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“With many pandemic-era journey restrictions within the rearview mirror, we’re out on the planet once more. The successful entries in our twenty third annual picture contest had been captured all around the globe, however they’re related by a standard thread—gratitude. They share an appreciation for all times’s on a regular basis wonders, be they small (the tidiness of a shoeshine station or the shimmer of a fish’s scales) or giant (the fun of a lightning strike or the huge expanse of an evening sky). Journey hones our consciousness of marvel at any scale.” —The Washington Submit
On September 6, 2022, the Washington Submit introduced three prime winners and 10 honorable mentions for his or her twenty third Annual Journey Photograph Contest. Wes Tomer, a seasoned Pure Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund traveler, was amongst these celebrated.
Guided by our Expedition Chief into the wilds of Alaska’s Katmai Nationwide Park, Wes and his spouse Linda, together with only a few different visitors, witnessed a young second shared between three grizzly cubs. Wes picked up his digicam and took this picture, incomes him a second place title and a lifetime of reminiscences.
Photographed with a Sony a7 III digicam physique and Sony FE 100-400mm lens f/5.6 | 1/1000 | 400.00 mm | ISO 1250 © Wes Tomer
I chatted with Wes to study the story behind his award-winning shot. Learn on to see the complete interview!
Tomer: It was truly our first afternoon out after arriving to Katmai, we trekked into Geographic Harbor and had been amazed by the density of bear exercise within the space and immense great thing about the panorama. It was fascinating to observe these huge bears chase the salmon whereas paying little or no consideration to us. Throughout that point, a mom with three cubs arrived stealing the present from all the opposite bears. I began to give attention to their interactions and at one level the mom, whereas fishing, moved a good way away from the three. I then stayed intently centered on the three and that’s the shot I took. The curiosity and apprehension on their faces had been a results of being surrounded by many different bears, engulfed in their very own feeding frenzy. It additionally exhibits that collectively, there’s consolation.
f/6.3 | 1/1000 | 600.00 mm | ISO 2000 © Wes Tomer
Transient: What impressed you to decide on that individual picture over the others you had taken in Alaska?
Tomer: Straightforward reply—Linda. It was her favourite image I took on the journey. I used to be leaning towards an motion shot of a bear fishing or cubs enjoying, however this one does seize many feelings and emotions in a single shot. Plus, who doesn’t love cubs!
f/5.6 | 1/2000 | 256.00 mm | ISO 2000 © Wes Tomer
Transient: Which Pure Habitat Adventures journeys have you ever launched into as a pair? Which journeys are subsequent in your bucket record?
Tomer: To this point we have now been on the Final Churchill Journey and the Alaska Grizzly Encounter: Kodiak to Katmai. Though we didn’t journey with Nat Hab to Uganda to see the mountain gorillas (the timing and itinerary didn’t work for us), we stayed on the identical lodge because the Nat Hab group and trekked with them on the primary day, so it felt like we had been on a Nat Hab journey!
Wes posing in entrance of our Polar Rovers in Churchill.
We’d like to do Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands subsequent. Linda grew up within the UK and had a pen pal within the Falklands whom she misplaced contact with after the warfare. They only reconnected and she or he would love the prospect to fulfill her in particular person. It could additionally permit us so as to add one other continent to the record! Though, we could must journey again to the Arctic for the polar bears or Botswana for an additional safari first. We’d additionally love to do the Land of the Snow Leopard and the Wilds of Borneo journeys!
Transient: How would you describe the Expedition Leaders’ and naturalist guides’ skills to permit for the closest proximity to wildlife to assist lengthen the attain of your lens?
f/5.6 | 1/1250 | 400.00 mm | ISO 5000 © Wes Tomer
Tomer: Drew Hamilton, our polar bear information, and Brad Josephs, our grizzly information, had been completely top-notch. Their data, ardour and look after each the vacationers and wildlife, had been wonderful and added tremendously to our experiences. Then, add of their experience with images; positioning us for one of the best pictures, serving to educate us on one of the best set-up within the varied environments and the way finest to work together with the wildlife, permitting for nearer encounters. What extra may you ask for together with your guides!
Brad Josephs, Linda and Wes aboard our Polar Rover in Churchill.
Transient: In your expertise, which animals require probably the most endurance and planning to {photograph}? How do you place your self and alter your digicam settings to account for various environmental circumstances?
Tomer: Out of Nat Hab’s journeys, I must say the polar bears, as you might be successfully capturing white on white on white (polar bear, snow, and clouds), with various levels of sunshine and visibility. Africa afforded me the posh to place myself higher, however the fast actions, altering panorama, and sheer vastness meant you needed to be ready always and in a position to rapidly alter, particularly to seize a predator encounter.
Certainly one of Wes’ many shut encounters in Katmai!
Transient: How did your expertise with grizzlies differ out of your time with the polar bears? Did you need to alter your images strategies relying on the bears’ habits? Which bears would you want to watch subsequent?
Tomer: I didn’t change a lot between the 2 journeys, though I did have a brand new digicam for the grizzly journey, however comparatively the identical lenses. For the grizzly journey, I introduced completely different gear, akin to a lightweight tripod/mono-pod and rain gear as we knew we might be extra uncovered to the climate. The first factor I discovered between the 2 journeys was to take a second away from the digicam and simply observe these majestic animals of their pure atmosphere. These had been the primary bear journeys we have now made, however we’re one other journey for polar bears or a brand new journey to see the solar bears in Asia!
f/6.3 | 1/640 | 600.00 mm | ISO 1000 © Wes Tomer
Transient: When touring, what digicam gear do you pack? Do you like lightweight, or having all of your necessities with you?
Tomer: It actually relies upon; for safari and the polar bears, we had the posh of additional storage in a automobile, so I basically took every part I had to ensure I may get the shot. Once we did the Nice Migration in Tanzania, I had two Sony cameras arrange so I didn’t must take time altering lenses for various pictures because of the chaotic nature and depth of a river crossing or predator encounter. For the gorillas and grizzly journeys, I selected one digicam physique and minimal gear, permitting for straightforward carrying and fewer fear concerning the threat of injury from environmental components. It let me simply give attention to the shot and offered ample time to sit down again, watch and revel in.
Transient: Which wildlife encounters have left the best affect on you each up to now?
Tomer: For Linda, she has had a lifelong obsession with polar bears, so occurring the Final Churchill Journey was undoubtedly a dream come true. Having the ability to see these majestic animals within the wild was indescribable.
Linda celebrates a polar bear recognizing on Nat Hab’s Churchill journey! © Wes Tomer
For me, I must say the safari journeys in Africa. Whereas each bear journeys had been unbelievable, the variety of every part in Africa is an expertise like no different—from the huge lovely landscapes—to the various cultures of the individuals and the sheer density of animals of their pure habitats. I may sit in our safari automobile from solar as much as solar down, day in and day trip, taking in all that Africa has to supply. The place else may you will have extraordinary shut encounters with the Huge 5!
Wes and Linda photographing grizzlies alongside their fellow Nat Hab & WWF vacationers.
For skilled photographers and picture fanatics alike, Nat Hab & WWF provide a spread of unique images adventures. Take a look at our Photograph Tour itineraries and Photograph Professional Expeditions to study extra!
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