Nature's Best Photography: Animal Antics

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  Rockhopper Penguins, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands
  By Mary Ann McDonald | Web site: Hoothollow.com
  McDonald positioned herself on the shore to watch as rockhoppers headed out to sea to collect food for their chicks. As high tide came in, these two adult penguins hopped excitedly along the sand and ran into the crashing waves.
  Equipment: Canon EOS 3; 100-400mm lens; 1/250 sec at f/5.6; Kodak Ektachrome 100VS film.
  
  
  

  Mary Ann McDonald, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Weddell Seal, Cape Adare, Antarctica
  By Daisy Gilardini | Web site: Daisygilardini.com
  "I sat in front of this seal for hours, but in the end I got this funny shot of her letting out a huge yawn. To me, it looks like she was laughing at me."
  Equipment: Nikon F5; 80-200mm lens; 1/250 sec at f/5.6; Kodachrome 64 film.
  
  
  
  

  Daisy Gilardini, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Juvenile Loggerhead Turtle, Palm Beach, Fla.
  By Eric H Cheng | Web site: Echeng.com
  While snorkeling, Cheng captured this shot of a juvenile turtle. "By pre-focusing the camera and placing it below the turtle, I was able to record this comical expression as the excited creature repeatedly charged the dome port of my camera housing."
  Equipment: Canon EOS D60; 16-35mm lens; 1/160 sec at f/9; Sea & Sea underwater housing; two Ikelite strobes diffused; ISO 100.
  
  
  

  Eric Cheng, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  White Pelican, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Denver
  By Bob Rozinski | Web site: Dancingpelican.com
  This bird is not performing an ecstatic dance or some elaborate courtship ritual -- he is simply preening. This pelican was trying to clean some mud off himself after feeding from the bottom of this shallow water.
  Equipment: Canon 1N; 600mm lens; settings unrecorded; Fujichrome Velvia film.
  
  
  

  Bob Rozinski, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Brown Bears, Hallow Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska
  By Tom Savage
  "This cub was constantly running to keep up with its mother as she fished. It tried everything that she did. When she stood up to scout the river for salmon, the little bear stood up too, using his mom for support."
  Equipment: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II; 500mm lens; 1/500 sec at f/5.6; ISO 200; tripod.
  
  
  

  Tom Savage, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Impala and Oxpecker, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
  By Philip Marazzi | Contact Philip Marazzi at: philip.marazzi@gmail.com
  "An oxpecker landed on this buck's face, then the bird turned sideways just as I was focusing. It looked as if the impala was winking at me as if to tell me to go ahead and take the picture. I took one shot before the bird flew away."
  Equipment: Nikon F4; 600mm lens; shutter speed unrecorded at f/4; Fujichrome Velvia film; beanbag.
  
  
  
  

  Philip Marazzi, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Giraffes, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
  By John Conrad | Contact John Conrad at: jconrad@denveronline.net
  Conrad had ever witnessed this behavior before after 12 trips to Africa. Named "necking," this behavior is not a sign of affection, but actually a means of determining dominance. Swinging their long necks, they bash the heads and necks of their rivals, sometimes causing severe injuries.
  Equipment: Canon EOS 3; 500mm lens; 1/1000 sec at f/5.6; Kodak Elite Chrome 100 film.
  
  
  

  John Conrad Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Humpback Whales, Tonga, Pacific Ocean
  By Kevin Schafer | Web site: Kevinschafer.com
  During winter, humpback females gather in lagoons off Tonga in the South Pacific to give birth. Schafer was hanging motionless in the water trying not to disturb this two-month-old calf and its mother.
  Equipment: Nikonos V; 15mm lens; settings unrecorded; Fujichrome Provia film.
  
  
  

  Kevin Schafer, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Lion and Giraffe, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
  By Gabriela Staebler | Web site: Gabrielastaebler.de
  "The lion and giraffe were relatively far apart, but the 600mm lens made them appear much closer together. Using the slowest shutter speed possible, I was able to achieve a small aperture in order to maintain a wide enough depth of field to keep both animals in focus. The resulting image made me smile. 'Look who's coming to dinner' definitely came to mind."
  Equipment: Canon EOS 1Ds; 600mm lens; 1/200 sec at f/10; ISO 100; tripod.
  
  
  
  

  Gabriela Staebler, Nature's Best Photography Awards

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  Blue-footed Booby, North Seymour, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
  By Jean-Louis Monfraix | Web site: Jlmview.com
  "Even if the name of this species doesn't make you laugh, this bird's elaborate courtship rituals might. Male behaviors include strutting on one foot, then on the other, in an attempt to lure a prospective mate with his flashy blue webbed feet. In this case, however, the female appeared unimpressed by this male's antics and kept on flying."
  Equipment: Canon EOS 20D; 500mm lens; 1/800 sec at f/6.3; ISO 400; tripod.
  
  
  

  Jean-Louis Monfraix, Nature's Best Photography Awards