Outdoor Photography Magazine
Has just announced its Outdoor Photographer of Year 2015 contest category winners, and they are stunning. With two Australian Photographers as finalists.
Seven categories covered the range of outdoor photography, from wildlife to macro work, to underwater shots. The overall winner has yet to be announced, but the lucky photographer will go on an Arctic dog sled expedition led by Fjällräven, the outdoor outfitter.
Steve Watkins, Tracy Hallet, Peter Bridgwood, Pete Webb, Andy Luck, and Andy Parkinson make up the judging panel, all professional photographers themselves, of course. Their experiences range from editing Outdoor Photography magazine itself, to working for the BBC, National Geographic, and the New York Times, among other distinguished venues. These sharp eyes reviewed over 12,000 image submissions for the contest, choosing one each of the following categories.
Category winners took home £200 and a Fjällräven Kaipak, a pack designed for trekking. The Grand Prize winner’s Fjällräven Polar expedition will take them over 170 miles from Signaldalen Norway to Lapland, in April 2016. The winner will be announced Saturday, February 13 at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show.
With over 12,000 images entered and a staggeringly high quality bar being set this year, the seven photographers below all deserve our accolades for coming out on top.
The adult Category Winners now go forward to the selection of the Overall Winner, who will be heading off to the Arctic on the Fjällräven Polar dog sled expedition in spring 2016. The winner will be announced live at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show at London Excel on Saturday 13th February.
Light on the land
Image copyright Ben Wayman 2015Ben Wayman (UK)
Having parked in the car park at Allen Banks, near Haydon Bridge in Northumberland in the north of England, I set off walking south, following the river Allen. My aim was to reach the remains of Staward Peel, a 14th-century monk fortress. The trees lining the river were dripping with dew, drawing me to capture this beautiful sun-soaked morning scene.
Nikon D60 with Nikon 18-55mm lens at 40mm, ISO 100, 1/125sec at f/5.6, ND8 filter
Wildlife Insight
Image Copyright Naomi Stolow 2015Naomi Stolow (UK)
In a camp in South Africa this elephant walked right past my tent – so close I could have touched it. The elephant was munching on leaves and seemed completely unperturbed by my presence. I just sat and watched in amazement at the skilful curling around branches, taking what was needed. Enchanted by this, I decided to grab my camera to capture this trunk in action.
www.naomistolow.com Canon EOS 5D MkIII with EF 300mm lens, ISO 250, 1/1250sec at f/2.8, handheld
Live The Adventure
Image Copyright Greg Whitton 2015Greg Whitton (UK)Two walkers peer into the gloom on Tryfan’s north ridge in Snowdonia, north Wales.
Fuji X-T1 with XF10-24mm lens at 13mm, ISO 200, 1/750sec at f/10, handheld
www.gregwhitton.com
At The Water’s Edge
Image Copyright William Eades 2015William Eades (Australia)
The leading edge of a thunderstorm shot at Tacking Point, Port Macquarie in Australia. This was the most spectacular cloud formation I’ve seen first-hand. Many locals turned out to see the storm, but no one could have anticipated this. It was one of those adrenaline-filled moments where you can’t help but stop and think, this is really happening.
Nikon D600 with Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 lens at 16mm, ISO 200, 1sec at f/22, handheld braced against a railing. facebook.com/Will-Eades-Photography
Small World
Image Copyright Henrik Spranz 2015Henrik Spranz (Austria)
During a macro tour I found this gossamer-winged butterfly, which was ideally placed for a shot in front of the rising sun. The surrounding vegetation was perfect for creating some bokeh, and I tried to include some background interest as well.
Canon EOS 5D MkIII with Canon 135mm f/2 L USM lens, ISO 400, 1/800sec at f/2.2, tripop. www.fotomat.500px.com
Under Exposed
Image Copyright George Karbus 2015George Karbus (Ireland)
After 11 years of freediving in Irish waters I have seen many types of beautiful jellyfish, but the summer last year was exceptionally warm and sunny and the ocean was a different place. There were amazing runs of moon and compass jellyfish. My girlfriend and I were on a freedive session when we discovered these amazing clouds of moon jellyfish. We immediately began swimming among them, enjoying the pulsing as they propelled themselves along.
Nikon D4 with Nikkor 16mm fisheye lens, ISO 1400, 1/500sec at f/11, Subal housing www.georgekarbusphotography.com
Spirit of Travel
Image Copyright Andrea Francolini 2015Andrea Francolini (Australia)
Foundation School in Chalt Pain, Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan.
