Members of the Society for Nature Photography have selected the 2020 GDT Nature Photographer of the Year. The 7th annual competition received 5000+ submissions from 307 GDT (German Society of Nature Photography) members across 11 countries. From terrifying crocs to serene landscapes, the images bring Earth’s beauty in all its forms straight to your devices at a time when many of us are forced to stay inside.
For the first time, voting was conducted online instead of a general meeting on account of the pandemic.
70 winners and finalists were selected by judges and members for the following categories: Birds, Mammals, Other Animals, Plants and Fungi, Landscapes, Nature’s Studio, and the Special Category: Water.
A photograph of a hare bathed in glowing warm light won the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year contest for German photographer Peter Lindel.
“This photo, A Hare’s Dream, was taken in July of 2019 when months of searching a suitable location led me to a dirt road, which offered the most beautiful morning light, lovely vegetation, and three hares. Dreamy, curious, careful, anxious. These are the adjectives that I find to describe the expression of ‘my hare’ best.”
Peter Lindel
“A hare’s dream” GNPY 2020, Peter Lindel, GDT. Overall Winner. European hare in the north of Dortmund.
“Glowing fox” GNPY 2020, Mohammad Murad, GDT. 2nd Place, Mammals. Arabian red fox in Kuwait City.
“Yukon Gold Rush” GNPY 2020, Axel Gomeringer, GDT. 5th Place, Landscapes. Tombstone Territorial Park.
"School of mackerel” GNPY 2020, Henry Jager, GDT. 3rd Place, Other Animals. School of mackerel, Cocos Island.
“The White Coastline” GNPY 2020, Stephan Fürnrohr, GDT. 2nd Place, Nature’s Studio. Meltwater lake, Greenland.
“Take Off” GNPY 2020, Flurin Leugger, GDT. Winner, Birds. Coyote panics geese.
“Curious glances” GNPY 2020, Jan Piecha, GDT. 4th Place, Mammals. Raccoons, North Hesse.
“Flooded with light” GNPY 2020, Jan Piecha, GDT. Winner, Nature’s Studio. Blackbird, North Hesse.By eschewing traditional hotspots for wildlife photography, Lindel proves that award-winning photography can be taken anywhere—one just needs to be patient.
For his victory, Lindel will take home a cash prize and an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III 12-40mm kit, which will certainly serve him well on his continued photography adventures.
