Big Animal Photographer Amos Nachoum received the Annual Grand Prize World Nature Photography Awards (WNPAs) for his famous photograph of a gentoo penguin in front of the jaws of a leopard seal. The image titled “Facing Reality” won the Gold award in the “Behavior – Mammal” category of the competition. There are some other amazing underwater pictures among great winner.
Here’s what Amos has to say about the photo: “For hours, I waited for low tide along a shallow lagoon on a remote island off the Antarctic peninsula. Like the hands of a clock, leopards arrive in the lagoon just before low tide. It ducks its head into the water and looks like a rock in a receding stream. Young gentoo penguins only dare to enter the water when it dries up, and when it gets close enough to the seal, it turns its head at lightning speed, grabs one of the penguins by foot and sends it into the deep water. . When the seal reached the open water, I followed it and swam alongside it, observing its actions. To my surprise, it released the penguin twice. Each time, the seal chased after the penguin, as if it were enjoying the game. The scared penguin tries to run away as the game continues. But soon, the end came.”
Entries for this year’s edition of the competition are currently open. Check out our 2015 Interview with Amos and read about how he manages swim polar bear photography.
Silver, Behavior – Amphibian and Reptile
Bronze, Natural Art
Copper, People and Nature
Silver, Animals in their habitat
Dong, Nature Photojournalism
