Éric Pfrunder, Karl Lagerfeld’s Photography Wingman, Dies at 74

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Éric Pfrunder, one of Karl Lagerfeld’s closest creative associates with his varied photography projects, died Monday in a Paris hospital at age 74 after a long illness, his son Jasper confirmed to WWD.

Services are being scheduled for Friday.

More from WWD

Pfrunder was Chanel’s director of image for three decades, and remained as artistic director of fashion image for a brief period following Lagerfeld’s death in February 2019.

“A man of conviction and loyalty, a passionate worker, ‘vorarbeiter’ as Karl Lagerfeld affectionately called him, Eric tirelessly devoted his exceptional eye and vision to the excellence of Chanel, generously sharing his knowledge and insights with the image team and more broadly, the fashion division,” Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel fashion, said in a statement shared with WWD. “His contribution to Chanel is immense. We offer our most sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

Lagerfeld frequently said he had three key accomplices at the Chanel fashion house: Pfrunder, Pavlovsky and Virginie Viard, his longtime studio director, who would succeed the designer as creative director.

Indeed, it was Pfrunder who first suggested that Lagerfeld try his hand at photography.

Back in 1987, Lagerfeld expressed frustration with the images done for press kits at Chanel and so Pfrunder, flummoxed, suggested that Lagerfeld do them himself. It wasn’t long before Lagerfeld was shooting fashion spreads for French Vogue, and later campaigns for all the brands he touched, including Chanel, Fendi and the Karl Lagerfeld brands.

Pfrunder worked at Chanel’s fashion division from 1983 until 2019 on image creation. On Tuesday, Pavlovsky described him as “an essential and active part of the creative trio” he formed with Lagerfeld and Viard, thereby “establishing Chanel as the ultimate luxury fashion house.”

Hyères Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Karl Lagerfeld; Princess Caroline of Hanover and Éric Pfrunder.

Indeed, Pfrunder was forever at Lagerfeld’s elbow as the indefatigable German designer produced countless books, catalogues and advertising campaigns, in addition to couture and ready-to-wear collections.

Outside advertising clients included Dior Homme, Dom Pérignon, Adidas, Coca-Cola and Pirelli, while the duo produced editorial shoots for scores of fashion magazines, including English and American Vogues, Harper’s Bazaar, Paris Match, V Magazine and Numéro.

The studio welcomed a host of models, Hollywood stars and European royalty, and Lagerfeld and Pfrunder would often set up impromptu photo studios at Chanel’s roving fashion events.

Born in Algeria, Pfrunder moved to France at age 13. Like Lagerfeld, he was a self-taught photographer and also ran a communications agency.

A tall, elegant man who shared Lagerfeld’s penchant for sharply tailored jackets, heeled boots and high-collared shirts, which he wore unbuttoned, Pfrunder largely flew under the media radar, and was in his element at the designer’s photo studio behind the 7L bookstore on the Rue de Lille.

Among his projects after leaving Chanel, delayed by illness, were to digitize Lagerfeld’s vast photo archive, and publish a book, his son Jasper said.

Pfrunder is also survived by his wife, Karen, and daughters Tess and Candice.

Click here to read the full article.

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Minnesota photographer makes waves with abstract images of Lake Superior

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Craig Blacklock has spent most of his life doing one thing: photographing Lake Superior.

When he was 5 years old, he saved his pennies to buy a Brownie Hawkeye camera and followed his father, pioneering nature photographer Les Blacklock, to the water.

Since then, he’s published 19 books, held 35 solo exhibitions and produced picture calendars for decades, many of which featured the world’s largest freshwater lake. Blacklock, who shoots mostly from his kayak, even spent 100 days circumnavigating the 31,700-square-mile lake in a kayak to photograph it from every rocky-beach and bare-cliff angle.

So you’d think he’d be maybe just a little tired of the subject.

Nope.

“I’m a kid in a candy store,” he said. “I’m 68 and I’m doing something brand new. In photography, it’s almost impossible to do something brand new. You can do better and you can do more, but it’s all been done.”

Instead of the “hyper real” photographs he’s become known for, his new book, “Light Waves,” is filled with highly magnified images of reflections on the never-still water. A celebration of light, color and movement, the book brings natural miracles largely left unseen into focus.

“I’m creating abstract images that are purely abstract, but they are the reflections of reality,” Blacklock said from his home and gallery in Moose Lake.

We talked to the lifelong Minnesotan about his enduring love for the lake, the pros and cons of growing up a Blacklock and how beautiful images can pack an environmental punch. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: What is it about Lake Superior that continues to fascinate you?
A: I’ve known the lake my whole life, since I was a kid traveling with my parents. From 1976, I started photographing the lake. It’s impossible to ever truly know it, with all its changes — the waves, the fog, the mists. It’s so dynamic. Lake Superior to me is what Yosemite was to Ansel Adams.

Q: You take pictures mostly from your kayak or from places accessible by kayak. Do you shoot all year?
A: Yes. Winter is my favorite on Lake Superior. It’s absolutely mesmerizing in the winter.

Q: Mesmerizing is a good description of the photos in “Light Waves.” How do you describe them?
A: A deconstructed Lake Superior landscape. I knew I wanted to photograph reflections, but I wanted to stay away from the cliche images of reflections in calm water. What I was most intrigued in exposing was the movement of water, in creating three-dimensional images. For more than 40 years, I’ve paddled this water and never really seen the details I’ve captured here.

Q: You’ve photographed the reflections of not just smoke on the water, but sun sparkles, orange lichens and ice-covered cliffs. The photos look to me like broad swaths of color, viscous fluid, kinetic squiggles. … Sorry, I’m not an art critic.
A: That’s what I want. I want my images to be toys for the imagination. I’m putting it out there for people to interpret what they see. It’s like lying down when you were a kid and looking up at the clouds. It brings me so much joy.

Q: It sounds as if these images weren’t easy to come by. You used two different kinds of cameras hooked together and shot at slow shutter speeds.
A. These are the most technically difficult photos I’ve taken. Everything was moving. And the same rules of composition I use to guide my nature photography guided the composition of these images.

Q: What do you hope people take away from your “Light Waves” photos?
A: I hope they pause at each one, inhabit it for a while and meditate. There are metaphors that are unique to you. When you look at a photograph of a deer, it’s a deer. When you look at an abstract photo, you’re looking at yourself.

Q: You — like your parents — are known as an environmentalist. Does this book carry a green message?
A: I’ve always shown the beauty of nature — to show what’s worth saving. Many of my colleagues have focused on the destruction. With this book, I still wanted my work to be beautiful, but I wanted it to show that nature is threatened by climate change, by overpopulation. I asked myself, “How can I show that sense of being out of balance, that dissonance?” Reflections were the perfect solution.

Q: You followed in the footsteps of your father, one of the early nature photographers. How did that help or hurt your career?
A: I definitely had doors open for me, but it was also frustrating. Five years into producing the “Minnesota Seasons” calendars with my dad, people would come up to me and say, “I buy your dad’s calendars every year. What do you do?”

Q: How did your father’s work shape yours?
A: Partly because I was in his shadow, I started to push my work. My dad was primarily interested in telling stories. He used a normal lens and showed you what the world looked like — the lichen and moss on the side of a [canoe] portage, things that were there but that you might not see. I fully embraced wide-angle lenses and telephoto lenses to show a different perspective.

Q: If your dad was a storyteller what are you?
A: I looked at myself as a guide. I was showing the epitome of what nature has to offer.

Q: Despite racking up books, winning national awards and being a household name in nature photography, you launched Kickstarter to get this book published. Why?
A: Everything has changed about photography. In the 1990s, it was easy to make money as a nature photographer. With the advent of digital cameras and affordable printers, there are so many people doing it now. Everyone in the business is struggling or giving up.

Q: But you’re not giving up?
Q: I’m already working on either a brand new [book] or a revised version of my “Lake Superior Images” [published in 1993]. This is the only thing I know how to do and I love it. It’s important from a conservation standpoint.

Catching the ‘Waves’

“Light Waves” is available at blacklockgallery.com and select independent bookstores, including Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis.

Craig Blacklock will be at book signings from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Excelsior Bay Books, 36 Water St., Excelsior, https://excelsiorbaybooks.indielite.org/ and from 1-3 Dec. 17 at Smith + Trade Mercantile, 229 Main St., Stillwater, https://smithandtrade.com/

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James Webb Space Telescope view of Saturn’s moon Titan excites scientists

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The James Webb Space Telescope has turned us into excited little children at Digital Camera World, so it’s no surprise that planetary scientists are thrilled at the images coming from the revolutionary telescope – including Webb’s latest images of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.

As I’ve said before (as a casual observer rather than an expert scientist), one of the brilliant things about the official Webb website from NASA is that each image is accompanied by a clear explanation of how the image was created or what it’s showing. 

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2023 World Press Photo Contest opens for entries

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The 2023 World Press Photo Contest has opened for entries.

Entering the 2023 World Press Photo Contest is free and is open to professional photojournalists and/or documentary photographers anywhere in the world, with the contest recognising and celebrating the world’s best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the past year.

Image: World Press Photo/Supplied
Image: World Press Photo/Supplied

As in 2022, the competition will continue the regional model that includes six regions, with a selection of entries per category chosen by a regional jury, before a global jury decides on the regional winners and from those, the global winners.

According to WPP, the introduction of this model last year gave a much more geographically balanced view of the world, with more nuanced perspectives on local issues.

The judging process of the 2023 World Press Photo Contest takes place in several rounds, over a six-week period, in January and February 2023. It involves regional juries and a global jury, ​​and takes place both online and offline. Representing Southeast Asia and Oceania is jury chair Maika Elan of Vietnam, a photographer and photo editor.

In 2023, prizes include €5,000 for global winners, in addition to €1,000 for regional winners, with work also featured in the  World Press Photo annual travelling exhibition, shown around the world and the World Press Photo yearbook.

Entries close on 10 January 2023. You can enter here. 

 



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Here are some top destinations tailor-made for weekend getaway in Vizag

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Kailasagiri ropeway to Kondakarla lake: Here are some top destinations tailor-made for weekend getaway in Vizag

If you are in the City of Destiny, there is no dearth of hot spots to cool it off. Whether you are looking forward to a short vacation amid rejuvenating nature or glitzy and enjoyable places to hang out with friends, family, or solo, Vizag has something to offer for everyone in all seasons.

Sun and sea-kissed beaches, lush green eco-parks, forests of the Eastern Ghats, intricate and intriguing heritage sites, museums mist-cloaked hilly heights, rustic beauty of rural and tribal culture, wildlife, and bird sanctuaries are all waiting to make your holidays memorable.

That’s not all. If you are an adventure aficionado, you may enjoy water sports at certain beaches, including scuba diving, kayaking, jet-ski, and speed boating. There are excellent trekking trails to take you through nature therapy and cardio and it would be a bonus if you are an avid bird watcher and a nature photographer.

Whether you are interested in the pilgrimage or temple tourism or you’re a history and heritage lover, you will be delighted to see the temples, monasteries, churches, and colonial structures of Old Town. For those who would like to soak in the glitz and glamour of the cosmopolitan city, there are several shopping malls, multiplexes, upscale restaurants, cafes, food courts, and around a dozen five-star hotels to choose from.

Here are some of the top destinations tailor-made for weekend getaway in Vizag:

The Beach Road:

Beaches and Parks

The long-drive-worthy 30-km long Beach Road that stretches from Vizag to Bheemili, between hills and seas, is dotted by several beaches such as the famous Ramakrishna (RK) Beach, Yarada Beach, Rushikonda Beach, Thotlakonda Beach and Bheemunipatnam (Bheemili Beach with its heritage Dutch cemetery), there are several sea-view parks including the Vuda Park, Tenneti Park, Lumbini Park, Children Parks, besides the Central Park and Shivaji park located in the city.

You may enjoy various activities on the beaches – from horse riding to beach volleyball and water sports to shopping traditional oyster and shell crafts and eating local savories. For nature lovers and solitude seekers, sunrise over the sea, flooding the sky in orange-yellow hues, is a visual treat that should not be missed.

Explore the submarine and military aircraft at the Museums

Vizag boasts of some interesting and unique museums in the country such as the Kursura Submarine Museum and TU 142 Aircraft Museum opposite the submarine and near the Visakha Museum. All three are lined up near R K Beach and it offers a good time pass.

Enjoy a panoramic ropeway ride to Kailasagiri hills

Kailasagiri is one of the most popular hangout spots in the city, both among Vizagites and visitors. Though one can drive up to Kailasa hill, which houses many attractions including parks, gardens, walking trails, sculptures, viewpoints, and eateries. Nothing however beats the rope-way or cable-car ride from the foothills to the hilltop, which offers a stunning view of the cityscape, Tenneti Park, and the panoramic sea against the backdrop of the green Kailasa hills.

Opt for educative tours at Vizag Zoo Park and Kambalakonda eco-project

One of the largest zoos in the country, the 625-acre Indira-Gandhi Zoo Park (IGZP) in a natural forest setting, houses around 900 fauna and is an ideal place to hit with the family, especially with children for a fun and educative tour. The vast KambalaKonda Reserve Forest (around 7,146 hectares), on National Highway 5, almost opposite the zoo park, is an eco-tourism project. It is home to around 130 species of flora and several species of fauna such as deer of various kinds, leopards, pangolins, civets, rabbits, rarely-seen reptiles, birds, etc.

Opt for a boat ride and birding at Kondakarla Ava lake

The state’s second largest freshwater lake Kondakarla Ava is an extensive area of rich aquatic biodiversity – with lotus plants, fish, and hundreds of species of resident avifauna and migratory birds. Located around 50 kilometers from Vizag city, near Anakapalle, this scenic lake amidst small hills, attracts picnickers, bird watchers, and nature lovers around the year.

Ancient Buddhist heritage sites and moonlight meditation

The 2,000-year-old Buddhist heritage sites of Thotlakonda and Bavikonda near Vizag city and Bojjanakonda, 45 km away, have drawn tourists even from Buddhist nations including Japan and Sri Lanka. The hilltop archaeological Thotlakonda and Bavikonda monastic complex with stupas, chaitaya grihas, and viharas, date back to the second century and are ideal for meditation under the moonlight. The ASI’s Buddhist establishments of Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda in Sankaram village near Anakapalle, feature remarkable rock-cut caves, numerous monolithic (carved out of a single rock) stupas, chaityas, and monasteries dating back between the 4th to the 9th centuries AD. Evidence suggests three forms of Buddhism thrived here namely the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana periods.

Simhachalam and Madhavdhara temples

Situated atop the Simhachalam Hill, the Vishnu temple dedicated to Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple draws lakhs of pilgrims and visitors per month from various parts of the country. The 13th-century temple displays some intricate Kalinga, Chalukya, and Kakatiya dynasty architecture and sculpture.

Tucked away in pristine surroundings amidst hills and forests is a beautiful centuries-old temple dedicated to Krishna or Madhavswamy at Madhavdhara. It’s said that the deity and the initial temple structures dated for almost a thousand years. The specialty of this temple is a flight of ancient staircases that connect the famous Simhachalam Temple.

Weekend wanderlust

For those of you who prefer to recline in the lap of nature or trek to imbibe the beauty of nature in tranquillity, there are many less-frequented places beyond the popular destination-in-demand Araku Valley and Borra Caves.

Lammasingi

Though the infrastructure for a night stay is not yet developed (beyond pitching tents under a star-studded sky), it is worth a visit to enjoy the dipping mercury in peak winter, misty morning walks in forested tracks, and the strawberry farms and coffee gardens of picturesque Lammasingi, in Chintapalli Mandal. It is situated around 100 km from Vizag city at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level.

Dallapalli near Araku Valley is special because it offers a 360-degree view of the hills and scenic surroundings. Dotted with coffee plantations, forest lands, and tribal villages, Dallapalli can be a reposeful retreat far from the madding crowd of the city.

ThatIpudi Reservoir

At a distance of 65 kilometers from the city is the picture-postcard ThatIpudi Reservoir. It is an ideal place to explore for nature and bird lovers as well as photography enthusiasts as the scenic place houses a dam, lake, lovely hilly surroundings, greenery, and birds can be an ideal place to explore for nature and bird lovers as well as.

Vanjangi

If you want to be greeted by a cascade of clouds and view a spectacular sunrise, then head to the Vanjangi Hills, situated at around 3,400 feet above mean sea level, about 100 km from Vizag city. Reaching the hilltop entails a six-km uphill trek through forest trails but the surrealistic dream-like landscape is worth a visit.

Jindhagada Peak:

Jindhagada or Arma Konda is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats at a height of 1,690 meters, located in Araku valley. This peak should be on every trekker’s must-visit list and entails a five-hour steep uphill trek. So be prepared to carry adequate drinking water, food, first aid kit, and use the correct footwear.

This article was written by Sulogna Mehta

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Elon Musk Ventures: Neuralink, Telsa Smartphone and Starlink

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Watch Elon Musk’s SpaceX and T-Mobile Reveal Mobile Service For Areas with No Cell Coverage | CNET Highlights

SpaceX received approval to launch 7,500 Starlink satellites by the Federal Communications Commission on December 1st. The FCC only partially approved SpaceX’s application, as the company aims to launch 30,000 “Gen2” Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. 

“Our action will allow SpaceX to begin deployment of Gen2 Starlink, which will bring next generation satellite broadband to Americans nationwide, including those living and working in areas traditionally unserved or underserved by terrestrial systems,” the FCC wrote.

This approval by the FCC is vital for the recently announced partnership between SpaceX and T-Mobile back in August. Dubbed “Coverage Above & Beyond,” the two companies aim to utilize Starlink’s Gen2 satellites with T-Mobile’s mid-band spectrum — which roughly equates to their 3G network.

As Elon Musk indicates, these speeds are primarily only useful for texting and voice calls, but has the potential to eliminate mobile dead zones in “over half a million square miles of the U.S.”  

“The important thing about this is that it means there are no dead zones anywhere in the world for your cell phone,” Musk said. “We’re incredibly excited to do this with T-Mobile.”

A spokesperson for T-Mobile also clarified on this matter with The Washington Post.

“We’re not claiming to cover rural America with this,” the T-Mobile spokesman said. “This partnership is about going beyond the limitations of cellular networks and the wireless industry today to eliminate mobile dead zones which are often a result of land-use restrictions, terrain limits and America’s sheer vastness.”

According to the announcement, “the vast majority of smartphones already on T-Mobile’s network will be compatible with the new service using the device’s existing radio. No extra equipment to buy. It just works.”

The feature, according to T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert, will be included on the company’s “most popular” wireless plans. 

Tesla Smartphone

Elon Musk Went Public With CHEAP Tesla Phone Model | Elon Musk Live

On the topic of cell phones and Musk, the Twitter CEO recently claimed that Apple was threatening to remove Twitter from their App Store. 

This was cleared up a couple days later, with Elon Musk tweeting that the “misunderstanding” had been “resolved.”

The controversy — if it can be called that — did bring up an interesting sentiment that Musk replied to: making his own smartphone. 

Rumors have been circulating since early 2021 about a Tesla smartphone, often referred to as the model Pi or Pi phone. Tesla and Musk have been notably quiet on the subject, but that hasn’t stopped enthusiasts from speculating on the features. Some seem likely, such as satellite internet, vehicle control features on Tesla models, and even astrophotography — powerful cameras aided by AI to photograph the night sky. Other speculations are arguably a bit more farfetched: solar charging, crypto mining, communication with settlers on Mars, and Neuralink support to name a few.

Neuralink: Interfacing with the brain

Neuralink Show and Tell, Fall 2022 | Neuralink

Neuralink is another one of Musk’s ventures — implants that would allow the human brain to connect to a computer. Neuralink is seeking government approval to begin testing on human subjects. The company tested the implants on monkeys at the University of California, Davis Primate Center (UC Davis) earlier this year. 

Neuralink highlighted a monkey playing the computer game “Pong” in April with the implant but were forced to respond to accusations of animal cruelty after a US non-profit sent a letter to the US Department of Agriculture. Neuralink did confirm that monkeys had died during testing but maintained no animal cruelty occurred and that “all novel medical devices and treatments must be tested in animals before they can be ethically trialed in humans.”

Twitter may be taking on YouTube

Another industry besides cell phone manufacturers that Musk may be entering is video hosting. Twitter currently only allows video files of up to 512MB and requires longer videos to be trimmed down to 2 minutes and 20 seconds. A currently unverified source, “Wong,” has stated that Twitter Blue will increase these limits to 2GB and 2 hours — leaving some to question if Musk intends to go up against the juggernaut that is YouTube. 

Twitter Blue Labs — an early access testing program — does list longer video uploads among its features at 10 minutes long but may see a significant boost to that time if “Wong” is correct. 

Regardless of speculation on what industry Musk is entering next, his most recent venture, Twitter, is attempting to woo back companies after losing half of its top advertisers in the weeks after he took over. Advertising accounts for roughly 90% of Twitter’s revenue, leaving the social media company little choice but to incentivize brands to return.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Twitter’s new plan is to match advertiser spending with a “100% value add” for those that spend between $500,000-$1 million until the end of the year. Basically a “buy one, get one free” for ad space on Twitter.



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Photography that has taken flight in Birds of Prey awards packages

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Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, at left, celebrates on the podium with Anne Price of the Raptor Education Foundation after Kilde’s first place win in a men’s World Cup downhill skiing race last Saturday in Beaver Creek.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo

In addition to earning the fastest time on the hill, some ski racers on the FIS Alpine World Cup circuit get some pretty interesting prizes from different countries. In Levi, Finland, it appears that winners get a reindeer, in Val d’Isere, France, you either get a huge wheel of Beaufort cheese or a cow and in Beaver Creek, a bird of prey.

These prizes aren’t exactly literal, there are more so tokens from each race venue, mere symbols of the area, although, Lindsey Vonn opted for the cow versus the $5,000 she was offered by the farmer in 2005 after she won the downhill race in Val D’Isere.

Many times, the public sees pictures of a beautiful bird of prey on stage with the top three finishers of that day’s race at Beaver Creek. The bird goes back to the Raptor Education Foundation but the athletes do get to take home a beautiful photograph that beholds the image of the event’s namesake.

Former U.S. Ski Team members,Bode Miller, left, and Ted Ligety, right pose with Anne Price of the Raptor Education Center at an awards ceremony at the Birds of Prey ski races.
Westrich Photography/Courtesy photo

The Talons area of Beaver Creek Mountain is home to several runs named after birds of prey. The Golden Eagle run hosts the men’s racecourse and the Kestrel run hosts the women’s racecourse. Screech Owl, Ruffed Grouse, Peregrine, Ptarmigan, Osprey and more fill the trail map. The majestic birds are represented in the photography of Rob Westrich of St. Louis, Missouri. The framed photos are what grace racers’ homes all over the world after reaching the podium at Beaver Creek and this art became a part of the race package in 2009.

Westrich had just started photographing the amazing birds the year before, after attending a Cub Scouts meeting with his son. The World Bird Sanctuary brought in raptors to share with the scouts and it didn’t take long for Westrich to become inspired. Westrich, whose company, Westrich Photography, has covered the photography needs of the public in the St. Louis area for 75 years, soon found himself taking photos not of people, but of birds. The World Bird Sanctuary brought birds to his studio to capture what would become his fine art series, The Raptor Series.

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Rob Westrich’s photography became a part of the Birds of Prey awards package in Beaver Creek in 2009.
Westrich Photography/Courtesy photo

The buzzworthy art gained the attention of those in the St. Louis area and eventually, it was deemed a perfect fit for the Birds of Prey awards package and Westrich has been involved with this for the past 13 years.

“I never thought it would turn into something this big,” Westrich said. “To know the print is hanging in the homes of some of the greatest athletes in the world is incomprehensible. Bode Miller. Lindsey Vonn. Mikaela Shiffrin. The list goes on. It’s an incredible honor.”

Little did Rob Westrich know that a Cub Scout’s excursion would lead to his raptor photography being on the walls of the biggest names in alpine ski racing, like Mikaela Shiffrin.
Westrich Photography/Courtesy photo
Lindsey Vonn addresses the crowd while holding on to the framed birds of prey photography of Rob Westrich.
Westrich Photography/Courtesy photo



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Incredible Winners of 2022 Nature inFocus Photography Awards

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A Jaguar walks past a camera trap in the Mayan jungle of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

“Balam—The Endangered King of the Mayan Jungle” by Fernando Constantino Martinez Belmar. Winner, Photographer of the Year – Portfolio.
“A Jaguar walks past a camera trap in the Mayan jungle of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Balam (Jaguar in the Mayan language) is a species of high cultural and ecological significance in Mexico. The apex predator requires large tracts of land to survive and is considered a great indicator of the region’s ecological health. Listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, illegal hunting, habitat fragmentation, and destruction have seen an increase in negative interactions between the cat and humans. As their habitats reduce, and therefore, their prey population base, jaguars are forced to approach human settlements to feed on livestock, which rarely bodes well for the big cat. Despite all this, there are people dedicated to the study and conservation of these cats, which allows for developing strategies to preserve their natural habitats and mitigate the negative impacts of human actions.”

The winners of the eighth annual Nature inFocus Photography Awards were announced in conjunction with the Nature inFocus Festival, which is Asia’s premier nature and wildlife festival. Both adult and youth photographers were encouraged to submit images that document unique natural history moments and critical conservation issues. This year, three winners were announced in each category and, for the first time, one person was named Photographer of the Year based on a portfolio of work.

With around 21,000 images from over 2,300 photographers submitted, the jury had some tough decisions to make. In the end, Fernando Constantino Martinez Belmar was named Photographer of the Year for his look at the critically endangered jaguars that live on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Among other standouts is the creative duo of Kapil Sharma and Yogendra Satam. They won the Wildscape & Animals in their Habitat category for their use of camera traps to monitor urban wildlife in Mumbai. In addition to being a nature enthusiast and wildlife photographer, Satam is also a Mumbai Police Constable who assists the forest department in rescue operations and awareness programs.

While many of the winning photographers are from India, where the festival is located, the competition has seen an increase in participation from photographers across the globe.

“The Nature inFocus Photography Awards has grown to become a meeting place for national and international photographers,” says Rohit Varma, one of the founders of Nature inFocus. “Every year, we see images that reveal new facets of our natural world while shining a light on pertinent global conservation issues. We are thrilled to see the growth in the number of participants and the geographical locations. It truly has become an international platform for wildlife photographers!”

See more winning images below and get inspired by the natural world.

The winners of the 2022 Nature inFocus Photographer Awards were selected from nearly 21,000 images.

Barn Owl flying into an abandoned Mumbai Police van

“Jailbreak” by Kapil Sharma and Yogendra Satam. Winner, Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat.
“Barn Owls on window sills, inside abandoned buildings, chimneys or even in a mall! We have seen them all. The most widespread land bird species does not take its title lightly. But here, the bird seems to be seeking refuge in a rather unusual location. The camera trap image shows a Barn Owl flying into an abandoned Mumbai Police van. Well, if you are looking for a safe habitat!”

Close Up Image of Sri Lanka Junglefowl Plumage

“Burnt Violet” by Ashane Marasinghe. Jury Selection, Creative Nature Photography.
“The Sri Lanka Junglefowl is an endemic species that is a common sight across the island nation. A stunning burnt orange plumage with dark streaks, and an iridescent, glossy black tail, junglefowls are a sight for sore eyes. This close-up photograph of its wing is a confounding play of colors, almost hypnotizing, if not for a certain photobombing winged friend.”

Female Purple Sunbird on the Edge of a Coconut Frond

“She’s Like the Wind” by KM Anand. Winner, Animal Portraits.
“A female Purple Sunbird prepares to take off from the edge of a curved coconut frond, creating the illusion that her tiny body is heavy enough to bend the leaf and use it as a launchpad to throw her into the lightness of flight.”

Aerial View Showing Flamingos in a Heart Formation

“Heart of Pink” by Raj Mohan T. Jury Selection, Creative Nature Photography.
“A bird’s eye view of a wetland shows a large colony of flamingos shaped almost like a heart as it charges back and forth in a tight-knit formation—a courtship dance known as marching. Alongside the busy flamboyance are quickly accumulating algal populations that rob aquatic life of precious oxygen.”

Anamalai Pit Viper Flicking Its Tongue

“Heat Tasting” by Sandeep Das. Jury Selection, Animal Portraits.
“Sandeep captured the flick of an Anamalai Pit Viper’s tongue using the rear curtain sync mode, whereby the flash is fired at the end of the exposure, thereby capturing the complete motion trail. Pit vipers stick out their tongue to collect scents, and when drawn back in, it comes in contact with the Jacobson’s organ on the roof of the mouth, helping in smell detection.”

Tiger Sitting in Field of Purple Water Hyacinth Flowers

“Cloaked In Lilac” by Sanjay Nair. Jury Selection, Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat.
“Yes, this is a pretty image with the tiger’s stripes standing out in the middle of the purple water hyacinth flowers. But these invasive plants are notorious for displacing native plant species within water bodies while reducing oxygen levels. As seen in the image, even protected areas like national parks and tiger reserves are not immune to their impacts.”

Feral Dogs Attacking an Indian Crested Porcupine

“A Thorny Issue” by Kapil Sharma. Winner, Conservation Focus.
“The salt pans of the Little Rann of Kutch play host to a diverse range of fauna. A growing feral dog population in the region has become a significant cause for concern, as portrayed in this image of two dogs attacking an Indian Crested Porcupine. It is also a potent reminder that feral dogs are not selective and affect wildlife across species.”

Silhouette Horned Desert Viper or Saharan Horned Viper Against the City Lights

“The Seven Moons of Sahara” by Kai Kolodziej. Winner, Creative Nature Photography.
“The Horned Desert Viper or Saharan Horned Viper is one of the most commonly seen snakes in the North African and Middle Eastern deserts. This stunning silhouette against the city lights illustrates the signature ‘horns’ of the reptile, its most distinguishing feature. The so-called horns are a single scale present above each eye.”

Grey-headed Swamphen Fighting

“Ka Pow!” by Karthikeyan Ponnambalamoorthy. Jury Selection, Animal Behaviour.
“Here’s how it works in the world of the Grey-headed Swamphen. When breeding groups encounter an intruder in their territory, the first displays of threat include raising wings, bending down and flapping tails. If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to be a bit more dramatic. The opponents fly at each other feet-first and peck their way to victory.”

Whooper swans swimming

“Tranquillity” by Lakshitha Karunarathna. Jury Selection, Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat.
“If you ever decide to capture serenity in one frame, here it is! Whooper Swans need ample space and spend a lot of their time swimming and foraging for food. But don’t be fooled by the calmness that the image exuberates. These large birds are equally boisterous.”

Caribbean Reef Shark

“Jaws-ome” by Magnus Lundgren. Winner, Animal Portraits.
“The Caribbean Reef Shark is an impressive and fast hunter. With the help of a long shutter speed, two underwater strobes and some speedy camera movement, the photographer created this breathtaking portrait of the dynamic apex predator. Sharks are a protected species in the Bahamian reefs, like in many other parts of the world’s oceans, yet 80-100 million sharks get killed every year. A strong market demand for shark fins is the main driver. In order for shark conservation to be a success, Magnus believes that there needs to be an understanding that living sharks hold a greater value than dead ones.”

Aerial Photo of Elephant in Sri Lanka Along a Riverbank

“Where the Giants Roam” by Lalith Ekanayake. Winner, Animal Portraits.
“Elephants are a common sight along the river and in the paddy fields of Sri Lanka’s north-central province. The farmers are happy to allow these gentle giants to enter their paddy fields after harvest. But they do everything possible to chase away the pachyderms during the crop season. This aerial shot of a massive tusker beautifully captures its larger shadow against the riverbank decorated with the footprints of his herd.”

People Fleeing a Tigress in India

“Chaos Theory” by Nejib Ahmed. Winner, Conservation Focus.
“While it’s often difficult to decode a conflict situation, one thing is for sure—fear fuels it from both ends. On spotting a tigress resting near the paddy fields, the villagers of Borsola near Orang Tiger Reserve panicked and began pelting stones at the felid. They also set fire to dry paddy, further agitating the animal. While the tigress ran amok, so did the people trying to flee the area. One villager tried to confront the animal and was inflicted with minor injuries. The tigress eventually retreated into the forest. The image portrays the ground realities of human-tiger conflict and emphazises the need for empowering local communities to manage these situations.”

Spotted Hyena Climbing on Termite Hill

“Termite Control” by Mangesh R Desai. Winner, Animal Behaviour.
“Look up images of hyenas hunting and you will most likely find scenes of a pack feeding on carcasses of animals like antelopes, wildebeest or even lions! Yep, a pack of hyenas can take on some large animals. But here, a Spotted Hyena has climbed on top of a termite hill, to make the most of what was available. What can we say? Some days you fight, and some days you termite!”

Bats and Hawks Flying in the Sky

“Higher Up the Food Chain” by Jomtup Charoenlapnumchai. Winner, Young Photographer.
“Jomtup observed the bats leaving their caves every evening in order to feed. Around the same time, the hawks would emerge to capture their prey—the bats. Being opportunistic feeders, hawks eat everything from rodents, small birds, insects to bats!”

Striped Sea Snake Latching Onto Its Catch

“A Full Meal” by Joshua Barton. Winner, Animal Behaviour.
“If you think about it, it’s quite a conundrum for sea snakes. These marine serpents are surrounded by their prey, but in a world of coral reefs, rock crevices and quick maneuvers, to make an actual catch requires additional skills. Sea snakes are highly venomous and let their bite do most of the work. Here, a Striped Sea Snake latches onto its catch, making for a rare documentation of the reptile in action in the open sea.”

Winged Termites Breeding During a Monsoon

“Wings Of Life and Death” by Anirban Dutta. Winner, Creative Nature Photography.
“At the start of the monsoon, as the first rains lash down on scorched earth, winged termites or alates emerge in huge numbers, with the singular purpose of breeding in what is known as the nuptial flight. Bright lights confuse the navigational systems of most animals, and it is common to see swarms of alates flying around street lamps. Anirban chanced upon a termite swarm near the local petrol bunk when suddenly a Black Drongo swooped in to feast on the termites. The whole thing was over in 15-20 minutes. The winged termites vanished, and so did the drongo.”

Nature inFocus: Website | Facebook | Instagram 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nature inFocus.

Related Articles:

35 Beautiful Examples of Nature Photography

Stunning Winners of the 2021 World Nature Photography Awards

Arctic Seals Resting on Floating Ice Wins Nature Photography Contest

Beautiful Photo of Adorable Hare in a Field Wins Nature Photography Contest



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Best telescopes deal: Multiple Celestron telescopes are available at fantastic deals

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Stargazing and astrophotography have gained ground as popular hobbies in recent years, however, investing in suitable optical equipment does not come cheap. But since it’s the holiday season, there are deals on some of the best telescopes — now is the right time to bag some cool equipment.

Celestron is offering a range of telescopes on Amazon on Dec. 5 with discounts up to $100. Here are some eye-catching products from the company worth taking a look at.

Best Telescope for Beginners

Why we like it

Refractor Telescopes are beginner-friendly, and if you’re looking to purchase a well-rounded, easy to use piece, the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope(opens in a new tab) is your best bet. The lightweight optical tool has an easy setup, and it comes with a tripod stand with adjustable height. The 70mm is suitable for gazing at celestial objects in the night sky, as well as landscapes on the horizon. One downside is the comparatively low aperture — it doesn’t make for the most detailed images while gazing. The deal includes free accessories such as two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) and a red dot finderscope tool that makes it easier to locate objects in the night sky. Also included for free is a star diagonal, which makes for more comfortable viewing angles and prevents neck strains.

Best Compact Telescope Deal

Why we like it

Telescopes can take up ample storage space in your closet, and if you’re looking for an extremely portable telescope that’s also easy on the pocket, you’re in the right place. Observers need to simply move the tube in the concerned direction to stargaze or observe other celestial bodies. The one drawback is that the telescope has a short base, which could make it a little uncomfortable for you, but that makes it a perfect gift for your children.

Best Reflector Telescope Deal

Why we like it

The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ-MD Newtonian Reflector Telescope(opens in a new tab) is available on Amazon for $279.99, which is its lowest price on the retailer in over two years. The 130mm glass lens provides you with sufficient brightness and great image clarity while viewing distant objects, and the German equatorial mount is better than standard fork mounts for viewing celestial bodies. This deal also comes with a motor drive, which enables more accurate tracking of objects by allowing you to maintain complete control over the scope. Additionally, a free Starry Night software package has been bundled with this deal, which is a detailed and useful guide to astronomy.



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World’s Fastest Living Speed Machine

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… a once in a lifetime chance to be shooting the fasted living creature on earth at eye level in the wild … that was the closing treat on the excursion down to Lake Pleasant last Friday and I did manage to get some absolutely beautiful shots of her before my gear malfunctioned. We decided to take one more run up Castle Hot Springs bay before packing it in for the day. We had already captured hundreds of wonderful shots of Ospreys and other birds.

Eric spotted a bird with its back to us about 50 feet away in shallow water off a small island. Kinda looked like a small heron with its back (blue-grey) pointed at us, but then it turned to look at us and wow, it was a Peregrine Falcon standing in a few inches of water. Her crop was bulging, but no sign of feathers (they feed primarily on birds) so maybe a fish? or just stopped for a drink after her meal? Dunno, and then she took off and circled back towards us before departing the area. What an amazing treat and an opportunity for shots of a lifetime.

Our speed machine is the fastest living creature on planet earth … they can fly at more than 100 mph in level flight and have been clocked at 240 mph in a dive. They gain altitude, spot their prey below and then stoop (dive) accelerating and hit the prey from above with their talons; some sources say they hit the prey with talons closed like a fist and others with the talons extended and rip them as they hit them. They then collect their prey in flight and are off for some fine dining.

The shot below is of her takeoff, water droplets trailing her talons as she rapidly rises into the air.Back to the lake in the morning so this is going out very early … spent the day re-calibrating and setting options in my cameras … a good thing to do every once in a while.

Have a beautiful day and make it a wonderful day for yourself and those you meet and greet! Like why not?

Cheers,

Ted

So each one to his wish, and as for me,
I sit tonight and wait
To find the answers to my soul in me,
And in the beauty of the sky and sea.

Sedona Gift Shop

excerpt from I Sit and Wait by Max Ehrmann

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photo_tedgrussing

The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: [email protected]

In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.

Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses.  By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.

More about Ted Grussing …

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