EUROPEAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2014

Overall Winner: Neil Aldridge (Great Britain)

Gesamtsieger/Winner 2014: Neil Aldridge

Living Rock Art

The overall winner of the European competition run by the Society of German Nature Photographers (GDT - Gesellschaft Deutscher Tierfotografen), is the British photo journalist, author and professional wildlife guide Neil Aldridge with his image "Living Rock Art".
The image shows a pair of galloping blesbok at Bushman's River on South Africa's Kariega game reserve. It is an image that evokes curiosity and gives room for imagination.
Aldridge, who grew up in South Africa, explains: "I used a slow shutter speed to capture the motion and synchronicity of the two antelopes in the fading light.
I studied the art of the Bushmen while growing up in South Africa and, to me, the image resembles the famous, stylised Bushman rock art that adorns the walls of caves in the hills surrounding Kariega."

Neil Aldridge has won numerous international awards; in particular he is famous for his documentaries on environmental issues and endangered species. Raising awareness for nature conservation through his work is his major concern, and he aims to raise funds for conservation projects through sales of books and prints wherever possible.

Patron Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation:

"This image makes us recognize our responsibility to ensure that these kinds of observations in nature will still be possible in the future and that our children are not left with just a vague idea what these animals looked like. It underpins the necessity for cooperation to solve the common problems in nature conservation on an international level. Throughout the world, nature conservation has been successfully implemented within the framework of treaties and agreements of the international community and multi- and bilateral cooperation. But previous success should not mean to cease our efforts."

Category 1: Birds

Category 2: Mammals

Category 3: Other Animals

Category 4: Plants and Fungi

Category 5: Landscapes

Category 6: Under Water

Category 7: Man and Nature

Category 8: Nature’s Studio

We'd like to thank our sponsors:

AC-Foto
Berlebach
Canon
Eltima
König Photobags
Kosmos
Nikon
Saal Digital
Sigma
Sparkasse Lünen
Tecklenborg Verlag