Dubai
Nature was the star in reader photographers’ January picture entries.
They captured a celebration of life, from images of a variety of birds in Kerala, India, to those of majestic, but soon depleting, glaciers of Iceland.
While spectacular shots of Nature may seem easy to capture, photographic skill goes a long way in making a scene ‘pop’. US-based photographer Rob Sheppard talked about the experience in the National Wildlife Federation blog.
He wrote: “There are few moments more disappointing for a Nature photographer than coming upon the perfect subject in the perfect setting — and failing to get a sharp photograph. The biggest cause of ‘unsharpness’ is not poor lens quality, but camera movement during exposure. When you can, use a tripod… and when you can’t, hold steady.”
Picture Editor K. P. Devadasan picked the top three winners of January and here, we present the photographs that stood out from the rest.
Editor’s note: Do you want to participate in our monthly Reader Picture Competition? Send us your best photographs, with captions, at readers@gulfnews.com.
FIRST PLACE
Profile:
Abbas Kapadia is a Dubai-based resident, who works as a marketing and sales manager.
He visited Iceland with his son and spent nine days travelling across the country.
Kapadia’s winning photograph is of the aurora borealis or the Northern Lights. He said: “The picture was taken close to midnight in freezing temperatures. My son and I slept in shifts, so that we would not miss the arrival of the Northern Lights. Suddenly, the sky lit up, and for a few seconds, I was left admiring the Creator painting His canvas.”
Reason for winning:
For Picture Editor K. P. Devadasan, the image stood out in the reader photographer’s picture essay on Iceland.
He said: “Technically, it’s quite a difficult picture to take, because of the frigid temperatures and the amount of patience involved. It’s a beautiful picture. The composition is perfect, and to me, it comes across like a watercolour painting.”
SECOND PLACE
Profile:
Manu Reghurajan is a senior engineer, based in Dubai.
On a visit to Masai Mara, Kenya, Reghurajan said he was amazed to see a lion attempt to climb a tree.
“The say lions don’t climb trees. But this is exactly what we were lucky to witness. We waited two hours for the lion to be with its mate, which was already on a branch. The wait was worth it, as we were able to capture the moment of the lion climbing, with the beautiful cloudy sky in the background.”
Reason for winning:
The unusual nature of the shot drew in Picture Editor K. P. Devadasan.
He said: “It’s rare for tourists to spot a leopard or cheetah climbing a tree in Masai Mara, let alone a lion. Luck and timing have helped the reader click a great shot. The composition and framing of the picture is excellent and pulls viewers in immediately.”
THIRD PLACE
Profile:
Arjun Sasi is an area sales manager, based in Dubai.
His winning photograph is from the desert in Maliha, near Sharjah.
He said: ‘During my early morning visit to Fossil Rock, I happened to come across a few motorcyclists. The morning light gives a golden tinge to the beautiful untouched dunes of Maliha. Nature’s game with shadows and light, is obvious in this part of the UAE, and I could not stop myself from capturing this beautiful moment just after sunrise.’
Reason for winning:
According to Picture Editor K. P. Devadasan, the image’s depth of field makes it truly special.
He said: “The form of the dunes, and the play of light and shadow in the image, is what led me to select this picture as a winner. The timing is perfect too, as the reader has clicked just as the motorcyclist entered the scene.”
