A wintery scene of willow branches reflected in an icy Italian lake has won the public vote for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award 2021.
Italian photographer Cristiano Vendramin gained the most votes for his breath-taking landscape, from a shortlist of 25 images. The shortlist was chosen by the Natural History Museum London, from a huge amount of entries from around the world.
Vendramin was visiting Santa Croce Lake in northern Italy in 2019, when he noticed the water was unusually high. The willow plants were partially submerged, creating a play of light and reflections on the surface of the water. He was reminded of a dear friend, who had loved that special place but sadly had passed away.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum. The latest competition is currently being judged by a panel of experts, and the winners will be revealed in October 2022.
Lake of ice - Winner
Santa Croce Lake is a natural lake located in the province of Belluno, Italy. This image shows the water at an unusually high level during the winter of 2019, resulting in willow plants being partially submerged and producing a wonderful mirrored image. Photo by Cristiano Vendramin/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Shelter from the rain -Highly Commended
During a visit to the Maasai Mara, Kenya, the photographer captured this tender moment between a pair of male lions. At first, she had been taking pictures of only one of the lions, and the rain was just a light sprinkle, although the second had briefly approached and greeted his companion before choosing to walk away. But as the rain turned into a heavy downpour, the second male returned and sat, positioning his body as if to shelter the other. Shortly after, they rubbed faces and continued to sit nuzzling for some time. Photo by Ashleigh McCord/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Hope in a burned plantation-Highly Commended
In early 2020, thousands of animals were affected by devastating bushfires that swept through the states of New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. Working exhaustively alongside Animals Australia (an animal protection organisation) the photographer was given access to burn sites, rescues and veterinary missions. This Eastern grey kangaroo and her joey, pictured near Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia, were among the lucky ones to survive the destructive fires. Photo by Jo-Anne McArthur/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The eagle and the bear-Highly Commended
Black bear cubs often climb trees in order to protect themselves while their parents hunt. This bear cub decided to take an afternoon nap, right next to a very surprised eagle on a nearby branch. Photographed in Anan, Alaska, USA. Photo by Jeroen Hoekendijk/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
In the Lishan Nature Reserve in Shanxi Province, China, two male golden pheasants are pictured as they continuously swap places on a trunk. The birds are native to China, where they inhabit dense forests in mountainous regions. Although brightly coloured, they are shy and difficult to spot, spending most of their time foraging for food on the dark forest floor. They only fly to evade predators or to roost in very high trees during the night. Photo by Qian Guo/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked on the magazine and website for over a decade, telling compelling science stories through the use of striking imagery. He holds a degree in Fine Art, and has been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards, being highly commended in 2020. His main areas of interest include photography that highlights positive technology and the natural world. For many years he was a judge for the Wellcome Trust's image competition, as well as judging for the Royal Photographic Society.
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