Behind the Lens

"Flying Egrets"
Zsolt Kudich (Budapest, Hungary)

Great egret (Ardea alba)
Gemenc Forest, Danube-Drava National Park, Hungary

More than 1,000 great egrets find sanctuary on a dry lake bed temporarily flooded by the Danube’s overflows. This elegant species has dramatically recovered since the late 19th century, when hunters killed the birds for their showy and fashionable breeding feathers. A hunting ban and other protections, such as the preserve at Gemenc, helped. A slow shutter speed and large depth of field captured this dawn spectacle. “The egrets aloft resemble foamy clouds, while those standing on the ground motionless have sharp silhouettes.”

Kudich’s passion is creating images that capture nature’s fragile balance in an artistically powerful way. His work has garnered attention and accolades in many magazines, books, and photography contests. His latest project took him to eight countries to explore a string of reserves along the Danube River—the basin’s last surviving untouched floodplains.

"The World in Our Hands"
Hilary O'Leary (Harare, Zimbabwe)

Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
Location: Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, Zimbabwe

When a black rhino calf was found lost and dehydrated, it was brought in for rehabilitation at Malilangwe reserve. There, anti-poaching scouts are caring for it until it grows older. Illegal hunting of black rhinos for their horns has almost extinguished this African species. O’Leary says, “We can save them, but time is running out and the burden of responsibility is currently carried by few.”

O’Leary, a native of Zimbabwe, rides bikes, adores horses, and revels in the great outdoors. For her, the African bush is the best place to arrive and the hardest to leave. “My camera goes everywhere with me.”

"Snow Monkey"
Jasper Doest (Vlaardingen, Netherlands)

Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)
Location: Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Every year, hordes of tourists eagerly flock to Jigokudani to snap shots of Japanese macaques soaking in hot springs. But these charismatic animals actually do have a life outside nature’s jacuzzi. Wanting to portray a fuller picture, Doest photographed the red-faced monkeys in their wintery mountain habitat. “This image takes me away into the alpine forest, and the eye contact with the monkey increases the empathy for this wonderful species.”

Self-taught photographer Doest wants to give a voice to the wild creatures who share our planet. His work has won acclaim in the UK-based Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

"Nature’s Canvas"
Mark Seabury (Sydney, Australia)

Athel tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla)
Location: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, United Arab Emirates

At sunrise, from a hot air balloon, the undulating dunes of Dubai desert almost come alive with motion—reminding Seabury of ocean waves. “In each case the waves are created through the effects of the wind, and the patterns and textures are highlighted through the play of light.” In this vast sand sea, a single athel tree appears “as a steadfast symbol of life in impossible conditions.”

Seabury became interested in photography during his twenties in his international travels as a surfer. In recent years he has spent many days at sea, aiming his lens at whales from above and below the water.

"Small World"
Beth Watson (Salem, Missouri)

Spinyhead blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) and stony coral (Colpophyllia sp.)
Location: Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

During a dive amid the reefs off the Caribbean island of Bonaire, Watson spotted this pristine and gorgeously patterned stony coral. It was a perfect photographic backdrop for a subject, if she could find one. Soon enough, a spinyhead blenny obliged: “It didn’t take long to find this little guy. He was in a convenient location, burrowed in on top of the coral.”

A photographer and Missouri landlubber, Watson found her true passion when she began scuba diving and took a camera under water. Her calling is to convey the importance of preserving our splendid and fragile ocean ecosystems.

"Shake It Off"
Michael Pachis (Memphis, Tennessee)

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Location: Memphis Zoo, Tennessee

In an epic comeback from near extinction, the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Three rescued eagles, too badly injured to survive in the wild, found a home at the Memphis Zoo. During a visit to the aviary, Pachis noticed one bird hopping around near a small pond. “The eagle dunked his entire head in the water and came up shaking it off like a dog would.”

Pachis’s passion for photographing wildlife is his creative outlet from a 40-year career as a computer technologist. Through his images, he hopes to evoke empathy for animals as fellow inhabitants of our world.

"Pearl"
Yingting Shih (Taoyuan, Taiwan)

Kariba weed (Salvinia molesta)
Location: Taoyuan, Taiwan

Shih was enchanted by this floating fern in a pond pot at an old tea factory in Taoyuan. The plant has a reputation as a highly invasive weed when it escapes into natural streams. But here, Shih saw a treasure within its leaves, where water drops gleamed like pearls in oyster shells. “Water is one of the most critical elements on Earth for survival of all beings, so just like pearls, water is precious and should be appreciated.”

Shih teaches photography as an assistant professor of visual communication design at China University of Technology in Taiwan. He hopes his images encourage viewers to pause and savor the artistry of nature that’s around us everywhere.

"Alberta"
Jenaya Launstein (Pincher Creek, Canada)

Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
Location: Pincher Creek, Canada

In a windblown area of Southern Alberta, Launstein spotted three great horned owls taking shelter at a weathered granary. “While it was exciting, I didn’t like that they were so close to the turbines because of the devastating effect those have on bird populations every year. I guess owls have to learn how to live with them as wind energy continues to expand.”

Since age 10, Launstein has wanted to be a wildlife photographer. In the seven years since then, she has collected numerous awards for her images, including Youth Photographer of the Year in the 2013 Nature’s Best Photography competition.