Gallery 2020 | photo.vogelwarte.ch

Black Grouse | Levi Fitze Overall winner 2020 Overall Winner Winner

Overall winner 2020 Overall Winner Winner

Black Grouse | Levi Fitze

«Black Grouse can be hard to photograph, because they often live in remote mountain habitats and are sensitive to disturbance. But these challenging conditions were exactly what appealed to me. After having photographed the birds several times using a telephoto lens, I wanted to go for something new. So I tried my luck with remote shutter release and a wide-angle lens: I set up my equipment in the right place the evening before, and my plan actually worked at the very first attempt the next morning.»

Levi Fitze, Switzerland
I’m a sixteen-year-old nature photographer from eastern Switzerland. I recently started training as a photo retailer so I can continue to pursue my passion for photography. My enthusiasm for nature photography developed in the last few years through my involvement with the youth group Natrix. I am particularly fascinated by the Alps, a unique habitat for flora and fauna. On weekends and during the holidays, I spend as much time as possible in the mountains. The stillness that can be found away from the popular tourist routes is remarkable and inspiring. My photo is symbolic of the beauty but also the fragility that makes the Alpine habitat so unique.

www.levifitze.ch

Equipment Sony A7R Mark VI
16–35mm f/2,8
1/100 s, f/22
ISO 320

Red Kite | Saverio Gatto General 2020 1 1st place

General 2020 1 1st place

Red Kite | Saverio Gatto

«To take this picture, I set up my hide near one of the Red Kite’s favourite perches. A field in the distance serves as a calm backdrop, while the foreground is lit up by the last rays of the setting sun.»

Saverio Gatto, Italy
Saverio Gatto is an Italian nature photographer mostly specialised in bird photography. His images come from his deep passion for wildlife; they are an attempt to spread the knowledge of nature and engage people in saving our natural treasures. He has won other major prizes like the first prize at "Bird Photographer of the Year" in the "Best Portrait" category in 2018 and the first prize in the “Man and Nature” category at the International Nature Photography Competition Asferico in 2019.

www.saveriogatto.com

Equipment Canon EOS-1D X
600 mm f/4 + 2×Extender
1/400 s, f/8
ISO 4000

Common Kingfisher | Thomas Hinsche General 2020 2 2nd place

General 2020 2 2nd place

Common Kingfisher | Thomas Hinsche

«The female Kingfisher landed right in front of my camera with prey in her beak and proceeded to throw the fish into the air to position it for swallowing. The small pike slipped from her grip and fell onto the sandy bank below. Although Kingfishers normally snatch their prey from the water, this female picked the fish back up from the bank. There she sat, with a sandy young pike and a piece of wood speared on her beak. A few moments later, she swallowed the “crumbed” pike.»

Thomas Hinsche, Germany
I grew up in a family of ornithologists, receiving guidance from my father and grandfather and learning at a young age to appreciate undisturbed natural habitats. I took up nature photography in 2006. Since then, I have been capturing my experience in pictures, developing my skills and my passion for nature photography while practicing patience, respect and care towards the animals. I see my images as a means to draw people’s attention to the beauty in their surroundings and arouse their curiosity.

www.naturfotografie-hinsche.de

Equipment Canon EOS R
400 mm f/4
1/1000 s, f/5
ISO 2000

Little Ringed Plover | Kevin Prönnecke General 2020 3 3rd place

General 2020 3 3rd place

Little Ringed Plover | Kevin Prönnecke

«The photo was taken in an abandoned gravel pit near Leipzig. I had observed the Little Ringed Plovers for several days, so I was able to choose a suitable location for a hide. I took the picture lying on the ground covered by a camouflage poncho. On this morning, the Little Ringed Plover showed itself in the beautiful light of early day.»

Kevin Prönnecke, Germany
Nature has fascinated me ever since I was a child. To retain my observations and impressions, I bought my first single-lens reflex camera when I was a teenager. A few years later, I got hold of a second-hand Nikon F100 and was gripped by a fever for photography that never left. Nature is still my favourite subject. I am particularly enamoured with landscapes, but I also enjoy photographing native wildlife. Early morning is my favourite time to be outdoors with my camera. In the morning, you can witness fantastic light and moods and watch quietly as the day awakes.

www.proennecke-fotografie.de

Equipment Nikon D800
500mm f/4
+ 1,4×Extender
1/800 s, f/7,1
ISO 400

White Wagtail | Kevin Prönnecke Emotion 2020 1 1st place

Emotion 2020 1 1st place

White Wagtail | Kevin Prönnecke

«The picture was taken at a beach in northwestern Denmark. I actually wanted to take a backlit photograph of the stream flowing into the sea, when suddenly the White Wagtail appeared. I just had time to change the shutter speed on the camera and turn off the mirror lock-up. A moment later, the bird had disappeared out of the frame.»

Kevin Prönnecke, Germany
Nature has fascinated me ever since I was a child. To retain my observations and impressions, I bought my first single-lens reflex camera when I was a teenager. A few years later, I got hold of a second-hand Nikon F100 and was gripped by a fever for photography that never left. Nature is still my favourite subject. I am particularly enamoured with landscapes, but I also enjoy photographing native wildlife. Early morning is my favourite time to be outdoors with my camera. In the morning, you can witness fantastic light and moods and watch quietly as the day awakes.

www.proennecke-fotografie.de

Equipment Nikon D300S
500mm f/4
+ 1,5×Extender
1/500 s, f/8
ISO 400

Black-tailed Godwit | Simone Baumeister Emotion 2020 2 2nd place

Emotion 2020 2 2nd place

Black-tailed Godwit | Simone Baumeister

«It was a cloudless evening, and the sun a red ball in the sky. I noticed a Black-tailed Godwit on a fencepost, going about its evening preening ritual. I adjusted my position so that the Godwit’s head was right in front of the sinking sun, and changed the settings to heavily underexpose the shot. When the Godwit raised its leg to scratch and its delicate toes appeared in the spot of red light, I pressed the shutter.»

Simone Baumeister, Germany
At home in the Münster region (Germany), I live within easy reach of diverse habitats. The things that offer themselves up to be discovered when I roam the woods, meadows, mountains and moors with open eyes are simply beautiful. It is a gift to be able to capture special moments on camera, and I am pleased when my pictures make people more sensitive to the value of nature.

www.naturfoto-baumeister.com

Equipment Canon EOS R
600mm f/4
1/8000 s, f/4
ISO 50

Eurasian Eagle-Owl | Simone Baumeister Emotion 2020 3 3rd place

Emotion 2020 3 3rd place

Eurasian Eagle-Owl | Simone Baumeister

«Photographing an Eagle-owl in front of the moon has been my long-held wish. For two years, I kept trying. Either a tree was in the way, or the owl was in the right place, but the sky was covered in clouds, or the other way round: a perfect moon, but no owl in sight. I was so glad when everything finally fell into place and an Eagle-owl landed on a perch as if sitting on the tip of the crescent moon.»

Simone Baumeister, Germany
At home in the Münster region (Germany), I live within easy reach of diverse habitats. The things that offer themselves up to be discovered when I roam the woods, meadows, mountains and moors with open eyes are simply beautiful. It is a gift to be able to capture special moments on camera, and I am pleased when my pictures make people more sensitive to the value of nature.

www.naturfoto-baumeister.com

Equipment Canon EOS R
600mm f/4
1/20 s, f/4
ISO 1250

White-throated Dipper | Claudio Comi Action 2020 1 1st place

Action 2020 1 1st place

White-throated Dipper | Claudio Comi

«I discovered this White-throated Dipper’s nest site a few years back. I set up my hide and spent almost every morning there for nearly a month until I achieved my dream shot: I wanted the water to be in sharp focus as well as the Dipper flying through the waterfall. That’s how I was able to achieve the abstract effect of water as the environment for the Dipper in action.»

Claudio Comi, Italy

www.smallshed.it

Equipment Canon EOS 5D Mark III
500mm f/4
+ 1,4×Extender
1/5000 s, f/11
ISO 1250

Black Grouse | Markus Varesvuo Action 2020 2 2nd place

Action 2020 2 2nd place

Black Grouse | Markus Varesvuo

«The female Black Grouse took flight, heading directly towards my hide. The bird came within a few metres of my shelter before it started to gain height. What an impressive – and quick – encounter!»

Markus Varesvuo, Finland
Award-winning photographer and author Markus Varesvuo is a professional wildlife photographer specialised in birds of Europe, especially his native north. Based in Helsinki, and part of the year on a small island in the Finnish Archipelago, perfectly located on a bird migration route, Markus enjoys creating captivating pictures of birds, especially in winter conditions.

www.facebook.com/markus.varesvuo

Equipment Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
600 mm f/4
1/800 s, f/4
ISO 6400

Whooper Swan | Marion Vollborn Action 2020 3 3rd place

Action 2020 3 3rd place

Whooper Swan | Marion Vollborn

«During a heavy snowstorm in Japan, I decided to go to a frozen lake, hoping to find Whooper Swans, which liked to gather around an area of open water. Fortunately, scattered groups of birds were not in the water, but on the ice, taking flight one after the other. In this shot, they passed very close to me. I deliberately opted for a long exposure to achieve a blurred effect.»

Marion Vollborn, Germany
As an autodidact, I taught myself everything I know today. By trial and error, in workshops and by reading. Learning by doing is my motto.
Animals are definitely my favourite subject. But most of all, I love to be outdoors in nature. Birds of prey and the big cats have a special fascination for me. I’m not afraid to spend several hours in a hide or a camouflage tent, even when temperatures are far from comfortable.

www.tierundnaturfoto.de>

Equipment Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
70–200mm f/2,8
1/60 s, f/32
ISO 400

Eurasian Dotterel | Antoine Lavorel Youth 2020 1 1st place

Youth 2020 1 1st place

Eurasian Dotterel | Antoine Lavorel

«After a moonlit night I was fortunate enough to discover two Dotterels on a mountain top in the Jura. One bird preened while the other soaked up the first warm rays of the sun, before setting out to hunt for insects.»

Antoine Lavorel, Switzerland
A quiet young man who likes to retreat into the depths of the forest, Antoine considers himself a student of nature. In the small hours of the morning, he disappears into his hide to capture the first rays of light, watch the bullfinches in the guelder rose or befriend the deer. Indifferent to balmy summer days, he prefers the biting cold of winter and the mist in the mountains, where he likes to spend the night. At 17, Antoine shares his passion for the wild with his elder brother Gaël and explores all the facets of photography at the Vevey school of applied arts in Switzerland.

www.espacenature.ch

Equipment Canon EOS 7D Mark II
400mm f/2,3
1/250 s, f/2,8
ISO 1250

Northern Raven | Thomas Ruckli Youth 2020 2 2nd place

Youth 2020 2 2nd place

Northern Raven | Thomas Ruckli

«As I sat in the midst of a Canadian forest, my attention was suddenly drawn to these two Ravens. The pair approached, their flight almost synchronous, one of them holding a twig in its beak. I waited for the right moment, then pressed the shutter. One can imagine the Ravens exchanging an enamoured glance, possibly thinking of this year’s offspring...»

Thomas Ruckli, Switzerland
Because ornithology was the reason I took up photography a few years ago, birds have always played a central role in my pictures. I have since gradually expanded my spectrum, but the focus on animal and nature photography remains. With every photo, I try to tell a story, to draw attention to the beauty of the world – and to increase awareness for the need to protect this unique planet.

www.thomasruckli.ch

Equipment Nikon D500
500 mm f/4
+ 1,5×Extender
1/1000 s, f/4
ISO 280

Eurasian Dotterel | Antoine Lavorel Youth 2020 3 3rd place

Youth 2020 3 3rd place

Eurasian Dotterel | Antoine Lavorel

«Dotterels are known not to be shy around humans. They are popular subjects in bird photography. I spent the entire morning with the Dotterels and was able to observe them and photograph them at close range. Spending time with these tireless migrant birds was an unforgettable experience!»

Antoine Lavorel, Switzerland
A quiet young man who likes to retreat into the depths of the forest, Antoine considers himself a student of nature. In the small hours of the morning, he disappears into his hide to capture the first rays of light, watch the bullfinches in the guelder rose or befriend the deer. Indifferent to balmy summer days, he prefers the biting cold of winter and the mist in the mountains, where he likes to spend the night. At 17, Antoine shares his passion for the wild with his elder brother Gaël and explores all the facets of photography at the Vevey school of applied arts in Switzerland.

www.espacenature.ch

Equipment Canon EOS 7D Mark II
400mm f/2,3
1/2000 s, f/2,8
ISO 640