Nature Year Photo 2017 winner named

Looduse Omnibuss announces

Jarek Jõepera. Amazonas in Estonia.

Author Jarek Jõepera described the creation of the photo presented to the competition and bringing home the title of Nature Photographer of the Year as follows: „The only place left untouched by the high water on the Tõramaa wooded meadow was at the foot of the observation tower. As we got out from the tent in early morning the mirror-smooth expanse of water of the evening was buried in thick milky fog. Going with friend Helgor along the water expanse, trees and the caps of submerged hay bales appeared and disappeared. And the silence, you hear all water drops falling into the water, one by one, from the paddle lifted from the water and you think three times before pushing for speed again. When we had enjoyed this enchantment for a couple of hours we found a spot where it was possible to land and let the tripod, clucking, fill with water. The fog had started to move, the trees were mistily soft for a moment, to become quite clear the next “.

The photo was made on August 24th in the Tõramaa wooded meadow in SoomaaNational Park.

On Sunday, April 30th, 2017, the best Estonian nature photographers were named. The main award of the Nature Year Photo 2017, the title of Great Wolf and Wildlife Photographer 2017 was won by Jarek Jõepera with the photo „Estonian Amazonas“, from the Soomaa summer flooding in August last year.

The Nature Year Photo contest took place this year for the 17th time. 852 photo authors took part in the competition with over 6200 works, in addition 90 moving images or videos by 50 authors. The videos or moving nature photos were in the contest as a special category for the first time.

In addition to the main award, 14 Dancing Wolf trophies were awarded.

„This year was extraordinary in that among adults as well as the youth and the children categories double awards were handed out. Among adults Jarek Joepera received two Dancing Wolves, among youths Karl Jakob Toplaan and among children Leana Jete Korb,” Jaan Riis, the organizer of the competition, pointed out as surprises this year.

The most beautiful wildlife photos were assessed by a jury with the following members: Rein Maran (chairman), Arne Ader, Märt Haamer, Heiko Kruusi, Tiit Leito, Tiit Pääsuke, Tõnu Talpsep, Urmas Tartes and Sirje Tooma.

The Nature Photo Year Book 2017 has also been published, containing all the best photos.

Below photos from the concert gala on Sunday in the Estonia Concert Hall, photographer Jaan Künnap.