Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

The winner of the 2016 Nat Geo photography competition

The photographer had to wait two weeks to capture this sight.

SELECTED FROM THOUSANDS of entries, an underwater photo of sardine predation off the Wild Coast of South Africa was selected as the winning image for the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest.

Sardine Run G. Lecoeur / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year G. Lecoeur / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

The photo, titled ‘Sardine Run’ was captured by Greg Lecoeur of Nice, France. Lecoeur took the photo in June 2015 after waiting two weeks to witness the natural predation on sardines captured in the photo.

The photo captures ‘sardine migration’, an annual hunt where millions of sardines are preyed upon by marine predators such as dolphins, marine birds, sharks, whales, penguins, sailfishes and sea lions.

“The hunt begins with common dolphins that have developed special hunting techniques to create and drive bait balls to the surface,” Lecouer said. “In recent years, probably due to overfishing and climate change, the annual sardine run has become more and more unpredictable.”

Hence the two week wait.

Honourable mentions

Other winners of individual categories and the photographers’ comments on how they captured the image are equally impressive.

Varun Aditya, of Tamil Nadu, India, placed first in the Animal Portraits category for a photo of a snake called ‘Dragging You Deep into the Woods’.

“I shot this at Amboli, Maharashtra, India, on July 24, 2016, during a morning stroll into the blissful rain forest. Ceaseless drizzles dampened the woods for 10 hours a day; the serene gloom kept me guessing if it was night or day.The heavy fog, chilling breeze, and perennial silence could calm roaring spirits.”

And there I saw this beauty. I wondered if I needed more reasons to capture the habitat, for I was blessed to see this at the place I was at. I immediately switched from the macro to the wide-angle lens and composed this frame.

DRAGGING YOU DEEP INTO THE WOODS ! Varun Aditya / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Varun Aditya / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Vadim Balakin, of Sverdlovsk, Russia, placed first in the Environmental Issues category for ‘Life and Death’ – a photo of polar bear remains in Norway.

“These polar bear remains have been discovered at one of the islands of northern Svalbard, Norway.

We do not know whether the bear died from starving or aging, but more likely if we see the good teeth status, it was from starving.

“They say nowadays that such remains are found very often, as global warming and the ice situation influence the polar bear population.”

Vadim-Balakin-NGNP-Environmental1 Vadim Balakin / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Vadim Balakin / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Jacob Kapetein of Gerland, Netherlands, placed first in the Landscape category for a photo of a small beech tree in a river called ‘Struggle of life’.

To restore original natural dynamics in streams many measures are necessary. In the ‘Leuvenumse beek’ a nature organisation tried to increase heterogeneity of the river bottom and water retention by putting dead wood in the stream system.

“In autumn when rainfall is high, pieces of forest get flooded. Once I saw this little beech in the water, trying to survive under these harsh conditions. I returned sometimes to this place to take pictures.

“One evening all the conditions were satisfactory.”

Struggle of life Jacob Kaptein / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Jacob Kaptein / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

As simple as that guys.

Read: The 8 animals with the best comic timing in the world this year

Read: Nat Geo photo competition gives us a glimpse of a strange, alluring world

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
4 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute in_zane_burger
    Favourite in_zane_burger
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:06 PM

    Can I have my money back now

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute padser123
    Favourite padser123
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:33 PM

    It’s like’…..burning your furniture – to keep warm!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 4:52 PM

    Why are PwC saying this instead of IBRC and NAMA?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip
    Favourite Philip
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 5:20 PM

    As property prices start to rise nama , ibrc start to dump property

    Can someone explain why?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dara O'Brien
    Favourite Dara O'Brien
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 5:56 PM

    Dumping loans philip, not property. They’re Dumping the loans as they’re non-performing and want to get them off the balance sheet.

    If they had the patience, they’d put arrangements in place to allow the properties to return to positive equity and then seek a sale, this recouping more of the tax payers money.

    Unfortunately, they’ll sell the loans for a discount and allow the new purchasers to do this and net a tidy profit.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garry Coll
    Favourite Garry Coll
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 5:02 PM

    The article outlines that IBRC (IBROKE would probably be a better name) will offload € 15 billion in loans.
    Yet the linked article tells us that IBROKE have already offloaded 90% of its loanbook, € 19.8 billion out of € 21.7 billion leaving just € 1.9 billion on hand.
    This can only mean, if the previous article is correct, that it is NAMA that is offloading the majority of the loans.
    Why the subterfuge?
    Why make people think that this is some kind of joint enterprise when it is NAMA that is leading the charge?
    Have the shiny suit brigade from the canal something to hide?
    Given their obsession with secrecy it would not surprise me if they have, perhaps selling the loans to some preferred customer with an inside track at a serious discount.
    The way things go it will all be wrapped up before we know anything, plus ça change.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Revolution
    Favourite Irish Revolution
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 2:58 PM

    Who in their right mind would buy this junk?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Padraig McHale
    Favourite Padraig McHale
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:01 PM

    It might only be worth 30% of face value but if you buy it for 20% it’s a good deal. For the buyer anyway.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony
    Favourite Tony
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 3:06 PM

    @ Irish Revolution

    The Banks?

    14
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre McDonnell
    Favourite Deirdre McDonnell
    Report
    Apr 3rd 2014, 2:42 AM

    Hedge funds bought it. They will now sell off all the ghost estates etc at a lower price so people that have houses for sale at the min will eventually have to sell for half or take them off the market.
    Fab house here in drogheda asking price €325. Hilarious. You could now nearly get a house for that on raglan road or ailsbury road!! So that house is realistically worth less than €150 really.
    People and notions ha

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vanessa Doyle
    Favourite Vanessa Doyle
    Report
    Apr 2nd 2014, 7:04 PM

    What about Bank of Scotland selling on my mortgage & others in their Irish portfolio to a company called Tanager Ltd.
    I’m in a tizzy all day because I don’t know what it means for us.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds