GCT's 2009 PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
GCT's annual Galapagos Photographic Competition is now accepting entries for 2009. We invite all photographers, whatever your level, to enter your Galapagos images. The winning photos will feature in the Trust's 2011 calendar. The closing date for entries is 31 October 2009. To enter and for further details, please visit GCT's 2009 Photo Competition rules . A voluntary entry fee of £5 per person is encouraged, which will help towards conserving the wildlife and landscapes in Galapagos for the future.
GCT's 2008 PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION WINNERS
We received nearly 300 entries in our annual GCT photo competition, and there were many fantastic photos of Galapagos wildlife and scenery. The standard of photos submitted was higher than ever before. Thank you to everyone who took part, and for your kind donations that will go directly to supporting projects in the Galapagos Islands. The 13 winning images are reproduced in our GCT 2010 calendar which will go on sale in April.
This year, the photos were judged in two ways. For the first time, we were delighted to have a panel of experts to judge our competition for us. The judges were:
Mark Carwardine - zoologist, travel writer, wildlife photographer and keen conservationist Mark has been the Chairman of the judging panel for the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition since 2005;
Tui De Roy - photographer, author, and conservationist who grew up in the Galapagos Islands and has a huge wealth of experience photographing Galapagos wildlife and scenery. Tui has written a number of beautifully illustrated books on the Galapagos;
Peter Oxford - Naturalist, biologist, photographer, conservationist, author and licensed National Park guide.Pete has written two books on the Galapagos and currently lives in Ecuador;
and His Excellency Eduardo Cabezas - Ambassador of Ecuador for the UK. His Excellency is serving his second term as Ambassador of Ecuador for the UK, and has a great interest in the Galapagos.
Although it was a difficult choice with many excellent photos being shortlisted, the Judges' chose Mark Thomas' stunning photo of a Galapagos Green Sea Turtle being cleaned by Steel Pampanos as the overall winner.
During December and January we also ran an online voting poll on our website for the public to choose their favourite image. Derek Haslam won the coveted Public's winner with his captivating photo of a Galapagos Green Sea Turtle at Darwin Island in the north of the Galapagos Archipelago.
THE WINNERS
First Place - the "Judges' Winner" Mark Thomas
A Galapagos Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassisi) being cleaned by Steel Pampanos
Judge's comments
Mark Carwardine: "This eye-catching underwater scene captures a lovely moment. It is beautifully composed and the gloriously subtle, pastel tones enhance its overall tranquility."
Tui De Roy: "Action underwater is ten (or maybe one hundred) times harder to capture than above. Everything moves quickly, while both photographic and diving equipments make rapid response challenging. The photographer captured the sudden graceful flash of schooling steel pampano (my favourite Galapagos fish) zeroing in for a cleaning session on the gracefully hanging turtle like quicksilver - they will rub on its carapace and be gone in a flash."
Pete Oxford: "This is a stunning image of a turtle being cleaned by steel pampanos. I have seen the behaviour very commonly while diving and indeed have taken many images myself, however this is by far the best I have seen. It is very clean, no pampano tails cropped at the edges, good visibility in the water, great framing and of course a really interesting behavioral shot."
Mark's photo will appear as the December image in the GCT 2010 calendar.
First Place - The "Public's Winner" Derek Haslam
A Galapagos Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassisi) at Darwin Island in the north of the Galapagos Archipelago.
Derek's photo got the most votes in the Public Online voting, and will appear on the cover of the GCT 2010 calendar.
January Roger Bates
A Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) supplementing his diet with a few leaves from a salt bush
Roger's photo will appear
as the January image in the GCT 2010 calendar.
February Katy Wright
Kicker Rock, also called León Dormido, or the Sleeping Lion, is located off the coast of San Cristóbal
Katy's photo will appear
as the February image in the GCT 2010 calendar.
March Rachel Abbotts
A Juvenile Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia aureola) perched on a Scutia spine
Judge's comments
Tui De Roy: "I just loved the composition, simplicity and perfect balance, and the extreme contrast between the sharp symmetry of the Scutia spines and the delicacy of the juvenile yellow warbler."
April Caroline Pannell
A Flock of Blue Footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii excisa) in a feeding frenzy
Judge's comments
Tui De Roy: "For me, the perfect photo has to capture and freeze something that came together for only the briefest instant - maybe just the smallest fraction of a second. The miracle lies in that the photographer preserved that microsecond for posterity. The rise and fall of this dense array of blue-footed boobies at the height of a coordinated feeding frenzy is the epitome of the ever-changing, vibrancy of life in Galapagos..."
May Chris Deeney
Reflection of a Palo Santo-covered hillside in Flamingo Lagoon, Floreana
Judge's comments
Pete Oxford: "Simple geometric shapes such as in this picture create very powerful images. Nice light and very nice framing."
June Martin Partridge
Male Great Frigatebird in courtship display (Fregata minor ridgwayi)
Martin's's photo will appear
as the June image in the GCT 2010 calendar.
July Alan Purton
Galapagos' gentle giant, the Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
Judge's comments
Pete Oxford: "I really like the eye contact of the whale shark with the diver and the beautiful curvature of shark capturing a wonderful sense of streamlined motion through the water."
August Lucy Harris
A Nazca Booby (Sula dactylatra granti) taking a moments rest
Judge's comments
Mark Carwardine:"A carefully observed image that works really well. Going in for such tight detail highlights the beautifully arresting eye against the bird's stark white plumage."
Tui de Roy: "Everything here is self-contained. Life is held briefly at a standstill, resting but vigilant, ready to explode into action. The photographer captured this state if limbo brilliantly. There is beauty, light, mystery all in a state of suspense."
September Lance Tuckett
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Sally Lightfoot Crab (Graspus graspus) feeding in the intertidal zone
Judge's comments
Mark Carwardine: "Fabulous light combined with the water lapping at the rock face help to showcase this dazzling and punchy character."
October Lucy Harris
Dew Laden Arrow-leafed Morning Glory (Ipomoea linearifolia) on Genovesa Island
Lucy's's photo will appear
as the October image in the GCT 2010 calendar.
November Andy Holding
A Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) basking in the sun at Puerto Egas, Santiago Island
Judge's comments
Mark Carwardine: "This delightfully sharp and colourful portrait jumps out from the background. The wonderful light shows off the iguana's extraordinary skin in all its textured glory."
The judges also chose eleven other images to be included in our Galapagos Conservation Trust calendar for 2010.
Would you like to enter your Galapagos images in this year's competition? Visit Photographic competition rules to find out how.
Have a look at the winning entries from previous years:
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION RESULTS
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