Photographic Competition 2008 Winners

GCT's 2008 Photographic Competition Winners

We received nearly 300 entries in our annual GCT photo competition, and there were many fantastic photos of Galapagos wildlife and scenery. The 13 winning images are reproduced in our GCT 2010 calendar which you can purchase via our website or by calling us on 020 7629 5049.

First Place - the "Judges' Winner" - Mark Thomas
In 2008 we were delighted to have a panel of experts to judge our competition for us - their job was to choose the overall Judge's winner, and eleven other winning images to feature in the 2010 Galapagos calendar. The judges were Mark Carwardine, Tui De Roy, Pete Oxford and His Excellency Eduardo Cabezas - Ambassador of Ecuador for the UK. They chose Mark Thomas' stunning photo of a Galapagos Green Turtle being cleaned by Steel Pampanos as the overall winner.

A Galapagos Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassisi) being cleaned by Steel Pampanos - © Mark Thomas

Judges' comments:
Mark Carwardine - "This eye-catching underwater scene captures a lovely moment. It is beautifully composed and the gloriously subtle, pastel tones enhance its overall tranquility."

Tui de Roy - "Action underwater is ten (or maybe one hundred) times harder to capture than above.  Everything moves quickly, while both photographic and diving equipments make rapid response challenging. The photographer captured the sudden graceful flash of schooling steel pampano (my favourite Galapagos fish) zeroing in for a cleaning session on the gracefully hanging turtle like quicksilver - they will rub on its carapace and be gone in a flash."

Pete Oxford - "This is a stunning image of a turtle being cleaned by steel pampanos. I have seen the behaviour very commonly while diving and indeed have taken many images myself, however this is by far the best I have seen. It is very clean, no pampano tails cropped at the edges, good visibility in the water, great framing and of course a really interesting behavioral shot."

Mark's photo will appear as the December image in the 2010 Galapagos calendar. 

 

First Place - The "Public's Winner" - Derek Haslam

The public also voted for their favourite image on our website. Derek Haslam's captivating photo of a Galapagos Green Turtle received the most votes, and thus won the coveted "Public's winner", and features on the cover of the 2010 Galapagos calendar.

A Galapagos Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassisi) at Darwin Island in the north of the Galapagos Archipelago - © Derek Haslam 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January

A Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) supplementing his diet with a few leaves from a salt bush - © Roger Bates

 

 

 

 

 

  

February

Kicker Rock, also called León Dormido, or the Sleeping Lion, is located off the coast of San Cristóbal - © Katy Wright

 

 

 

 

 

March

A Juvenile Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia aureola) perched on a Scutia spine - © Rachel Abbotts

Judge's comments:

Tui de Roy -  "I just loved the composition, simplicity and perfect balance, and the extreme contrast between the sharp symmetry of the Scutia spines and the delicacy of the juvenile yellow warbler."

 

 

April

A Flock of Blue Footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii excisa) in a feeding frenzy © Caroline Pannell

Judge's Comments:

Tui de Roy -  "For me, the perfect photo has to capture and freeze something that came together for only the briefest instant - maybe just the smallest fraction of a second.  The miracle lies in that the photographer preserved that microsecond for posterity.  The rise and fall of this dense array of blue-footed boobies at the height of a coordinated feeding frenzy is the epitome of the ever-changing, vibrancy of life in Galapagos..."

May

Sally Lightfoot Crab (Graspus graspus) feeding in the intertidal zone © Lance Tuckett

Judge's Comments:

Mark Carwardine - "Fabulous light combined with the water lapping at the rock face help to showcase this dazzling and punchy character."

 

 

 

June

Galapagos' gentle giant, the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) appears at Darwin's Arch every year between June and October © Alan Purton

Judge's Comments:

Pete Oxford -  "I really like the eye contact of the whale shark with the diver and the beautiful curvature of shark capturing a wonderful sense of streamlined motion through the water." 

 

July

Male Great Frigatebird in courtship display (Fregata minor ridgwayi) © Martin Partridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

August

Reflection of a Palo Santo-covered hillside in Flamingo Lagoon, Floreana © Chris Deeney

Judge's comments:

Pete Oxford - "Simple geometric shapes such as in this picture create very powerful images. Nice light and very nice framing."

 

 

  

September

A Nazca Booby (Sula dactylatra granti) taking a moments rest © Lucy Harris

Judge's Comments:

Mark Carwardine - "A carefully observed image that works really well. Going in for such tight detail highlights the beautifully  arresting eye against the bird's stark white plumage."

Tui de Roy -  "Everything here is self-contained.  Life is held briefly at a standstill, resting but vigilant, ready to explode into action.  The photographer captured this state if limbo brilliantly.  There is beauty, light, mystery all in a state of suspense."

October

Dew Laden Arrow-leafed Morning Glory (Ipomoea linearifolia) on Genovesa Island © Lucy Harris

 

 

 

 

 

 

November

Marine Iguana © Andy Holding

A Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) basking in the sun at Puerto Egas, Santiago Island © Alan Hickling

Judge's Comments:

Mark Carwardine - "This delightfully sharp and colourful portrait jumps out from the background. The wonderful light shows off the iguana's extraordinary skin in all its textured glory."