Nature's Best Photography: 2009 Award Winners

• Weather Winner: Northern Lights, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
  By Linda Drake (LindaDrake.com)
  As I photographed this northern lights display, I quickly moved so that it looked like the aurora was coming straight out of the tent, like smoke.
  Equipment: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; EF 15mm ƒ/2.8 fisheye lens; 38 sec at ƒ/4.5; ISO 1250; Bogen tripod; Really Right Stuff ballhead.
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  Linda Drake / Nature's Best Photography

• Youth Photographer of the Year 2009: Barred Owl, Everglades National Park, Fla.
  By Alexander Mody (AlexMody.com)
  This owl was in a cypress tree and I took this image just as the bird poised for take-off.
  Equipment: Nikon D300; 500mm ƒ/4 lens; 1/640 sec at ƒ/5.6; ISO 640; Gitzo tripod; Wimberley head.
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  Alexander Mody / Nature's Best Photography

• Oceans Winner: Saltwater Crocodile, Kimbe Bay, West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea
  By Yeang Ch'ng (YChng.com)
  As I came close, this juvenile charged forward and bit the top of my underwater camera housing. This photo was taken right before its jaws closed on my equipment.
  Equipment: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; 16-35mm Mark II lens; focal length 16mm; 1/125 sec at ƒ/13; ISO 100; Inon Z-240 strobes (2); Seacam 1Ds Mark III housing; Seacam Superdome; Seacam 45 degree viewfinder.
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  Yeang Ch'ng / Nature's Best Photography

• Grand Prize Winner 2009: Mountain Gorilla, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
  By John Reiter (JohnReiterPhoto.com)
  The mountain gorilla is one of the world's most critically endangered species with only about 700 individuals remaining. Experts warn that without action, gorillas will become extinct in the wild within the next few decades. The United Nations Environmental Programme has teamed up with other international organizations and named 2009 the Year of the Gorilla in an effort to raise awareness of the critical status of this primate.
  My guide and I had climbed a 10,000-foot-high mountain through thick, bamboo rainforest when we found ourselves within about 20 feet of a family of gorillas and this nearly 500-pound silverback. The United Nations Environment Program has named 2009 the 'Year of the Gorilla' to raise awareness of the critical status of this endangered species. Find out more at www.yog2009.org.
  Equipment: Nikon D2X; 70-200mm ƒ/2.8 lens; 1/500 sec at ƒ/11; ISO 400; Manfrotto tripod.
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  John Reiter / Nature's Best Photography

• Small World Spectaculars Winner: Damselflies, Confederation Park, Calgary, Canada
  By Minghui Chen (MinghuiChenPhotography.com)
  I saw these damselflies and quietly followed the mating couple in flight and waited for them to get tired and land. My persistence paid off when I got this perfect heart-shaped composition.
  Equipment: Nikon D300; 105mm ƒ/2.8 macro lens; 1/500 sec at ƒ/10; ISO 400; hand-held.
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  Minghui Chen / Nature's Best Photography

• Wildlife Winner: Burchell's Zebra and Lion, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
  By John Reiter (JohnReiterPhoto.com)
  On a hot morning in the Mara, a zebra stood alone in a grassy field with a wound visible on its shoulder. As the zebra walked slowly away, it made the mistake of scratching its wound against a bush, triggering the lions into action.
  Equipment: Nikon D2X; 200-400mm ƒ/4 lens; 1/1500 sec at ƒ/4; ISO 250; beanbag.
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  John Reiter / Nature's Best Photography

• Environmental Issues Winner: Polar Bear, Svalbard Islands, Arctic Ocean, Norway
  By Hans Strand (HansStrand.com)
  This image was taken from the railing of an expedition ship. The bear approached to check us out, raised himself upright and started to wave his impressive paw.
  Equipment: Canon EOS-1Ds; 300mm ƒ/2.8 lens; 1.4x teleconverter; 1/1000 sec at ƒ/5.6; ISO 320.
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  Hans Strand / Nature's Best Photography

• Plant Life Winner: Huckleberry and Hemlock, Mt. Baker Wilderness, Wash.
  By Dennis Frates (FratesPhoto.com)
  I was blessed with the season's first snowfall. The place was deserted and I had only a short time to shoot before the snow melted.
  Equipment: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II; 24-70mm ƒ/2.8L lens; focal length 55mm; 1/10 sec at ƒ/18; ISO 100; Gitzo tripod; Really Right Stuff ballhead.
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  Dennis Frates / Nature's Best Photography

• Birds Winner: Atlantic Puffin, Treshnish Isles, Scotland, UK
  By Danny Green (DannyGreenPhotography.com)
  I spent a week on the Treshnish Isles, off the northwest coast of Scotland, photographing puffins. This one was heading straight toward its burrow with dinner to feed its young.
  Equipment: Canon EOS-1D Mark II; 300mm lens; 1/2000 sec at ƒ/4; ISO 400.
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  Danny Green / Nature's Best Photography

• Landscapes Winner: Boulders Beach and Penguins, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa
  By MaryLou Graham (NatureShapesPhoto.com)
  To get the right perspective for this shot, I had to climb and leap between the giant boulders. From my remote vantage point, the world of the African penguins could be observed.
  Equipment: Canon EOS 40D; EF 24-105mm ƒ/4L IS USM lens; 1/320 sec at ƒ/7.1; ISO 200; Induro tripod; Really Right Stuff ballhead.
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  MaryLou Graham / Nature's Best Photography