{"id":34585,"date":"2023-12-07T08:25:14","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T07:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/66724aa4-ee06-492c-b7aa-f44b3ab56314"},"modified":"2023-12-07T08:35:43","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T07:35:43","slug":"nature-photographer-of-the-year-2023-heavenly-image-of-spectacled-bear-in-andean-mountains-takes-top-spot","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/nature-photographer-of-the-year-2023-heavenly-image-of-spectacled-bear-in-andean-mountains-takes-top-spot\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature Photographer of the Year 2023: \u00a0Heavenly image of spectacled bear\u00a0in Andean Mountains takes top spot"},"content":{"rendered":"

A herd of charging musk ox, a lone pelican in a snow storm and a gorgeous coiled snake all win prizes in this year’s Nature Photographer of the Year. <\/p>

By BBC Wildlife Magazine\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 07 December 2023 at 07:25 AM<\/p>

\n\n

The results of the Nature Photographer of the Year<\/a> 2023 competition, presented by Nature Talks, are in. This year’s winner is Jacquie Matechuk from Canada, with her stunning shot entitled ‘Spectacled Bear’.<\/p>

\u201cThe Spanish moss hanging from this centuries-old fig tree gives an incredible sense of three-dimensionality while the soft light filtering through the colors highlights the profound connection between species and habitat in this image,” said jury chairman Marco Gaiotti.<\/p>

“Finally, the pose of this spectacled bear fits perfectly into the texture of the photograph.\u201d <\/p>

How to photograph the movement and motion of wildlife<\/a><\/li>
How to take great underwater photos of wildlife<\/a><\/li>
How to photograph a spider’s web<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Capturing this incredible image was no small feat, revealed Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 winner Jacquie Matechuk: \u201cSpanning more than 8,000km, the Andean Mountain range occupies more than a quarter of the land surface in Ecuador. Rich in biodiversity, it\u2019s also home to a unique species called the Spectacled Bear. <\/p>
“Until planning this trip, I knew nothing about them. But as a certified bear guide, I was excited to expand my knowledge and understanding of a new species and to compare behavior and their interactions to those of our grizzly, polar, black, and brown bears.<\/p>
“As we drove from Quito to the Andean mountains, through villages and farming communities, the extraordinary conditions and fertility of this land were inescapable. Hours of winding roads and stunning landscapes later, we pulled into a small community where we were greeted by a local farmer\/guide. A gentle-natured man who\u2019s worked tirelessly for decades to observe, learn, and advocate for this endangered species. His family\u2019s hospitality reaching far beyond opening his home, opened a door to a whole new world.<\/p>
“For 11 days at roughly 8,000 feet above sea level, we hiked vertical paths up and down the canyon walls, trekking through creeks, ducking out of torrential downpours, and often clambering through mud to observe these beautiful bears. In their natural habitat and with our guide\u2019s intimate knowledge of each bear, we were quickly accepted by them. We kept a respectful distance to ensure their comfort and it paid off in spades. They would nurse, fall asleep, cuddle, forage, and play, seemingly more oblivious to our presence with each passing encounter.\u00a0<\/p>
“In this image, Tony (a large male spectacled bear), and frequent traveler through these parts had climbed into a century-old fig tree seeking refuge from the midday sun. It was draped in Spanish moss, gently swaying with each breath inhaled and exhaled by the canyon walls. He sauntered effortlessly across a burly branch and sat peacefully against the tree\u2019s trunk. When a gentle rain began to fall across the valley, he stood and turned to look up as though embracing the cool moisture on his speckled face. And for a fleeting moment, the warmth of muted sunlight falls across his face as \u2018He Looks to the Heavens\u2019.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
- Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023 winners: Air guitar kangaroo takes top spot<\/a><\/li>
- Environmental Photographer of the Year 2023 winners: Photograph of insect food experiment takes first prize<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
  Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 winners<\/h2>
  He Looks to the Heavens \u2013 Jacquie Matechuk (Overall Winner)<\/h3>
  He Looks to the Heavens (winner, c2, mammals)\/Credit: Jacquie Matechuk, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  The Charge, David Gibbon<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  The Charge (runner up – c9 – black and white)\/Credit: David Gibbon, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Green Triplets, Johan de Ridder<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Green Triplets (runner up – c11 – lage landen)\/Credit: Johan de Ridder, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Follow the Leader, Torie Hilley<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Follow the Leader (highly commended – c2 – mammals)\/Credit: Torie Hilley, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Iceforms Around Pine Island, Magnus Reneflot<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Iceforms Around Pine Island (highly commended – c5 – landscape)\/Credit: Magnus Reneflot, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Black and Green, Filippo Carugati<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Black and Green (highly commended – c7 – nature art)\/Credit: Filippo Carugati, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Spider in Frame, Minghui Yuan<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Spider in Frame (runner up – c3- other animals)\/Credit: Minghui Yuan, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Volcano Eruption, Litauszki Tibor<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Volcano Eruption (highly commended – c4 – plants and fungi)\/Credit: Litauszki Tibor, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Wolf and Iceberg, Christophe Vasselin<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Wolf and Iceberg (highly commended – c2 – mammals)\/Credit: Christophe Vasselin, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Sunset, Jens Lax<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Sunset (runner up – c5 – landscape)\/Credit: Jens Lax, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Pike, Luc Rooman<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Pike (highly commended – c6 – underwater)\/Credit: Luc Rooman, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Pelican Storm, Alessandro Beconi<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Pelican Storm (highly commended – c10 – animal portraits)\/Credit: Alessandro Beconi, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Invisible Brookesia, Petr Bambousek<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Invisible Brookesia (highly commended – c3 – other animals)\/Credit: Petr Bambousek, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Imaginary Creatures, Gabriele Mannelli<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Imaginary Creatures (highly commended – c4 – plants and fungi)\/Credit: Gabriele Mannelli, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Dancing in the Moonlight, Andrea Michelutti<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Dancing in the Moonlight (highly commended – c6 – underwater)\/Credit: Andrea Michelutti, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Balam, the endangered king of the Mayan jungle, Fernando Constantino Mart\u00ednez Belmar<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Balam, the endangered king of the Mayan jungle (portfolio – c13)\/Credit: Fernando Constantino Mart\u00ednez Belmar<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Heads or Tails, Jodi Frediani<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Heads or Tails (winner – c9 – black and white)\/Credit: Jodi Frediani, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Inferno, Radomir Jakubowski<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  Inferno (highly commended- C5 – landscape)\/Credit: Radomir Jakubowski, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  The Ethereal Mist of the Wicker, Juan Lucas (Pixelecta)<\/h3>
  $\"NPOTY$
  The Ethereal Mist of the Wicker (runner up – c7 – nature art)\/Credit: Juan Lucas (Pixelecta), NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>
  Find out more about the Nature Photographer of the Year<\/a><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 winners<\/h2>

He Looks to the Heavens \u2013 Jacquie Matechuk (Overall Winner)<\/h3>He Looks to the Heavens (winner, c2, mammals)\/Credit: Jacquie Matechuk, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Charge, David Gibbon<\/h3>The Charge (runner up – c9 – black and white)\/Credit: David Gibbon, NPOTY 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>