Japanese artist Tatsuya Tanaka has gained worldwide acclaim for his enchanting miniature dioramas, a realm where he ingeniously transforms mundane everyday objects into whimsical creations that assume entirely new identities. Mundane items such as sugar cubes, plastic bags, and cups undergo a magical metamorphosis, becoming frozen peaks, enigmatic sculptures, and a plethora of other fantastical forms.
Since 2011, Tanaka has dedicated himself to meticulously crafting and capturing these minuscule realms, sharing his daily creations on his website under the captivating alias “Miniature Calendar.”
In Tanaka’s own words, observing ordinary occurrences through a miniature lens has the power to ignite a cascade of delightful musings. We extend a warm invitation for you to immerse yourself in this enchanting universe, with the hope that it imparts a touch of enchantment to brighten your day!
Scroll down and inspire yourself. Please check his Instagram link for more amazing work.
You can find Tatsuya Tanaka on the web:
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Tatsuya Tanaka, born in Kumamoto, Japan, in 1981, is not just a miniature photographer but a visionary mitate artist. His journey began in 2011 when he initiated the transformative art project known as “MINIATURE CALENDAR.” Through this endeavor, he reshapes the mundane, offering a miniature perspective that turns everyday objects into something entirely new and intriguing. From that point forward, he has diligently shared his imaginative creations with the world through daily online presentations.
Tanaka’s artistic influence extends across borders, with exhibitions held both in Japan and internationally. One notable showcase, “MINIATURE LIFE: Tatsuya Tanaka’s World of Miniatures,” has captivated an impressive total of over 1.8 million visitors, showcasing the widespread appeal of his work..
It is said that the cake gets eaten, the flowers get withered but it is the wedding photos that last forever. Wedding pictures are a perfect way to preserve what are arguably the best moments of one’s life, and its value only increases with time.“Wedding photography is an art that stands as a testament to love; it transcends time. Cherished for generations, it is all about encapsulating emotions and not documenting pictures,” says Shrey Bhagat, founder and creative director, Raabta.
Undoubtedly, one of the most important aspects of a wedding is photography, which is getting bigger and better by the day. A multi-billion-dollar market that is growing exponentially, wedding photography has evolved tremendously over the years. From dramatic locations and dreamy photo sets to stunning imagery and visual storytelling, the trends in wedding photography are eclectic and exciting. Here is a look at some of the latest trends in this special genre of photography.
Creative, candid and collaborative
Gone are the days when wedding photography was a strictly formal affair and it was all about awkward posing and forced smiling before the camera.“Earlier, there was no real connection between a photographer and the couple, but now, couples and the photographer are a team and all decisions with respect to the approach and style of pictures are taken mutually.
It is all about capturing real, candid moments that tell the unique story of the wedding day,” says Himanshu Patel, founder, Epic Stories. Couples are totally involved in the creative process and the photography team spends hours listening to each couple’s story to understand the best way to capture the essence of their wedding.“Some couples even opt for a customised song dedicated to them, and this just adds a whole new dimension to storytelling with wedding photography,” adds Bhagat.
With the help of new technology and changing preferences, wedding photography has become more creative and dynamic. Photographers today are more focussed on capturing nuances, subtle expressions and feelings shared between the couple. While it could be casual interactions or intricate details, it is all about embracing the authentic, and even the imperfect, to capture the true spirit of the occasion.“Couples love how this gives them an output that is up close and personal. The beauty of these frames is that it is full of raw emotions, with an overlapping foon people,” quips Bhagat. As a result, conventional wedding albums have now transformed into beautiful fairy-tales that encapsulate the narrative of the couples’ journeys.
Latest trends for the Midas touch
Apart from candid images, drone shots have become a rage in recent times. With elaborate décor themes spanning from royal, traditional, tropical, vintage and even boho chic, drone shots are used to capture these details beautifully. Most weddings are all about rituals and elaborate ceremonies, and drone shots lend more gravitas to such pictures.
“Cinematic style photography is the trend these days with a foon candid videography. We work with the couple from months in advance to craft the complete narrative right from pre-wedding shoots, save-the-date creatives and even short, quick teasers with about 10-20 edited wedding pictures or a short film that is released on the same day for the couple to share on social media,” says Palani A, founder, S.A. Digital Studio, Bengaluru. He adds that editing is as challenging as the actual shooting and that the desaturated editing style is gaining popularity. This technique creates images that are artistically minimalistic with softer tones and an earthy, natural feel.
There are a number of couples adopting the vintage and nostalgic aesthetic in terms of black and white images and even hazy images that have an ethereal quality. Most photographers are using a slower shutter-speed to capture these soulful images.“We are also returning to using film to give photos a classic, old-fashioned feel. These dreamy pictures add an extra touch of magic and is akin to viewing the photo through a soft, gentle filter,” adds Patel. Such pictures often feel like they are carrying a memory right in the photo.“Controlled blurriness adds cinematic emotion and movement, focusing on moments and gestures,” says Jayant Chhabra, founder, Cupcake Productions.
Further, first look images are a huge trend as they capture one of the purest moments of weddings and seize that feeling forever through a perfect photograph. It also captures the emotional reactions of parents when they see their children for the first time in their wedding attire. Capturing bridal room chronicles with elaborate shots of the trousseau, jewellery and the whole journey of her getting ready is in vogue as is capturing your pets with you on your special day.
Tantalising techniques
Other trends include groomsmen shoots, veil shots and the use of GIFs. While bridal veil images exude an enigmatic and timeless appeal, pictures of the groom with his groomsmen having fun allows their personalities to shine through. After all, why should brides have all the fun? “GIFs are likely to be quite popular in the coming days. Imagine capturing a small moment from the wedding and turning it into a moving picture. It is like freezing a happy dance or a cute smile and making it come alive. These GIFs are like mini stories that show the feeling of the moment in a fun way in a jiffy,” says Patel.
Double-exposure photographs, underwater portraits and backlit silhouettes are the other techniques adopted by photographers to incorporate a unique and distinctive vibe. Artistic compositions with the strategic use of reflective surfaces like mirrors helps create exotic, unusual images and so does the use of smoke bombs which creates the perfect ambience for moments like the couple’s first dance. Post wedding shoots are also extremely popular.
Like all things, change is the only constant in the field of wedding photography too. Photographers spend a lot of time researching new styles and technology to stay relevant.“Keeping up with the trends in wedding photography requires a proactive, adaptive and continulearning approach. Attending meets by photography clubs and other workshops and conferences can help you gain valuable insights. Further, it is imperative to update your camera equipment, lighting gears, lenses and editing software,” concludes Chhabra.
“Over 100 years, nobody has seen the arc because it’s so faint and it’s only visible in Oxygen 3 (OIII),” Marcel explains.
When gases like hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen are superheated they glow in various colours, with oxygen giving off a blue colour.
Telescope narrowband filters allow astronomers to look at the light from certain gases, with the most common filters being Hydrogen Alpha, Hydrogen Beta, Sulfur 2 and Oxygen 3.
As three quarters of gas in the Universe is hydrogen, astrophotographers tend to take photos using a Hydrogen Alpha (Hα) filter in order to see this type of light.
Oxygen, by contrast, makes up just 1% of gas in the Universe and is extremely faint, making it difficult to see.
Photographs taken with an Oxygen 3 filter are also subject to distortions from factors such as light pollution, meaning fewer astrophotographers choose to use it.
However, for those willing to put in the long exposure times required to take photographs in Oxygen 3, many discoveries await.
“The arc is not very easy to capture. You have to be an ambitious astrophotographer to catch this arc,” Marcel says.
Bright oxygen clouds have already been discovered in other nebulae such as the Veil Nebula, where oxygen gas is heated, ionises and glows blue.
Bat in Eastern Veil – or is it an Owl? by Brendan Kinch, shortlisted in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023 Stars & Nebulae category. This is a small section of the Veil Nebula – a cloud of heated and ionised gas and dust in the constellation Cygnus, taken using Sulfur 2, Hydrogen Alpha and Oxygen 3 filters.
An unexpected discovery
So how did the team find it? Marcel explains: “It was an absolute accident. No one expected to see it and that’s why it’s called Andromeda, Unexpected, because we wanted to take a beautiful image of the Andromeda Galaxy. And we looked at the first data and we spotted this hazy smudge on the edge of the image.”
The astrophotographers originally thought the smudge could be an ‘artifact’, an anomaly or distortion which shows up on images due to interference from things like light pollution, satellite trails and scattered light.
After much discussion, however, “we came to the conclusion no, it’s not an artifact. It’s real. It’s a new discovery,” Marcel says.
But why haven’t any of the extremely sophisticated cameras up in space spotted this? Essentially, while space telescopes take extremely valuable photographs, they have limitations in their scope.
“We amateur astronomers can capture what Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope can’t because they only capture a teeny tiny fraction of the sky,” Marcel explains. “With our small and not-so-expensive telescopes, we are able to capture a wide field image of the night sky.”
“We are faster than Hubble, we have a wider field than Hubble, and we can do more exposure times than Hubble. When you have a very tiny, bright nebula, you call Hubble, but when you have a very faint big object in the Milky Way, you call us amateur astronomers.”
He explains that thanks to increasingly sophisticated equipment available, amateurs can act as the eyes and ears of professional astronomers due to their passion, dedication and time.
A composite image of the Andromeda Galaxy taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, one of the largest Hubble images ever assembled. Even with many images assembled the image only shows a portion of the full spiral galaxy | NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton, B.F. Williams, and L.C. Johnson (U. of Washington), the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) team, and R. Gendler
MADISON (WKOW) — Madison police are encouraging people who own expensive electronics to take stock of them after a burglar tried to sell some of his haul.
Madison Police Department spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said a man told police in late July someone broke into his hotel room and stole his high-end photography equipment and an iPad.
The man gave officers his equipment’s serial numbers. The man also called local camera shops and gave them the serial numbers.
A few days after the theft, the suspect, identified as Daryl Patterson, 44, tried to sell the equipment to the Camera Company in Madison.
Staff recognized the serial numbers and called the police, but Patterson left before they arrived. The interaction was caught on video.
A few days after that, Patterson sold the equipment to a Milwaukee pawn shop. Again, the interaction was caught on video.
Fryer said Madison detectives tracked Patterson down to a home in Madison, where they found more property belonging to the victim. The victim was reunited with his belongings.
Patterson was arrested for burglary, resisting and possessing methamphetamine.
Fryer said people who own expensive electronics should write down their equipment’s serial numbers, as it’s the best way to make sure they’re returned.
Ruben Flowers stumbled across the photo by accident.
It was early 2023 and he was thumbing through photo albums at his grandmother’s house. Suddenly, there it was: a snapshot from 1994, taken in an airplane flight deck, depicting him as a toddler, sitting next to his pilot dad.
In this picture, Flowers is looking at his dad in admiration. His father smiles at the camera, ready to fly the plane.
Captain Ruben Flowers and his son, also called Ruben Flowers, posed for this photograph in the airplane flight deck in 1994. They recently recreated the photo, with a twist.
Southwest Airlines
Flowers had forgotten the photo existed, but seeing it again, he was flooded with memories of growing up, inspired by his father. He’d loved their trips to the airport, tagging along to the training center, taking a go on the simulators. He’d beamed with pride when his dad talked about his job at the school careers day.
And the timing of the rediscovered photo was perfect: Flowers, now 30, was just about to follow in his father’s footsteps and begin flying as a First Officer for Southwest Airlines.
Meanwhile Flowers’ father – also called Ruben Flowers – was nearing retirement and readying for his final Southwest flight as Captain.
The two men were excited to briefly overlap at Southwest and hoped they’d get an opportunity to fly together.
“It was a dream of mine to make it to this point to fly with my dad, it was probably my number one aviation goal,” the younger Flowers tells CNN Travel.
After rediscovering the old photo, the two Flowers men added a coda to the goal: not only did they want to fly together, they wanted to recreate the 1990s flight deck photo, over two decades later. Not just as father and son, but as colleagues and co-pilots.
Cut to March 2023 and the older Flowers was flying his final Southwest flight, piloting an aircraft from Omaha, Nebraska to his home city of Chicago, Illinois. His son was by his side, as his first officer.
“That was an awesome feeling,” says the older Flowers. “To look over there and see my son, next to me, for my last landing.”
And, naturally, they recreated the 1994 photo, both grinning happily in the 2023 version.
“It was just great to be able to recreate that moment,” says the younger Flowers. “It was a dream come true moment.”
Here’s Captain Ruben Flowers and First Officer Ruben Flowers recreating the 1990s photo in 2023.
Courtesy Southwest Airlines
Family affair
Also on board the older Flowers’ retirement flight was his brother and his cousin, who both work for Southwest too. In case you hadn’t realized by now, flying truly is a family affair for the Flowers.
“There are seven of us,” explains the older Flowers. “Me. My brother’s a pilot. I have three kids, all pilots. And my brother’s son is a pilot and my cousin is a pilot. And it’s just amazing to me that they all wanted to be pilots.”
At family events and on holidays, the Flowers family try to keep work talk to a minimum “but there’s always a story that sparks it off, and then it gets into aviation,” as the younger Flowers puts it.
The Flowers family aviation legacy began when the older Flowers was a kid growing up in Michigan in the 1960s and 70s.
“A pilot one day asked me if I wanted to come up to the cockpit. And I did it,” he recalls. “And oh, my God, it was like the bug bit me – I wanted to be a pilot. And from that point on, I just focused on being an airline pilot.”
Once he qualified, the older Flowers made it his mission to inspire others to follow in his footsteps. The fact that ended up including many of his loved ones was accidental. He says he always encouraged his kids to explore whatever they loved, whatever that might be.
The younger Flowers says that while he grew up in awe of his dad and proud of his work, he didn’t officially decide to become an aviator until midway through college.
Looking back now though, he thinks the signs were always pointing in that direction.
“It was always something that was probably in the back of my head that I probably wanted to do all my life,” he says.
The Flowers men say they worked well together as a father-son pilot team.
Courtesy Southwest Airlines
Working as a team
The older Flowers’ retirement flight was always going to be emotional, and having his son by his side only made it more so. He says it’s not surprising that when they pulled into the gate “some tears came down.”
The younger Flowers says the in-air, father-son working dynamic wasn’t dissimilar from “doing the lawn together, or something of that nature.”
“It just worked out smooth and naturally, and it went great,” he says, although he adds he was definitely trying to “impress” his dad with his skills and competency.
The older Flowers says he was aware the flight was a one-off opportunity for him to pass on flying intel to his son in situ.
“It went really well, it was nice and smooth,” he says of the experience. “And it was an awesome feeling – making a PA to the passengers, and they find out there’s a father and son up there in the cockpit. Everybody clapping…”
Captain Ruben Flowers has now retired from Southwest, but hopes to continue inspiring other aviators
Courtesy Southwest Airlines
Continuing legacy
While the older Flowers has now left Southwest, his legacy lives on at the airline – not only via his son, but via other aviators he worked with and mentored over the years.
Flowers speaks fondly of his own mentor, Louis Freeman, who became Southwest Airlines first Black pilot when he was hired in 1980.
“He was a mentor to me,” says the older Flowers of Freeman. “And now I’m trying to be a mentor to others. And I hope my son can be a mentor to others, not just family members.”
While at Southwest, Flowers was part of the airline’s Adopt-A-Pilot program, working with elementary school kids to inspire them to explore careers in aviation.
He’s also a longtime member of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), where he works to uplift Black aviators.
He encourages prospective pilots to do their research online, look out for programmes, and speak to anyone and everyone they can to get inspiration, information and advice.
The younger Flowers echoes this – he’s actively involved in mentoring young pilots via social media, but he’s also had the occasional in-person conversation with a prospective pilot while transiting through the airport. He says if he can, he’ll always stop and pass on a few words of wisdom between flights.
As for his own personal goals, now that he’s achieved his dream of flying with his father, the younger Flowers next dream is to fly side-by-side with his younger brother, who has just recently completed pilot training.
He’s already had the pleasure of flying with his pilot sister several years ago and says it would be incredible if he could complete the family trifecta.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to, is to be able to fly in the plane with my brother,” he says.
The older Flowers is excited for that day too, and says he’s unendingly proud of his three children.
“It’s unbelievable,” he says. “It’s an awesome feeling to know that my son is flying, and my daughter and my youngest son, all three of them are flyers.”
The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
One of the world’s most prestigious competitions for space photos has today revealed its annual winners—and the overall winner includes an important scientific discovery.
The overall winner Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest was revealed to be an image by French and German amateur astronomers that includes the surprising discovery of a huge plasma arc next to the Andromeda Galaxy. It’s thought to be the remnants of a supernova or a planetary nebula.
Andromeda is the closest giant spiral galaxy to the Milky Way—and headed towards it, though the collision will occur in about four to six billion years.
In “Andromeda, Unexpected” (below)—which was taken by Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty—it’s hard to miss the huge plasma arc, which covers 1.5º of the night sky and is thought to be the largest such structure close to us.
It’s since been named the Strottner-Drechsler-Sainty Object 1 (SDSO-1), according to Sky & Telescope.
“‘This astrophoto is as spectacular as [it is] valuable,” said László Francsics, an astrophotographer and judge of the competition. “It not only presents Andromeda in a new way, but also raises the quality of astrophotography to a higher level.”
Run by Royal Observatory Greenwich supported by Liberty Specialty Marketsand in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the Astronomy Photographer of the Yearcompetition this year had over 4,000 entries from 64 countries.
All the winning and highly commended images will be on display at the National Maritime Museum in London from Saturday, September 16, 2023.
Here are the pick of the winning images:
Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year: The Running Chicken Nebula
Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang,
Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year: ‘The Running Chicken Nebula’
Won by two 14 year old boys from China, Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang, which was described by judge and legendary astrophotographer Yuri Beletsky as a “strikingly beautiful picture.”
Aurorae: Circle of Light
Andreas Ettl
Aurorae: ‘Circle of Light’
This image by Andreas Ettl shows the Northern Lights reflected on Skagsanden beach, Norway.
Stars And Nebulae: The Dark Wolf – Fenrir
James Baguley
Stars And Nebulae: ‘The Dark Wolf – Fenrir’
This image from James Baguley shows a molecular cloud in the form of a wolf.
Our Sun: A Sun Question
Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau
Our Sun: ‘A Sun Question’
This image from Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau captures a huge filament in the shape of a question mark.
Skyscapes: Grand Cosmic Fireworks
Angel An
Skyscapes: ‘Grand Cosmic Fireworks’
Angel An’s winning photograph is of the extremely rare phenomenon of atmospheric luminescence.
Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation: ‘Black Echo’
John White’s Black Echo used audio source material from NASA’s Chandra Sonification Project to visually capture the sound of the black hole at the center of the Perseus Galaxy.
Gone are the days when wedding couples posed passively for photographs; now they create lasting stories
By Rashmi Gopal Rao
Published: Thu 14 Sep 2023, 8:16 PM
Last updated: Thu 14 Sep 2023, 8:24 PM
It is said that the cake gets eaten, the flowers get withered but it is the wedding photos that last forever. Wedding pictures are a perfect way to preserve what are arguably the best moments of one’s life, and its value only increases with time. “Wedding photography is an art that stands as a testament to love; it transcends time. Cherished for generations, it is all about encapsulating emotions and not documenting pictures,” says Shrey Bhagat, founder and creative director, Raabta.
Undoubtedly, one of the most important aspects of a wedding is photography, which is getting bigger and better by the day. A multi-billion-dollar market that is growing exponentially, wedding photography has evolved tremendously over the years. From dramatic locations and dreamy photo sets to stunning imagery and visual storytelling, the trends in wedding photography are eclectic and exciting. Here is a look at some of the latest trends in this special genre of photography.
Creative, candid and collaborative
Gone are the days when wedding photography was a strictly formal affair and it was all about awkward posing and forced smiling before the camera. “Earlier, there was no real connection between a photographer and the couple, but now, couples and the photographer are a team and all decisions with respect to the approach and style of pictures are taken mutually.
It is all about capturing real, candid moments that tell the unique story of the wedding day,” says Himanshu Patel, founder, Epic Stories. Couples are totally involved in the creative process and the photography team spends hours listening to each couple’s story to understand the best way to capture the essence of their wedding. “Some couples even opt for a customised song dedicated to them, and this just adds a whole new dimension to storytelling with wedding photography,” adds Bhagat.
With the help of new technology and changing preferences, wedding photography has become more creative and dynamic. Photographers today are more focussed on capturing nuances, subtle expressions and feelings shared between the couple. While it could be casual interactions or intricate details, it is all about embracing the authentic, and even the imperfect, to capture the true spirit of the occasion. “Couples love how this gives them an output that is up close and personal. The beauty of these frames is that it is full of raw emotions, with an overlapping focus on people,” quips Bhagat. As a result, conventional wedding albums have now transformed into beautiful fairy-tales that encapsulate the narrative of the couples’ journeys.
Latest trends for the Midas touch
Apart from candid images, drone shots have become a rage in recent times. With elaborate décor themes spanning from royal, traditional, tropical, vintage and even boho chic, drone shots are used to capture these details beautifully. Most weddings are all about rituals and elaborate ceremonies, and drone shots lend more gravitas to such pictures.
“Cinematic style photography is the trend these days with a focus on candid videography. We work with the couple from months in advance to craft the complete narrative right from pre-wedding shoots, save-the-date creatives and even short, quick teasers with about 10-20 edited wedding pictures or a short film that is released on the same day for the couple to share on social media,” says Palani A, founder, S.A. Digital Studio, Bengaluru. He adds that editing is as challenging as the actual shooting and that the desaturated editing style is gaining popularity. This technique creates images that are artistically minimalistic with softer tones and an earthy, natural feel.
There are a number of couples adopting the vintage and nostalgic aesthetic in terms of black and white images and even hazy images that have an ethereal quality. Most photographers are using a slower shutter-speed to capture these soulful images. “We are also returning to using film to give photos a classic, old-fashioned feel. These dreamy pictures add an extra touch of magic and is akin to viewing the photo through a soft, gentle filter,” adds Patel. Such pictures often feel like they are carrying a memory right in the photo. “Controlled blurriness adds cinematic emotion and movement, focusing on moments and gestures,” says Jayant Chhabra, founder, Cupcake Productions.
Further, first look images are a huge trend as they capture one of the purest moments of weddings and seize that feeling forever through a perfect photograph. It also captures the emotional reactions of parents when they see their children for the first time in their wedding attire. Capturing bridal room chronicles with elaborate shots of the trousseau, jewellery and the whole journey of her getting ready is in vogue as is capturing your pets with you on your special day.
Tantalising techniques
Other trends include groomsmen shoots, veil shots and the use of GIFs. While bridal veil images exude an enigmatic and timeless appeal, pictures of the groom with his groomsmen having fun allows their personalities to shine through. After all, why should brides have all the fun? “GIFs are likely to be quite popular in the coming days. Imagine capturing a small moment from the wedding and turning it into a moving picture. It is like freezing a happy dance or a cute smile and making it come alive. These GIFs are like mini stories that show the feeling of the moment in a fun way in a jiffy,” says Patel.
Double-exposure photographs, underwater portraits and backlit silhouettes are the other techniques adopted by photographers to incorporate a unique and distinctive vibe. Artistic compositions with the strategic use of reflective surfaces like mirrors helps create exotic, unusual images and so does the use of smoke bombs which creates the perfect ambience for moments like the couple’s first dance. Post wedding shoots are also extremely popular.
Like all things, change is the only constant in the field of wedding photography too. Photographers spend a lot of time researching new styles and technology to stay relevant. “Keeping up with the trends in wedding photography requires a proactive, adaptive and continuous learning approach. Attending meets by photography clubs and other workshops and conferences can help you gain valuable insights. Further, it is imperative to update your camera equipment, lighting gears, lenses and editing software,” concludes Chhabra.
Dramatic cloud formations over a Chilean mountainscape, a crocodile devouring a wildebeest and a polar bear cub prancing over an ice shelf.
These are some of the scenes captured by the winners of All About Photo (AAP) magazine’s nature photography contest, a prestigious awards that celebrates photographers who ‘beautifully capture the essence of nature, highlighting the magnificence of landscapes, wildlife, and flora and fauna’.
It’s the first nature-themed contest organised by AAP, a monthly online magazine that endeavours to educate and inspire in all things photography-related by providing a platform to ‘exceptional’ work from around the world.
Twenty-five photographers from 11 countries worldwide have been presented with awards. The grand prize winner is Thomas Vijayan, an Indian wildlife photographer whose subjects include Bornean orangutans and Vietnam’s critically endangered golden-headed langur monkeys.
A statement from AAP Magazine says: ‘Nature photography is a captivating genre that explores and captures the breathtaking beauty of the natural world.’ It adds that this style of photography ‘not only celebrates the earth’s majesty but also serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of conservation and our responsibility to protect our planet for future generations’.
Scroll down to see MailOnline Travel’s pick of the winners – with images from Vijayan’s gold-medal-winning portfolio at the very bottom…
With a tuft of its hair blowing in the wind, this young lion can be seen staring into the distance in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It was captured by Italian photographer Paolo Ameli, who bags a ‘Merit’ award
This green-hued shot shows the red-eyed tree frog in a jungle in Costa Rica’s La Fortuna region. Photographer Pablo Trilles Farrington – the recipient of a ‘Merit’ award – describes the creature as ‘hypnotic’, noting that its distinctive features are its red eyes and the blue stripe that colours its sides. He notes that though these frogs are typically nocturnal, ‘this photograph was taken during the day when the frog was looking for a better place to rest’
In this breathtaking shot, a caravan of camels moves through a storm near the town of Merzouga, which lies in the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Photographer Olivier Unia, the recipient of a ‘Merit’ award, describes the scene as a ‘gift from nature’
This magnificent image shows a group of gelada monkeys – also known as the bleeding-heart monkey – in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains. Photographer Turgay Uzer, a ‘Merit’ award-winner, says: ‘To protect themselves from leopards, they spend the night on tiny ledges on the impossibly steep cliffs of the mountains and climb back on the plateau at daybreak to graze’
This magical shot of silhouetted gelada monkeys in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains is the work of Turgay Uzer
A young polar bear cub walks with a spring in its step in this captivating photograph by Turgay Uzer, which is titled: ‘I’ve Got Things To Do And People To See.’ It was captured in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago
Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park was the setting for this mesmerising shot, which shows a ‘young leopard checking on its hoisted kill’ – which means the kill was tugged onto a tree to keep it out of reach of other carnivores. It’s the handiwork of Turgay Uzer
A lion in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park is the subject of this beautifully composed picture by ‘Merit’ award-winner Turgay Uzer
This transfixing shot of a night monkey in Panama’s Parque Nacional Soberania was captured by Turgay Uzer. Describing the creature, he says: ‘It weighs less than one kilogram, has some of the biggest eyes in nature and those long pianists’ fingers!’ Uzer adds: ‘Sadly, the [night monkey] is endangered in Panama because of deforestation, capture for the pet trade and poaching’
Turgay Uzer captured this stunning shot of an elephant feeding on the leaves of acacia trees in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park
Though it looks like they’re enemies, the jaguars in this powerful shot are actually mating, photographer Turgay Uzer reveals. He explains: ‘Big cat mating starts with courting, continues with purring and ends with snarls and violence. And can go on like that for days.’ The picture was captured in Brazil’s Parque Estadual Encontro das Aguas
A crocodile feasts on an unfortunate wildebeest in the Mara River in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve in this jarring shot by Turgay Uzer, titled ‘Dinner Time’
This picture of a leopard cub feeding on an impala kill in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park is the work of Turgay Uzer. He says: ‘We could have been the first humans this cub had seen. The mother left after dragging a heavy impala kill into the thicket. It was aware of us and yet kept on feeding’
U.S photographer Jo Fields captured this striking shot of a non-venomous rat snake on a branch. ‘Many people walking by shuddered with fear and kept walking by,’ Fields says, adding that the snake had just come out of hibernation. Fields snaps up a ‘Merit’ award
This stunning shot shows lenticular clouds over Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s Patagonia region. Photographer Carmen Villar, who gets a ‘Merit’ award, remarks: ‘Before the sun came up, the colour of the clouds was simply impressive’
This image was captured by overall winner Thomas Vijayan. It shows an inquisitive-looking golden-headed langur, a critically endangered species of monkey endemic to Vietnam’s Cat Ba Island. There are less than 70 golden-headed langurs remaining, the photographer reveals, adding that the species was almost extinct two decades ago, due to poaching for medicine and hunting for sport. Their average body length is 20 inches (50cm) and then their tails extend another three feet (one metre), he says
Behold another spectacular shot captured by overall winner Vijayan, this time showing an orangutan in Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo
(MENAFN- ForPressRelease) New Delhi 1st September – Sandeep Marwah, the President of Marwah Studios and Chancellor of AAFT University of Media and Arts, graced the occasion by inaugurating the national-level Photography exhibition titled“AURORA – Metamorphosis Of Light” at the Lokayata Art Gallery, located in the vibrant Hauz Khas Village of New Delhi.
Photographs, often described as everlasting memories, were at the forefront of the event. Marwah eloquently expressed,“One picture is equal to a thousand words. Every picture is a reflection of light.” His words resonated with the essence of the art form, highlighting the profound impact of visual storytelling through photography.
The exhibition featured an array of remarkable works by talented artists from varicorners of India. Their pieces of art in photography captivated the audience, each photograph narrating its unique story through the interplay of light and perspective.
Sandeep Marwah emphasized the significance of still photography within AAFT’s curriculum, stating,“We at AAFT give immense importance to Still Photography. I am pleased to inform you that still photography is an integral part of every course we offer at AAFT. Moreover, we offer specialized three-year and two-year degree courses in Photography.” He further expressed his desire to host similar exhibitions at Marwah Studios, situated in the bustling Noida Film City.
Qazi M Raghhhib, an eminent Creative Director, and Mamta Bhat Pandey, an Art Conservator with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, also graced the occasion with their presence and shared their insights into the world of photography.
The exhibition, meticulously curated by Smita of Luna Arts, provided a platform for both emerging and established photographers to showcase their talent and creative vision.“AURORA – Metamorphosis Of Light” stands as a testament to the power of photography as a medium for artistic expression and storytelling.
The event witnessed a convergence of artistic minds, celebrating the transformative potential of light and imagery. It was a session filled with appreciation for the art form that captures moments, emotions, and stories that transcend words.
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More than 600 photographs were submitted, showcasing the stunning variety of wildlife that calls Norfolk home.
Paul Richards’ photograph capturing hares in the snow was chosen as the judges’ overall favourite, with 11-year-old Amelia Jane Balls being named Best Young Photographer for her image of a hare in the spring sunshine.
The judges’ overall favourite photograph, taken by Paul Richards (Image: Paul Richards)
Best Young Photographer, photo taken by Amelia Jane Balls, aged 11 (Image: Amelia Jane Balls)
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The lucky winners each received a pair of binoculars from the competition’s sponsors, worth more than £1,200.
Both winning images and all 10 runners up have been featured in the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s annual calendar, with all proceeds going towards supporting the charity’s conservation work.
The calendar is available to buy from Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor centres at Hickling Broad, Ranworth Broad, Holme Dunes and Cley Marshes for £8.99.
Grey seal pup lounging on the beach at Horsey Gap, photograph by John Boyle (Image: John Boyle)
The competition was judged by: Conservationist and wildlife presenter Jess French; wildlife photographer and cameraman Josh Jaggard; wildlife presenter, conservationist and author Ajay Tegala; and Norfolk photographer Paula Cooper.
Fox cubs, South Norfolk. Photograph by Nick Appleton (Image: Nick Appleton)
Mr Tegala said: “There was such a wealth of fantastic photographs, choosing was a challenge but also an absolute pleasure.
“The winning image captures a unique moment in time, in very wintry weather. As well as admiring the beautiful hares in the snowy landscape, you can really imagine the patience and layers of warm clothing that were required to take the photograph.
“Helping judge really highlighted what a rich and wonderful variety of nature Norfolk has and what a talented group of photographers spend time to respectfully capture it.”
Ajay Tegala, one of the judges of the competition (Image: National Trust)
Small red eyed damselflies, Sculthorpe Moor. Photograph taken by Tim Harris (Image: Tim Harris)
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Paula Cooper added: “I loved the winning image – it was very atmospheric, taken in falling snow and showing the interaction of the hares.
“It stood out from the usual hare shots taken in spring.
“The standard of the entries was great, really celebrating the wildlife we have in Norfolk, making it so difficult to judge.”
Bank vole peeping out from fallen leaves, Neatishead. Photograph by Jon Kelf (Image: Jon Kelf)
![This transfixing shot of a night monkey in Panama's Parque Nacional Soberania was captured by Turgay Uzer. Describing the creature, he says: 'It weighs less than one kilogram, has some of the biggest eyes in nature and those long pianists' fingers!' Uzer adds: 'Sadly, the [night monkey] is endangered in Panama because of deforestation, capture for the pet trade and poaching'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/09/08/09/75204607-12495225-This_transfixing_shot_of_a_night_monkey_in_Panama_s_Parque_Nacio-a-59_1694163427508.jpg)
