GDT Topical
International Nature Photography Festival of the GDT 2010
Click here for all information about the festival.
(Aug/25th/10) New criteria for admission as full member
The board of management of the GDT has decided to change the criteria for admission as a full member in this largest European organization for nature photographers. As before every nature photographer whose interest is in this type of photography and who supports the GDT's objectives can join the GDT. This is the so-called sponsor membership. Those with an even greater interest and enthusiasm for nature photography who have already developed their skills and creativity to a certain extent, can avail of the possibility to apply for full membership. For this application the candidate has to submit 20 photographs overall, which document his / her photographic abilities and skills. Up to now this set of photographs had to include a minimum of 10 animal photos. This requirement has now been abandoned. From now on all 20 photographs in the application for full membership can be freely chosen from all areas of nature photography: animals, plants, landscape, nature-related macro photography as well as artistically-abstract nature photography.
This change of rules was discussed at this year's meeting of the members and unanimously supported. In doing so, the GDT has responded to a request by many nature photographers and has come to meet the need of the many members who have committed themselves and their photographic ambition to the cause of nature.
Please also note: We strongly recommend that every applicant should read the recommendations for applications for full membership .
(Jul/01st/10) New "Forum Naturfotografie"
From end of July 2010 the new "Forum Naturfotografie" is available. Click here for more information.
GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2010
| Claudia Müller |
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| "39 Cent" |
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Click here to see all other images of this contest!
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| Michael Lohmann |
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After a three-year term in office a new GDT board has been elected last weekend. With the exception of Stephan Tüngler, who left the team, the "old" board around president Martin Eisenhawer remains in office. Michael Lohmann will replace Stephan Tüngler as vice president. For the next three years members of the board are Martin Eisenhawer (president), Sandra Bartocha (vice president), Michael Lohmann (vice president) Thomas Block (treasurer) and additionally Ariane Müller and Eberhard Giese.
Statement of the GDT Board of Directors concerning doubts of the authenticity of the ENY 2009 overall winning picture
It has been some weeks that doubts concerning the authenticity and “making of” of the winning image of the GDT European Nature Photographer of the Year, ENY, 2009 have been reported to us. It was questioned that the Griffon Vulture on the image “Buitre leonado en la carroña – Griffon Vulture and carrion” had been taken with a wild bird. The rules of the ENY require that any image showing a captive bird are labelled as such, which has not been the case with the image in question. The board of directors of GDT received information by third parties, including information that two more photographers had taken pictures at the same carcass during approximately the same time. We also received information on vulture behaviour. We have evaluated all this information very thoroughly.
The GDT has also given the accused photographer the possibility to defend himself. The photographer supplied us with a statement underlining his point that the bird was not captive. He also mentioned 2 fellow photographers that have been also taking pictures at the same carcass as witnesses. GDT required, received and controlled RAW images of all three photographers.
Today, we come to the conclusion that there is no proof that the bird photographed was held captive. We therefore consider the photographer as not proven guilty and we will not disqualify the winning image. We are, of course, open to all further evidence, be it in favour or against the accusations. We assure everyone that GDT will continue to stand for authentic nature photography.
The Board of Directors
(Mar/03rd/10) Wildlife as Canon sees it
Dear wildlife photographers,
We would like to call your attention to a project of CANON and National Geographic Magazine. This project has been running since the 1980s. Joel Sartore, who is selecting the pictures for the monthly publication, informed the audience about this at the GDT festival.
When participating in this project, you make an important contribution to protect in endangered species, as the selected photos will raise the awareness when published and shown to a worldwide NG readership. Moreover photographers will receive a fee.
Please read the guidelines carefully! National Geographic is currently selecting photos for the 2011 editions of the “Wildlife as Canon sees it” ad campaign. For all information please click here .
Winning image of "Veolia WPY 2009" disqualified
It is official now: after long discussions and taking into account lots of evidence material the organizers of the Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition have disqualified the 2009 overall winning image. The image taken by spanish professional photographer José Luis Rodríguez shows a wolf jumping over a fence. The photographer claims that the wolf is wild whereas all evidence is against it. The official statement can be found here http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/statement.jsp
This must be regarded as one of the biggest scandals in the history of nature photography.
(Jan/19th/10) Manipulated images in nature photography competitions
Jury-members of the competition "European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009" tell about their feelings concerning manipulated images. Read here .
(Nov/14th/09) Donation to preservation of owls
GDT hands over donation by Morten Hilmer
Morten Hilmer, awarded at the competition European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 with the second place in the category mammals donates his prize money received from AC-Foto for a good cause. GDT now hands over this money to the „Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung der Eulen (EGE)“, “Society for the preservation of Owls (EGE)”.
Owls need more protection than the dark of the night. That is the slogan of EGE. EGE is the union of dedicated practitioners and scientists for environmental protection. Their work targets the protection of the 13 European species of owls. EGE is non-party and non-profit. It emanated from the "Aktion zur Wiedereinbürgerung des Uhus" (AzWU), initiative to reintroduce the eagle owl. This initiative takes a large credit for the successful reintroduction of the eagle owl in Germany and other European countries. After the reintroduction of the eagle owl EGE focuses on all endangered European owls.
More information on EGE is available under www.egeeulen.de
European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
| Juan Tébar Carrera (Spain) |
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| "Buitre leonado en la carroña - Griffon Vulture and carrion" |
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Click here to see all images of this contest!
Fitz Pölking Award and Fritz Pölking Junior Award 2009
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| Kevin Schafer (USA) |
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| Fergus Gill (UK) |
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All images of this contest can be found here .
(Oct/26th/09) Exhibition Catalogue to the contest "European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009"
and "Fritz Pölking Award 2009"
All information about the catalogue 2009 you can find here .
International Nature Photography Festival 2009
A review for those who were there. An insight for those who would like to visit us in the future. More ...
We are very pleased to receive as many applications for full membership as we do. But as we assess each application individually and - in the case of a rejection - we give a precise and subtle analysis of each photograph of the application – this is unfortunately not possible to achieve satisfactorily during the meetings of the committee due to time restrictions. Therefore we kindly asked for your patience if feedback on your application takes some time. We will, however, contact you after three months at the latest after receiving your application.
We will continue to assess prints and slides at the committee meetings.
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