GOLDEN TURTLE AWARDS
2013 – Landscape & Animal Portrait WINNER
2011 – Landscape WINNER

GOLDEN TURTLE 2013 – LANDSCAPE  WINNER

The Legend of Desolate Love

Parinacota (Flamingo in the local Aymara language) and Pomerape (Puma in Aymara) Volcanos are situated in the middle of the Chilean Alti-Plano on the border with Bolivia. Together, they form the Nevados de Payachata (Two Brothers in Aymara) which lie to the north of Lake Chungará and to the east of the Cotacotani Lagoons. Both mountains are in the Lauca National Park which, together with the National Reserve Las Vicuñas and the Natural Monument Salar de Surire, has been part of the Lauca Biosphere Reserve since 1981.

One of the legends of the Payachatas tells of a prince and a princess from rival tribes who fell deeply in love. However, as their union was unthinkable for the two tribes, they were killed. As revenge for this crime, nature made it rain intensely for many days and nights, producing great floods that washed away the tribes’ villages. In their place were formed Lake Chungará and the Cotacotani Lagoons. In the place the prince and princess were buried, two beautiful volcanoes rose from the ground.

I came to this spot just in time to capture the last light of the day. Two tough miles on very rough volcanic terrain at an elevation of more than 14800 feet (4500 m) above sea level and two miles back in complete darkness. In the end, it was a reasonable price to find a place like that.

GOLDEN TURTLE 2013 – ANIMAL PORTRAIT WINNER.

Morning Bath

Polar bear comes from water onto an ice floe. Spitsbergen coast, Svalbard, Norway. This big hungry male polar bear swam toward us with very clear intentions. So we just backed off our Zodiac, snapping pictures on the way.

GOLDEN TURTLE 2011 – LANDSCAPE  WINNER

The Perfect Storm

Dramatic, constantly changing lighting allowed for several interesting captures. Shooting in 55 mph wind has proved the importance of the “noiseless” high ISO of Nikon D3. At the time it was the newest flagship camera by Nikon.