribulations of a single chick. There it was — this big, chunky chick — and we could just stick with it for six weeks. The shoot itself was very interesting: It took six days to sail there from Hawaii, and I believe we are the first natural history series to film the maiden flight of a Laysan albatross. They’re the longest-lived birds of all, and they take this enormous journey around the planet for years before they breed for the first time. The original idea was to do an underwater shoot with the tiger sharks waiting in the shallows at Laysan, but the first day the tiger sharks were around, the crew got into these inflatable boats — and two sharks attacked them. It was like something out of Jaws. The crew was panicked, and basically made an emergency landing on the sand.”

Talking About The Impact of Climate Change

Cordey: “The changing world is very noticeable at the poles, the ends of the world. We were on a boat in the Arctic for a month, and our sightings of polar bears were virtually nil. We got [an] amazing sequence in the last 48 hours — the crew came across that mother and her two cubs and they were immediately on it. The audience is almost seeing it unfold in real time. The polar bear mother climbs on the island, followed by one cub, and the second cub just couldn’t do it. There were hardened Arctic watchers on that boat who were in tears, because they thought it was just so sad…. In the narration, I think David [Attenborough] handles it very well, because he tells you what’s going on. But as is always the way with David, he doesn’t push it. He just says, ‘Look, this is how it is.’ Where we witness unsettling scenes, we think sometimes you have to show the audience for them to really understand. It’s a delicate balance though, across the whole show. I think we have a duty of care.”

Cordey: “Animals move for a better life. As climate change makes things more difficult, the need to move is even greater. Of course, there’s a huge analogy there with humans, and it’s pretty understandable. If you grow up in a place where you can barely grow food to feed your family, you’re going to want to move.”

Scholey: “The underlying environmental story of Our Planet II is that to have a healthy planet, you can’t have borders. You have to let life roam. We as humans like to divide the world. We like to have territory and we like to protect our borders and stop movement. We have to use our intelligence to look at the natural world and compensate for this tendency of ours, if we want to actually allow the natural world to function. Because so many ecosystems on which we ultimately rely for our agricultural health need to have this movement of nature.”

Balancing Tourism and Conservation

Scholey: “Through my career, I’ve seen this really interesting scenario happen with the natural world. The big picture is that habitats are being destroyed, and there is less wildlife in the world than when I started. So that’s the downside. The upside is that there have been more people studying the natural world, and in some places, there has been intense conservation. That has led to two things: more knowledge, but actually more habituation.”

Cordey: “Places that become more protected get tourism, and through tourism, animals become more used to humans. They don’t see us as a threat. But it is the most extraordinary thing to get that close to a large, dangerous predator on foot, like a puma. That’s the most surprising thing. The crew did come across a male puma that was on a kill. It wasn’t one of the habituated animals, and he looked extraordinarily angry. They had to back off really, really quickly. So it’s not the species, it’s individuals.”

Bask in a Trio of Nature-Inspired Art Exhibits at Descanso Gardens – NBC Los Angeles


What to Know

  • Three nature-themed art exhibits will open at the La Cañada Flintridge garden in late May and June 2023
  • “Living in a Wildlife Corridor,” on view at the Boddy House from June 3-Oct. 1, will feature spectacular snapshots of regional wildlife, plus other fine artworks
  • “Wild Sighting” and “0 Horizon: Art of the Forest Floor” will also be on view at Descanso Gardens this summer

While Descanso Gardens is celebrated for all sorts of showy blooms, from wintertime camellias to the tall tulips of March, the destination’s oak-lush landscape is also the perfect place for nature-themed art to take root.

Creative expression is always on view at the La Cañada Flintridge garden come autumn and again around the holidays, when whimsical pumpkin displays and illuminated installations capture our attention.

But the property’s historical Boddy House, and other art-oriented locations, have become synonymous with intriguing exhibits.

And three shows, each boasting an authentic connection to the natural world, are set to open around Descanso Gardens in June.

“Living in a Wildlife Corridor,” an exhibit presented in partnership with the Arroyo & Foothills Conservancy, features “up-close breathtaking photography,” images that celebrate the regional fauna and flora of our remarkable region.

“Displays in this impressive exhibition also include artwork and traditional knowledge shared by Tongva Culture Bearers, the latest scientific and research expertise from conservationists, and insights into the specific challenges and opportunities around conservation in the greater Los Angeles area,” shares the garden team.

You’ll want to call upon the Boddy House, beginning on June 3, to connect with this incredible exhibit.

“Wild Sighting,” an art installation by Leslie K. Gray, opens a few days ahead of “Living in a Wildlife Corridor.”

You’ll want to gaze into the loamy landscape of the garden to, just perhaps, find something gazing back at you.

The work is “an exploration of reversing the idea of wildlife ‘sightings’ to consider what humans might see if they were attempting to cross territory claimed by others — if we were considered the intruders.”

And at the Sturt Haaga Gallery? Drawing our attention downward, “0 Horizon: Art of the Forest Floor” considers the complex universes that exist below our feet.

All exhibitions are included with your Descanso Gardens admission or membership. For dates and details, visit the destination’s website now.

Photo: Mother of Lions © Robert Martinez (Living in a Wildlife Corridor)

Omar Al-Sayed Omar Reinvigorates Wildlife Photography By Capturing Impossible Moments


(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)

Omar Al-sayed Omar in action

Dalmation pelican

Dalmation pelican photo

Kuwaiti photographer Omar AlSayed Omar takes rare photos of nature’s dazzling enchantments

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, May 6, 2023/einpresswire.com / — Kuwaiti photographer omar AlSayed Omar takes rare photos of the pelican, which is classified among the endangered birds, according to the World Conservation Organization. The bird documentary trip began from Boubyan Island in Kuwait, where the pelican was spotted for the first time, and Omar flew to the bird’s hometown in Kerkini Lake, Greece todocument one of the largest living flying bird species. He said,“I have managed to take some shots of Dalmatian pelicans during the breeding season in which their beak skin changed to red for male and orange for the female.” (245 to 351 cm in wingspan and up to 180 cm in length)

wildlife and nature photography have been gaining popularity in recent years, with more people becoming interested in capturing images of the natural world. This can be seen through the boom of social media platforms like Instagram, which have become popular among photographers and nature enthusiasts who share their work online.

Additionally, the rise of ecotourism and the increasing awareness of conservation issues have contributed to the growing trend in wildlife photography. Many are interested in capturing images of rare and endangered species, as well as the beauty of natural landscapes to promote awareness of conservation efforts. However, it takes more than a few pictures for pros to be satisfied with their job. Considered among the best, Omar Al-Sayed Omar has taken wildlife and nature photography to the next level.

Omar Al-Sayed Omar is one of the well-known names from Kuwait when it comes to skilled nature photography. A Telecom engineer by profession, Omar is a member of the board of directors of the Environment Lens team in Kuwait. Some of his works have been published in National Geographic magazine as well as in notable websites.

An artistic content creator, Omar showcases various types of photo content for a range of pursuits – capturing inspired imagery of landscape, wildlife and nature. He is committed to memorializing significant moments to be treasured for a lifetime through a creative lens.

Photographing wildlife often requires long hours of observation to capture the perfect shot. Omar has perseverance to land the shot, with a deep appreciation for the natural world.

Omar Al-Sayed Omar has a creative eye for visually stunning images. He is able to see the wonder of the natural world and translate it into compelling photographs. With a clear understanding of the raw environment, including the behavior of the animals, he anticipates their movements and actions.

Nature is unpredictable, and the perfect shot may not always present itself. Omar is highly adaptable and able to adjust to changing circumstances, whether shifting light conditions, changes in weather, or the movement of animals. He always prioritizes the welfare of the animals and never puts the environment at risk for the sake of a photograph, respecting the natural zones and its inhabitants.

Omar Al-Sayed Omar is also a social media influencer whose incredible collection of work makes him a notable face in the digital domain. As an artistic content creator and a brand strategist, it’s no secret that content in the form of photos has become the most popular choice for consumption today.

For Omar Al-Sayed Omar, the essence of photography lies within the beauty of capturing the lifetime moments. His work ranges from small internet shoots to branding campaigns. Each project is designed and executed to creatively attain his clients’ goals, while engaging with their target audience.

Omar Al-Sayed Omar is among the growing crop of independent photographers who have signaled seismic changes in the entertainment industry. His heart pounding and emotionally driven photographs serve as the icebreaker among his fans and supporters.

His content is tailored to represent a very recognisable and particular aesthetic. All of his hashtags target only people who are drawn to a certain theme.“Those are the ones likely to stick around and click ‘follow’,” says Omar.

Take a look at his Instagram handle where he has more than 118K followers and treat yourself to some daily dose of adventures. On social media, he shares tips on photography skills, funny videos, and shares entertaining reels from his personal life.

Jane Vaughann
Dunn Pellier Media
+1 305-444-3321
email us here

Speaking of Nature: Hidden gem — The trout lily


It was the Friday of my spring break week and the weather had finally improved. The previous weekend had been beautiful with record-setting high temperatures, but I had been fortunate enough to pick up a case of strep throat from one of my students just before we left school and I had been sidelined as a result. The little slice of June that visited us was quickly replaced by more typical April weather and it wasn’t for almost another week that the nice weather returned, but I was finally ready for it.

I woke up at about 8 a.m. (a real luxury for me) and wandered out into the kitchen. Coffee was made and a slice of toast with some peanut butter was prepared and then I sat down at the little desk by my kitchen window where I keep my journal. The temperature was only 48 degrees, but the sun in the cloudless blue sky promised that things would improve. So, I watched the birds for a while, then headed over to the couch and read my latest copy of Living Bird while I waited for it to warm up a little.

By 10 a.m. the temperature had risen to 58 degrees and that, I thought, was going to be perfect. So, I donned my field clothes, filled a Ziplock bag with birdseed, grabbed my camera and headed down the hill. This was my first visit to the Thinking Chair this year and I was very curious as to what I would find. Along the way I encountered plenty of evidence that we had endured a major snow event that had done a lot of damage, but the conditions were also surprisingly dry. At that point in the month we had only had 1.25 inches of rain and the wet meadow just wasn’t that wet at all. Thus, I arrived at the Thinking Chair with dry feet.

I placed a handful of seed on the small feeding platform that I had installed and almost before I got settled in I saw a bird in the underbrush. I was a little surprised to discover that it was a song sparrow, rather than a chickadee, but surprise was replaced with joy when the little bird went straight to the feeder. It was very clear to me that this was a bird that knew the routine. This bird had disappeared for the winter, but had returned with a full understanding that I was “friendly” and that food was available.

The chickadees did finally arrive and in very short order they were landing on my head, but it also became very clear that it was still only April. There were a few birds around, but not a great deal of activity and after about an hour I found myself getting a little bored. So I got up, turned left and headed down into the woods. The dry conditions were evident as I walked along the stream that flows out of the meadow. The woods were very quiet and it was evident that there wouldn’t be much in the way of birdwatching at that point, so I turned my attention to the forest floor.

Were there any wildflowers blooming among the leaves? I noticed the gorgeous green leaves of Canada mayflowers, but there was no evidence of any flowers at that point. In fact, there just wasn’t a great deal of green on the forest floor at all, but I decided to press on. Surely, I thought, that burst of remarkably warm weather must have encouraged something to grow and only a few steps later I was rewarded for my persistence.

In a slightly damp depression, growing among the dead leaves of the previous summer, I spotted the long, dappled leaves of trout lily plants. And then, growing right next to the stump of a small tree that had died many years ago, I found one of the most perfect examples of the trout lily’s flower that I have seen in many years. Despite the fact that the flower “nods” toward the ground, this particular specimen could not have been better situated for the conditions at the time.

The yellow petals of the flower had curled back on themselves in a very symmetrical fashion. Three of the six petals had curled extensively, while the other three had curled only marginally. This exposed the pistil and stamens beautifully and the six stamens were noticeably covered with pollen grains that were a dark, rusty orange. The plant was pointing in a direction that allowed the morning’s ample sunlight to illuminate the flower in a perfect way and the plant’s juxtaposition with the dead stump made for a very attractive composition. All I had to do was lie down on the ground and rest my camera on the forest floor so that I could capture the image.

There were a few other trout lilies that were blooming, but none of them had the same qualities as the one in today’s photo. Still, it was a thrill to find each one of them. I was also reminded of how small they really are. Each one could have fit inside a Ping-Pong ball and the only reason they stood out was because they were the only hints of any color other than the brown of the dead leaves; little hidden treasures just waiting to be found.

Bill Danielson has been a professional writer and nature photographer for 25 years. He has worked for the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Massachusetts State Parks and he currently teaches high school biology and physics. For more in formation visit his website at www.speakingofnature.com, or head over to Speaking of Nature on Facebook.



Speaking of Nature: Eight-minute appearance — A male evening grosbeak 


I am sure that some of you may have looked at today’s photo and thought, “That’s not a plant.” I know that I had made a New Year’s resolution to focus more attention on plants this year, but Nature herself threw me a curveball when this gorgeous male evening grosbeak (Coccothraustesvespertinus) appeared on my deck last week. I promise to make up for this in May with an extra plant column, but I simply could not ignore this amazing sighting.

First off, some context. When I was a boy, growing up in the 1970s, there was a brief moment in time when evening grosbeaks were all over the place. There seemed to be 20-30 of them at the winter feeders on a daily basis and this made such an impression on me that I (reasonably) thought that this was “normal.” I thought evening grosbeaks were regular winter birds that filled the back yard with dazzling color and wonderful activity.

But then, they just vanished. One winter there were grosbeaks all over the place and the next year there wasn’t a single one to be seen. It turns out that the brief period of time when they were so abundant was an extremely rare event and to my knowledge it has not been repeated since. That was 45 years ago and I have kept my eyes and ears open ever since, with little result.

Back when I had just started this column, I lived up in the town of Hawley and there were times when I was able to detect the call of an evening grosbeak as it flew over Hawley Bog. The birds were around, but they were not around in numbers larger than 1-2 birds. At my current home I have only seen evening grosbeaks on two occasions. Once, on November 7, 2007, I saw a female (or juvenile) at my hanging feeder for about five minutes. Then, last week, I saw this male for a total of eight minutes. Both occasions were the result of pure, unadulterated luck.

So what’s going on here? What is the deal with this species? Well, the answer (as in most cases when looking at ecology) is complex. Evening grosbeaks are particularly fond of spruce trees and they tend to stick to the boreal forests of the higher latitudes and altitudes. These sorts of trees will often have “good years” and “bad years” depending on the weather and during the bad years the birds may have to stray out of their normal range in search of food. This pattern of behavior is known as an “irruption” and it is common among the northern “winter” finches such as redpolls and siskins.

So, this explains why we have large flocks of common redpolls that visit every few years, but where have the grosbeaks been? Well, that brings us to some bad news for this species. According to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the population of evening grosbeaks has dropped by 74% since 1966. The reasons may include such factors as introduced diseases, habitat loss due to logging, and declines in summer food stocks (spruce budworms are a favorite) due to aerial spraying of pesticide (for the logging industry). Basically, human activity has not been kind to evening grosbeaks.

With just a little room left I want to take a look a the species’ scientific name, Coccothraustesvespertinus. The genus name “Coccothraustes” is a Greek word for the name of an unknown bird mentioned by Hesychius of Alexandria, a Greek grammarian of the 5th Century who assembled a detailed lexicon of Greek words. The name is a mashup of the Greek words “kokkos”, which means “a kernel” and the word “thrauo” which means, “to break, or shatter.” The species identifier “vespertinus” is a Latin word that means, “of the evening.” Thus, a literal translation would be something like, “the seed-breaker of the evening.” That’s a good name, in my opinion.

The word “gross” is a common English word for “large” and one look at the bird makes it easy to understand why this species was called a grosbeak. The massive beak of this species allows it to tackle all sorts of seeds and nuts, including the pits of wild cherries. If you have ever enjoyed a bowl of fresh cherries you have certainly had to deal with the pits. Imagine the prospect of chomping down on a cherry pit with enough force to crack one open. I think that teeth might start cracking before the pits do. It just goes to show that there is an ideal tool for any particular job and the grosbeak has the right tool for opening up seeds.

I’ll tell you to keep your eyes open for an evening grosbeak, but the odds of seeing one are quite small. Local birders may have information on grosbeak sightings, so an inquiry to the Athol Bird Club, or the Hampshire Bird Club might bear fruit. I’m sure that there are occasional sightings during the winter and I seem to remember a report of a few of these birds breeding in the Montague Plains, but that was a while ago. However, the sighting of this bird at my feeders is proof that every time you look out the window you might see something. So look outside, or better yet go outside and keep your eyes open. You never know what you might see.

Bill Danielson has been a professional writer and nature photographer for 25 years. He has worked for the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and the Massachusetts State Parks and he currently teaches high school biology and physics. For more in formation visit his website at www.speakingofnature.com, or head over to Speaking of Nature on Facebook.



See 15 Amazing Wildlife Images From the Sony World Photography Awards | Smart News


Carlyn Kranking

Assistant Editor, Science and Innovation

From a playful-looking stoat to a mantis shrimp guarding its eggs, the animal subjects in the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards are captivating. This year’s winning photographers captured creatures in Svalbard, Norway; Bangladesh; Brazil and the depths of the Indo-Pacific.

On Tuesday, the World Photography Organization announced the shortlist and winners in the open competition, which allowed submissions from people of all ages and experience levels. Of the 415,000 total entries, which also included images in the youth and professional categories, the open awards received 200,000.

The contest accepted photos that fit under ten wide umbrellas: architecture, creative, landscape, lifestyle, motion, natural world and wildlife, object, portraiture, street photography and travel. From all of these subjects, one winner will be crowned on April 13.

“Finding original and different viewpoints photographically is challenging—but ever more rewarding,” Mike Trow, chair of the jury that judged the entries, said in a statement when the contest’s professional winners were announced. “They covered the profound and ongoing discussions around narrative truth and agency in art, as well as wider environmental, political and societal viewpoints.”

Here are the stunning animal and nature photos commended in the open competition’s natural world and wildlife category. (Standout pictures from all the categories can be seen here.) After viewing these awe-inspiring images, cast a vote for the Reader’s Choice award in Smithsonian magazine’s own annual photo contest.

“Mighty Pair” by Dinorah Graue Obscura, Winner

Two crested caracaras sit on a branch in nearly identical poses.

© Dinorah Graue Obscura, Mexico, Winner, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

Mexican photographer Dinorah Graue Obscura was taking pictures of crested caracaras flying in Texas when she found two of them sitting together on a branch. Here, these carrion-feeding birds in the falcon family were sitting very still and looking in the same direction, as if posing for the camera.

“I think that a good picture does not need color, it just needs to capture the desired moment in time,” writes the photographer in a statement. But in the case of this image, the subjects also made it stand out. “I was amazed by their powerful personalities,” she writes.

“Stoat’s game” by Jose Manuel Grandio

A stoat leaps in a dance in a snow-covered landscape.

© Jose Manuel Grandio, Spain, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

This snow-white stoat in midair is demonstrating a mysterious behavior. Such twisting jumps are fairly common for the ferret-like creatures, but scientists aren’t exactly sure why. Some theorize it’s an involuntary response to infection by parasites, while others suggest it’s part of hunting.

“Sometimes, the dances are performed in front of a rabbit or large bird in an apparent attempt to confuse or distract potential prey,” Spanish photographer Jose Manuel Grandio writes in a statement. “But on other occasions—as here—there is no prey animal in sight.”

“Pandora” by Marcio Esteves Cabral

Wildflowers in a field under a sky bright with stars.

© Marcio Esteves Cabral, Brazil, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

To capture these Paepalanthus wildflowers that form balls of tiny blooms, Marcio Esteves Cabral used a lantern to illuminate them. In the background, the Milky Way lights up the sky.

The flowers are “firework-like,” the Brazilian photographer writes in a statement. “It took several attempts, as I needed to capture the flowers without any wind to avoid motion blur during the long exposure.”

“The Captivating Eyes” by Protap Shekhor Mohanto

A young owl’s piercing yellow eyes stare into the camera.

© Protap Shekhor Mohanto, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2023

At the National Botanical Garden of Bangladesh, Protap Shekhor Mohanto concealed himself in order to capture this image of a young owl.

“During the day, these amazing birds tend to hide in nests made in the holes of tree trunks, but they sometimes peep out to observe their surroundings with their captivating yellow eyes,” the photographer from Bangladesh writes in a statement.

“Home Alone” by Pietro Formis

A fish inside a discarded waste basket.

© Pietro Formis, Italy, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

Italian photographer Pietro Formis found beauty in a piece of trash in the ocean. And this fish, a brown comber, found a place to hide.

The walls of the waste basket are lined with crinoids, plant-like marine animals that have been around since the Paleozoic. They make “beautiful decorations for the wall of this house,” Formis writes in a statement.

“Kingdom of the Parakeet” by Subrata Dey

The sky above a rice paddy is filled with parrots.

© Subrata Dey, Bangladesh, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

Thousands of parakeets swarm above a field of rice in the agricultural area of Gumai Bill in Bangladesh. This highly productive field attracts droves of the seed-eating parrots when it is ripe. As Bangladeshi photographer Subrata Dey writes in a statement, “this area could be called a ‘parrot sanctuary.’”

“Puffin at Sunset” by James Hunter

A puffin in soft light surrounded by faint raindrops.

© James Hunter, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

As daylight faded, American photographer James Hunter put the sun at his back, hoping to capture a village in the Faroe Islands bathed in a soft golden glow. Then, a duo of puffins showed up.

“As it started to rain, I lay down and photographed this one in the spectacular light,” Hunter writes in a statement.

“Untitled” by Tibor Prisznyák

Three deer in an orange glow.

© Tibor Prisznyák, Hungary, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

Hungarian photographer Tibor Prisznyák snapped this orange-tinted shot of deer in the morning light. A stag with antlers appears through the haze in the center of the image.

“Proud” by Patrick Ems

A goat in front of the Aiguille du Grépon peak in France.

© Patrick Ems, Switzerland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

To Swiss photographer Patrick Ems, this goat looked to be standing proud and “enjoying the last rays of sunlight,” as he writes in a statement. The animal is standing in front of the peak of an 11,424-foot-tall French mountain known informally as “The Grepon.”

“Frozen Feet” by Alex Pansier

A small penguin on an icy landscape.

© Alex Pansier, Netherlands, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

A chinstrap penguin walks amid icy slopes, immortalized by Dutch photographer Alex Pansier.

“Pretty in Pink” by Charly Clérisse

A Bargibant’s Pygmy Seahorse

© Charly Clérisse, France, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

Perfect to blend in with its surroundings, this Bargibant’s pygmy seahorse is covered in small red bumps. The tiny species grows to no more than an inch long and lives in fan corals.

French photographer Charly Clérisse captured its likeness in the Indo-Pacific in Tulamben, Bali. In a statement, Clérisse writes that the seahorse was a “very shy subject.”

“The River Crossing” by Arnfinn Johansen

Wildebeest descend a dusty slope and cross a river.

© Arnfinn Johansen, Norway, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

In July 2022, Norse photographer Arnfinn Johansen snapped this image of wildebeest crossing the Mara River, a waterway in Tanzania and Kenya. They moved forward even though the water was infested with crocodiles, the photographer writes in a statement.

“Eye on the Prize” by Vince Burton

A barn owl flies over grain.

© Vince Burton, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

United Kingdom-based photographer Vince Burton captured this photo from below a barn owl swooping down on its prey.

“My precious” by Andrea Michelutti

A mantis shrimp sits atop a bundle of its red eggs.

© Andrea Michelutti, Italy, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

This harlequin mantis shrimp (also called a peacock mantis shrimp) was photographed with its eggs in the Lembeh Strait of Indonesia. Italian photographer Andrea Michelutti took this image underwater, using a snoot, or a device that narrows the camera’s flash down to a point. The shrimp is a multicolored species known for its powerful punch.

“This mantis shrimp embraces and protects its treasure: thousands of eggs,” Michelutti writes in a statement. “It takes a few minutes to obtain this visual contact with both eyes, considering they can be moved independently in all directions.”

“Climate Change” by Mark Fitzsimmons

A polar bear stands on a rocky ridge.

© Mark Fitzsimmons, Australia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards

In Nordenskjøld Land National Park in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway, a polar bear walks along a rocky landscape.

“A decade ago there was a glacier,” Australian photographer Mark Fitzsimmons writes in a statement. “Despite relatively healthy numbers in the Svalbard region of the Arctic, polar bears face many issues, including increased human/wildlife conflict, warmer summers and receding glaciers.”

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Afzal Karim’s Wildlife Photography Exhibition Receives Huge …


(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka : On World Wildlife Day, renowned photographer Afzal Karim organised his second solo wildlife photography exhibition named Life in the Wild where he exhibited 93 beautiful photos of wildlife, nature and birds from our country as well as abroad.

The three-day long exhibition took place at the capital’s Gallery Chitrak from March 3-5, 2023, visited by several photography, art and nature enthusiasts.

Nature is made of wildlife, plants and many other elements of environment. People’s incognisance towards wildlife are putting them at risk and leading them towards extinction. Hence, nature is suffering from an imbalance.

Therefore, to protect wildlife and raise awareness among people, photographer Afzal Karim organised this exhibition.

‘We now see the youth suffering from severe depression. To prevent it, they should get more involved with nature and wildlife. They will be content taking photographs of beautiful wildlife and birds that our nature blesses us with,’ said Afzal Karim.

The dignitaries who attended the exhibition also urged everyone to work together in increasing awareness to protect the environment, nature and wildlife.

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