Nature's Best Photography: Animal Antics

To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Rockhopper Penguins, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands
By Mary Ann McDonald | Web site: Hoothollow.com
McDonald positioned herself on the shore to watch as rockhoppers headed out to sea to collect food for their chicks. As high tide came in, these two adult penguins hopped excitedly along the sand and ran into the crashing waves.
Equipment: Canon EOS 3; 100-400mm lens; 1/250 sec at f/5.6; Kodak Ektachrome 100VS film.

Mary Ann McDonald, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Weddell Seal, Cape Adare, Antarctica
By Daisy Gilardini | Web site: Daisygilardini.com
"I sat in front of this seal for hours, but in the end I got this funny shot of her letting out a huge yawn. To me, it looks like she was laughing at me."
Equipment: Nikon F5; 80-200mm lens; 1/250 sec at f/5.6; Kodachrome 64 film.

Daisy Gilardini, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Juvenile Loggerhead Turtle, Palm Beach, Fla.
By Eric H Cheng | Web site: Echeng.com
While snorkeling, Cheng captured this shot of a juvenile turtle. "By pre-focusing the camera and placing it below the turtle, I was able to record this comical expression as the excited creature repeatedly charged the dome port of my camera housing."
Equipment: Canon EOS D60; 16-35mm lens; 1/160 sec at f/9; Sea & Sea underwater housing; two Ikelite strobes diffused; ISO 100.

Eric Cheng, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
White Pelican, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Denver
By Bob Rozinski | Web site: Dancingpelican.com
This bird is not performing an ecstatic dance or some elaborate courtship ritual -- he is simply preening. This pelican was trying to clean some mud off himself after feeding from the bottom of this shallow water.
Equipment: Canon 1N; 600mm lens; settings unrecorded; Fujichrome Velvia film.

Bob Rozinski, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Brown Bears, Hallow Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska
By Tom Savage
"This cub was constantly running to keep up with its mother as she fished. It tried everything that she did. When she stood up to scout the river for salmon, the little bear stood up too, using his mom for support."
Equipment: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II; 500mm lens; 1/500 sec at f/5.6; ISO 200; tripod.

Tom Savage, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Impala and Oxpecker, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
By Philip Marazzi | Contact Philip Marazzi at: philip.marazzi@gmail.com
"An oxpecker landed on this buck's face, then the bird turned sideways just as I was focusing. It looked as if the impala was winking at me as if to tell me to go ahead and take the picture. I took one shot before the bird flew away."
Equipment: Nikon F4; 600mm lens; shutter speed unrecorded at f/4; Fujichrome Velvia film; beanbag.

Philip Marazzi, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Giraffes, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
By John Conrad | Contact John Conrad at: jconrad@denveronline.net
Conrad had ever witnessed this behavior before after 12 trips to Africa. Named "necking," this behavior is not a sign of affection, but actually a means of determining dominance. Swinging their long necks, they bash the heads and necks of their rivals, sometimes causing severe injuries.
Equipment: Canon EOS 3; 500mm lens; 1/1000 sec at f/5.6; Kodak Elite Chrome 100 film.

John Conrad Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Humpback Whales, Tonga, Pacific Ocean
By Kevin Schafer | Web site: Kevinschafer.com
During winter, humpback females gather in lagoons off Tonga in the South Pacific to give birth. Schafer was hanging motionless in the water trying not to disturb this two-month-old calf and its mother.
Equipment: Nikonos V; 15mm lens; settings unrecorded; Fujichrome Provia film.

Kevin Schafer, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Lion and Giraffe, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
By Gabriela Staebler | Web site: Gabrielastaebler.de
"The lion and giraffe were relatively far apart, but the 600mm lens made them appear much closer together. Using the slowest shutter speed possible, I was able to achieve a small aperture in order to maintain a wide enough depth of field to keep both animals in focus. The resulting image made me smile. 'Look who's coming to dinner' definitely came to mind."
Equipment: Canon EOS 1Ds; 600mm lens; 1/200 sec at f/10; ISO 100; tripod.

Gabriela Staebler, Nature's Best Photography Awards
To see more award-winning images, go to: Nature's Best Photography
Blue-footed Booby, North Seymour, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
By Jean-Louis Monfraix | Web site: Jlmview.com
"Even if the name of this species doesn't make you laugh, this bird's elaborate courtship rituals might. Male behaviors include strutting on one foot, then on the other, in an attempt to lure a prospective mate with his flashy blue webbed feet. In this case, however, the female appeared unimpressed by this male's antics and kept on flying."
Equipment: Canon EOS 20D; 500mm lens; 1/800 sec at f/6.3; ISO 400; tripod.

Jean-Louis Monfraix, Nature's Best Photography Awards

Votes (834)

Must See? 93% 7%

Recent Gallery Comments(17)

Showing: 8 - 17 of 17

I Next 10 >

#17 Ravithiruvor

01:35:06 May 6 2009 Report This

Pixcetera has a new look.. looks good!!!

#16 ExtremeLu2003

03:48:25 Apr 20 2009 Report This

Hello ..whay isnt the water rippled?....If he is infact walking on the water.

#15 Akibono

03:32:45 Apr 20 2009 Report This

The goose and the goslings: Whatever gave you the idea that the wing was painted?

#14 Croxtonfive

03:24:22 Apr 20 2009 Report This

What?? We've been waiting for Jesus to return for almost 2000 years, and he comes back.... as an eagle?

#13 CarrHilary

03:13:14 Apr 20 2009 Report This

I can only get the 'sample' gallery, and I really want to see the animals, not celebs!

#12 Asgamer

01:53:24 Apr 20 2009 Report This

www.pophilarity.com

#11 Chzyrider

00:42:55 Apr 20 2009 Report This

AggSkater1.. while you may see this type of behavior, I would tend to agree that the heads of the baby ducks appear unatural to the lighting of the shot, especially to their bodies. They are all great shots, this one just have been "enhanced" a bit much.

#10 AggSkater1

23:19:53 Apr 19 2009 Report This

The people who are saying the picture of the goose/goslings has been altered have no idea what they're talking about...I see this every year.

#9 Actionfigurine1

21:24:08 Apr 19 2009 Report This

Yes Amazing

#8 Lwmlnew

21:21:03 Apr 19 2009 Report This

Geese actually protect their goslings that way. Obviously , some of you have never been in the wild nor have ever seen such things.More than once I have seen the very thing you say is a paint-in.

Showing: 8 - 17 of 17

I Next 10 >

Post your comment on this gallery

Please remember to keep it clean; inappropriate or SPAM postings may result in removed comments.

Inside AOL

Weblog Galleries

Photo Blogs We Like

Photo Sharing

Photo Organizations

Photojournalism Sites

Pixcetera.com.au: Experience great photo galleries and so much more. Make Pixcetera your window into the world of photography. Pixcetera will bring you the best in photography, spanning photojournalism, fine art, nature -- even outer space. Find great photo galleries that interest you, or use Pixcetera.com.au as your hub for anything related to digital photography -- from viewing great images to managing your own digital photography. Pixcetera.com.au is updated daily, so be sure to check often. Better yet, bookmark the Pixcetera.com.au page.