Best Nature Photo of the Year is about Wild Boar at Night Hour

The best picture of Estonian nature photo contest “Looduse Aasta Foto 2016” is “Punkar öötunnil” (“Punk at Night Hour”) by Erik Mandre and the best photo of the category “play of forms in nature” is “Spring abstraction” by Margus Muts. Grand prize of the best “play of forms in nature” was Synology NAS server DS216+, very useful device for all photographers.

The best of Estonian photographers gathered to Estonian National Concert Hall last weekend for gala event, where Estonian best nature photos were presented. Estonian nature photo contest had almost thousand contestants with 7500 pictures, jury selected carefully the best images in 15 categories and Grand Prix – Estonian Nature Photo of the Year and Estonian Nature Photographer of the Year. The highest prize and sculpture “Dancing Wolf” won Erik Mandre with spectacular image “Punk at Night Hour” (below).

“The magic of this picture comes out from situation – wild boar is very concentrated on his environment. He´s totally in his own world,” explained Nature Photographer of the Year 2016 Erik Mandre the success of this image. “I am glad that wild boar as species receives this kind of attention. There are dark clouds over wild boar last years. And this time wild boar is represented in a positive side.”

Best photos were elected by jury leaded by Rein Maran. “Wild boar is one of the smartest animals in our forests, hero of many nature photos over time. And there are hard times for wild boars right now. It may be not very easy to see wild boars here in the future,” says Maran, “I have seen them and filmed them, but I have never seen this kind of photo, what shows wild boar so naturally.”

Best picture of “Looduse Aasta Foto 2016” category “play of forms in nature” wins prize that is very useful to photographers – DS216+ by Synology, one of the supporters of nature photo contest. Winner was Margus Muts, his photo was shot from flying drone over the icy, but a bit melting lake at spring.

“This winter was kind of snowless here in Võrumaa, thick, missing snow in places promised a quick ice melting. And so happened, ice was gone in March,” described Margus Muts the story of making this picture. “But after few nights weather turned cold and lakes covered by ice again. Ice was clean, thick and glassy. I thought how it cold look from above. If my drone started to take off, I saw something I haven´t seen before – what a pattern!”

Scalewireless CEO Ando Urbas handed over Synology main prize, but also second and third prize in the same category from Western Digital.

“I like that Synology prize went to technical photo made by drone,” commented Scalewireless CEO Ando Urbas. “Drone photo characterizes very well todays requirements, what nature photography needs – good technical and computer skills. Synology NAS server is best solution both for beginners and professional photographers to store securely all important photos and files in one place. And there are plenty of additional features to share and show all your pictures.”

970 authors with 7500 works participated this year. As every year, 15 main prizes in 15 different categories elected by proffessional jury of artists and photographers. More than 100 authors received recognition awards from jury. Nature Photo Yearbook 2016 was also introduced with best photos and interviews.

Contest is organized by Looduse Omnibuss, Estonian Nature Society and Eesti Energia. Sponsors of photo contest are Canon, Overall, Fotoluks, Sigma, Kunda Nordic Tsement, Stora Enso, Rademar, Synology, Western Digital, Huawei, Regio and others.

You can find best pictures of Estonian Nature Photo Contest here: http://laf.looduseomnibuss.ee.