Sergey Gorshkov ( Nationality - Russia,
Country of Residence - Russian Federation)
Animal Portraits - Winner
Bear glare
This category – one of the most popular in the competition – invites portraits that capture the character or spirit of an animal and must do so in an original way.
Sergery met the star of his winning picture when he visited the Ozernaya River in southern Kamchatka, East Russia to photograph spawning salmon. So absorbed was he with the masses of fish that he didn’t notice the angry brown bear until he surfaced.
Sergey said: “It was a terrible shock to see this massive face glowering at me from just a metre away.”
Judges’ Chair, Mark Carwardine, said: “This is a highly unusual and effective shot of a well-photographed subject. The water and sky are fundamental parts of the scene, though not overwhelming, and they give the bear a wonderful sense of place. But it's that immediate question on everyone's lips that gives it the edge: how did the photographer do it?”
Brown bears roam mainly in far northern parts of America and Russia. But they used to live as far south as north Africa and Mexico. Excessive killing and habitat loss has made their existence more fragile. They tend to avoid humans, but can become aggressive if defending a cub or carcass.
© Sergery Gorshkov / Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007
Nikon D2X + Nikkor 12–24mm f4 G AF-S DX lens at 12mm; 1/250 sec at f10; ISO 200; Subal housing; two
strobes INON D2000.
Animal Portraits - Winner
Bear glare
This category – one of the most popular in the competition – invites portraits that capture the character or spirit of an animal and must do so in an original way.
Sergery met the star of his winning picture when he visited the Ozernaya River in southern Kamchatka, East Russia to photograph spawning salmon. So absorbed was he with the masses of fish that he didn’t notice the angry brown bear until he surfaced.
Sergey said: “It was a terrible shock to see this massive face glowering at me from just a metre away.”
Judges’ Chair, Mark Carwardine, said: “This is a highly unusual and effective shot of a well-photographed subject. The water and sky are fundamental parts of the scene, though not overwhelming, and they give the bear a wonderful sense of place. But it's that immediate question on everyone's lips that gives it the edge: how did the photographer do it?”
Brown bears roam mainly in far northern parts of America and Russia. But they used to live as far south as north Africa and Mexico. Excessive killing and habitat loss has made their existence more fragile. They tend to avoid humans, but can become aggressive if defending a cub or carcass.
© Sergery Gorshkov / Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007
Nikon D2X + Nikkor 12–24mm f4 G AF-S DX lens at 12mm; 1/250 sec at f10; ISO 200; Subal housing; two
strobes INON D2000.
Images from the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition