Photography

Vote for the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award

By in Photography

Vote for the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award

The season of looking back at the best-of events and moments of the year has arrived. Editorial boards and experts in specific fields usually compile these lists for us, leaving only the chance to debate their merits.

But ordinary people have the chance to vote in one of the most prestigious annual photography contests: the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award. This honor, sponsored by the National History Museum in London, gives the general public a rare look at our planet through the lens of some of the best photographers in the world.

Twenty-five photos made the final cut for the Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award from nearly 50,000 entries from 95 countries, according to the National History Museum in London.

“Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s People’s Choice Award always offers an astounding selection of images, and this year is no different,” Douglas Gurr, Director of the National History Museum, said in the contest’s press announcement. “We invite the public to join the jury and vote for their favorite; whether breathtaking beauty or a powerful story, it’s sure to be a difficult decision!”

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year initiative aims to provide the world an inside look at “a planet under pressure.” By using photography, people get rare views of how our planet and its natural inhabitants are impacted by our actions and scientifically documented ecosystem changes.

The People’s Choice Award is an extension of the museum’s larger Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which has already awarded its two major prizes:

First, Laurent Ballesta won the Grand Prize (his second win in three years) for his photograph “The Golden Horseshoe.” Contest judges announced Ballesta’s win and shared the incredible photograph on the Natural History Museum’s social media on Nov. 27.

Seventeen-year-old Carmel Bechler won the museum’s Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand Prize with his “Owls’ Road House” image. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum’s official Facebook page showcased Bechler’s photo and Ballesta’s winning image.

This year’s 25 finalists for the people’s choice award feature everything from an up-close view of many different animals, including a polar bear napping on an iceberg, a group of socializing penguins, a red fox cub “negotiating” with a tiny shrew after a rough play moment and a pair of luminescent moon jellyfish aglow beneath the Aurora Borealis.

Look through all 25 finalists on the contest’s official website and vote for your favorite before Jan. 31, 2024. The winner and honorable mentions will be announced on Feb. 7, 2024.

Vote for the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award originally appeared on Simplemost.com, helping make the most out of life.

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Work of FL Photography Guild to be featured

By in Photography

Work of FL Photography Guild to be featured
image

CANANDAIGUA — From Dec. 3 through Jan. 12, Finger Lakes Photography Guild members’ work will be featured at Wood Library, 134 N. Main St.

The display is free and open to the public. Photographs are professionally framed, and most are available for purchase.

Heron Hill Winery will offer free wine samples during an opening reception from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 7.

Guild member George Wallace took his first photos with a Kodak box camera when he was 9. Today, he embraces digital photography and focuses on landscapes. He loves walking along trails and capturing the emotion he feels in a scene but said he rarely knows if he’s been successful until he sees the images at home on his computer.

Former Guild president Diane Dersch says after she retired from music education 11 years ago, she “picked up a camera and never looked back. I’ve attended numerous photography workshops and classes out west and in England. I’ve also been the chief photographer for numerous mission trips to Africa.”

Longtime Guild member Keith Kappel enjoys delving into the past with his camera.

“I’m always looking for antiques, old vehicles, and historic barns,” he said. “They’re a gold mine for photographers, and I’m rarely disappointed with the images I capture at such places. I’m also sensitive to the lighting and composition of images, as you can see in ‘Hex Barn.’ Some scenes are just too pleasant to pass up.”

Photographer Paul Yarnall began shooting with a childhood Christmas gift: a Kodak Brownie.

“I started getting serious with the advent of digital photography,” he said. “We live in a golden age of freely accessible knowledge, and YouTube is a remarkable resource for continued learning. Photographers today are lifelong students of that art form.”

The Finger Lakes Photography Guild members meet monthly to share their work, improve their skills, and share tips and tricks to make them better photographers. Twenty-seven professional and amateur photographers from various walks of life are Guild members, and many are recognized routinely in contests, magazines, and juried shows.

To learn more about the Finger Lakes Photography Guild, search for the Guild on Facebook, visit www.fingerlakespbotographyguild.org, or contact Joy Underhill at 585-794-0001 or joywbj@gmail.com.

Unseen photographs shine a new light on ’90s icon Winona Ryder

By in Photography

Unseen photographs shine a new light on ’90s icon Winona Ryder

Leah Dolan, CNN
November 30, 2023 at 7:32 AM

In the 1980s and ’90s, Winona Ryder was a dark-haired waif against a sea of preppy blondes. Pale, brooding and enigmatic, Ryder cut her teeth starring in alternative, macabre films like “Beetlejuice” (1988), “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992), “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) and “Girl, Interrupted” (1999).

Her grungy, gamine look made her a convincing on-screen outsider, but it was this singularity that captivated so many. Three decades on, the starlet’s off-beat allure has hardly waned. In fact, it might have grown.

Many of the photos were taken in Rich's office at fashion designer Marc Jacobs' Manhattan headquarters, a hangout spot for famous friends of the brand. - Robert RichMany of the photos were taken in Rich's office at fashion designer Marc Jacobs' Manhattan headquarters, a hangout spot for famous friends of the brand. - Robert Rich
Many of the photos were taken in Rich’s office at fashion designer Marc Jacobs’ Manhattan headquarters, a hangout spot for famous friends of the brand. – Robert Rich

Now, a new photography book by Robert Rich, former Vice President of public relations for fashion designer Marc Jacobs’ eponymous label, reveals a softer, more intimate side to the ’90s icon. “I will always be her Shnookie and she will always be my Shnookums,” Rich write in the introduction to “Winona,” a nod to the pair’s 20-year-long friendship and the intimacy of the images.

There’s a recurring backdrop in the many of the polaroid snaps: the crowded collage wall of Rich’s basement office at fashion designer Marc Jacobs’ headquarters on Mercer Street in Manhattan. Ryder is there again and again — in a purple plunging evening gown, in messy braids and a dance school tank top or in a pair of overalls and a woven sun hat.

Cameos by stars ranging Grace Jones to Kate Moss are strikingly human. They are pictured kissing Ryder on the cheek, or with arms flung around one another in a tight embrace. The office was their off-duty clubhouse, says Rich, who documented his friendship with Ryder consistently.

The book also offers a glimpse of Rich's close friendship with Ryder. - Robert RichThe book also offers a glimpse of Rich's close friendship with Ryder. - Robert Rich
The book also offers a glimpse of Rich’s close friendship with Ryder. – Robert Rich

“I’ve always been a fan,” he told CNN in a video interview. “And I had just seen “Girl, Interrupted” when she came (into the Marc Jacobs store). That’s how we became friends. I just went up to her and started talking about it.”

As the decades went on, Polaroids made way for front-facing camera phones. The images in the book span across years and mediums, from selfies taken by Ryder and Rich to paparazzi shots of the pair walking through SoHo.

“I didn’t want to be in the book,” said Rich. “But Francesca Sorrenti (esteemed fashion photographer and creative director of the project) looked at the pictures with a fresh eye and said ‘There are a lot of books on people — let’s show the relationship.’”

There are no captions or timestamps for any of the images featured in “Winona,” mainly because Rich, by his own admission, failed to make detailed notes.

“I wish I had dated them,” he lamented. “But I would just take the Polaroids, put them in my back pocket and let them develop that way. I wasn’t sitting down (categorizing them). I just put them in shoe boxes under my desk, or hung them on the wall if there was a good one. It was very spontaneous.”

“Winona” is published by IDEA Books. - Robert Rich“Winona” is published by IDEA Books. - Robert Rich
“Winona” is published by IDEA Books. – Robert Rich

Her mark on pop culture was indelible — literally. Johnny Depp dedicated an infamous tattoo reading “Winona, Forever” to her during their whirlwind four-year relationship, a phrase that was quickly co-opted by fans around the world.

In 2016 Ryder returned to the acting world as Joyce Byers in the Netflix Sci-Fi drama “Stranger Things” and reprised her role as queen of 1980s gothicism. Now, she’s due to appear in a sequel of the career-making movie “Beetlejuice.” How does Rich feel about witnessing a Ryder revival? “I don’t think she ever disappeared. Not really.”

“Winona” is published by IDEA Books and available to purchase from November 30, 2023.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

Unseen Polaroids shine a new light on ’90s icon Winona Ryder

By in Photography

Unseen Polaroids shine a new light on ’90s icon Winona Ryder


CNN
 — 

In the 1980s and ’90s, Winona Ryder was a dark-haired waif against a sea of preppy blondes. Pale, brooding and enigmatic, Ryder cut her teeth starring in alternative, macabre films like “Beetlejuice” (1988), “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992), “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) and “Girl, Interrupted” (1999).

Her grungy, gamine look made her a convincing on-screen outsider, but it was this singularity that captivated so many. Three decades on, the starlet’s off-beat allure has hardly waned. In fact, it might have grown.

Many of the photos were taken in Rich's office at fashion designer Marc Jacobs' Manhattan headquarters, a hangout spot for famous friends of the brand.

Now, a new photography book by Robert Rich, former Vice President of public relations for fashion designer Marc Jacobs’ eponymous label, reveals a softer, more intimate side to the ’90s icon. “I will always be her Shnookie and she will always be my Shnookums,” Rich write in the introduction to “Winona,” a nod to the pair’s 20-year-long friendship and the intimacy of the images.

There’s a recurring backdrop in the many of the polaroid snaps: the crowded collage wall of Rich’s basement office at fashion designer Marc Jacobs’ headquarters on Mercer Street in Manhattan. Ryder is there again and again — in a purple plunging evening gown, in messy braids and a dance school tank top or in a pair of overalls and a woven sun hat.

Cameos by stars ranging Grace Jones to Kate Moss are strikingly human. They are pictured kissing Ryder on the cheek, or with arms flung around one another in a tight embrace. The office was their off-duty clubhouse, says Rich, who documented his friendship with Ryder consistently.

The book also offers a glimpse of Rich's close friendship with Ryder.

“I’ve always been a fan,” he told CNN in a video interview. “And I had just seen “Girl, Interrupted” when she came (into the Marc Jacobs store). That’s how we became friends. I just went up to her and started talking about it.”

As the decades went on, Polaroids made way for front-facing camera phones. The images in the book span across years and mediums, from selfies taken by Ryder and Rich to paparazzi shots of the pair walking through SoHo.

“I didn’t want to be in the book,” said Rich. “But Francesca Sorrenti (esteemed fashion photographer and creative director of the project) looked at the pictures with a fresh eye and said ‘There are a lot of books on people — let’s show the relationship.’”

Unseen photographs shine a new light on 90s icon Winona Ryder

There are no captions or timestamps for any of the images featured in “Winona,” mainly because Rich, by his own admission, failed to make detailed notes.

“I wish I had dated them,” he lamented. “But I would just take the Polaroids, put them in my back pocket and let them develop that way. I wasn’t sitting down (categorizing them). I just put them in shoe boxes under my desk, or hung them on the wall if there was a good one. It was very spontaneous.”

“Winona” is published by IDEA Books.

Her mark on pop culture was indelible — literally. Johnny Depp dedicated an infamous tattoo reading “Winona, Forever” to her during their whirlwind four-year relationship, a phrase that was quickly co-opted by fans around the world.

In 2016 Ryder returned to the acting world as Joyce Byers in the Netflix Sci-Fi drama “Stranger Things” and reprised her role as queen of 1980s gothicism. Now, she’s due to appear in a sequel of the career-making movie “Beetlejuice.” How does Rich feel about witnessing a Ryder revival? “I don’t think she ever disappeared. Not really.”

“Winona” is published by IDEA Books and available to purchase from November 30, 2023.

Deane center offers look of food, beverage photography

By in Photography

Deane center offers look of food, beverage photography

“Food and Beverage Photography,” the Grand Canyon Photography Club’s December display on The Gallery Wall at the Deane Center, features images taken by Mia Lisa Anderson.

It’s free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2 and Mondays through Saturdays, Dec. 4-9, 11-16 and 18-23 and Tuesdays through Saturdays, Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 2-6.

The Gallery Wall is located just off the Deane Center’s main lobby at 104 Main St., Wellsboro. Anderson’s photographs range in size from 12 by 18 inches to 16 by 24 inches.

Anderson, a photographer since the 1980s, enjoys photographing and displaying scenes of downtown Wellsboro and still life because it gives her total control over the composition, lighting and background. This is the first time she has exhibited her food and beverage images.

“In 2016, I set a goal to learn food and beverage photography. I began watching video tutorials and studying food and drink images in magazines and books,” Anderson said. “My first images utilized natural light from a window, but I soon realized I needed to learn to use off-camera flash to achieve the results I wanted so I purchased an inexpensive speedlight.”

Initially, Anderson created the props and accessories for her shots, including scrims, bounce cards and a stripbox. Now, seven years later, she has a room at home dedicated to her photography and more professional light stands, softboxes, and backdrops.

“I tend to prefer dark and moody images so many of my works feature dark backgrounds. I’ve also gravitated to mostly beverage photography since I’m not a very good cook or baker,” said Anderson. “One of my favorite projects during this time has been my annual snowflake cookie photo. I have a friend who bakes beautiful and delicious snowflake cookies. Each holiday season I try to come up with a new way to photograph her cookies.”

Anderson is a Wellsboro native and charter member of the Grand Canyon Photography Club. The club will meetTuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center at 134 Main Street in Wellsboro.

For more information, call 570-724-6220.

Photography Exhibit opens in December in Grass Valley

By in Photography

Photography Exhibit opens in December in Grass Valley
image

A stunning exhibition of winter landscapes and wildlife photography by Nevada City photographer, Janice Rosner showcases the raw beauty of the season. This display of 30 photos, titled “Chill and Thrill: Wildlife and Landscapes in Winter’s Grasp” opens on December 4 at the Edward Jones gallery on Brunswick Rd in Grass Valley and runs through the end of February. The opening reception will be on Thursday, December 7 from 4:00 — 6:00 p.m.

An international traveler, Rosner’s photos include the serene beauty of frozen Norwegian mountain ranges at sunrise; Japanese cranes dancing in the snow and enchanting penguins from the Falkland Islands. Breathtaking bald eagles in flight; frost-kissed bison; and swans in the mist from Alaska and Yellowstone are also featured.

Epson’s Newest SureLab Professional Minilab Printer Designed to Help Photography and Event Businesses Grow is Now Available

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Epson’s Newest SureLab Professional Minilab Printer Designed to Help Photography and Event Businesses Grow is Now Available

SureLab D1070DE Brings Double-Sided Printing on Photo Media for Use in Creating Photo Books, Promotional Inserts, Invitations, and More

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Epson SureLab® D1070DE Minilab Photo Printer designed to help businesses expand offerings with automated double-sided printing is now available. Engineered for outstanding image quality and reliability the SureLab D1070DE is ideal for on-site printing at fulfillment labs, photo studios, retail operations, and entertainment venues looking to increase profits quickly.


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Designed to help businesses expand offerings with efficient double-sided printing on photo sheet media, the SureLab D1070DE professional minilab printer offers outstanding image quality, reliability and speed, ideal for fulfillment labs, photo studios, retail operations and entertainment venues.
Designed to help businesses expand offerings with efficient double-sided printing on photo sheet media, the SureLab D1070DE professional minilab printer offers outstanding image quality, reliability and speed, ideal for fulfillment labs, photo studios, retail operations and entertainment venues.

 “Pictures and graphics have become synonymous with big events, memories and milestone achievements,” said Aaron Brill, associate product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, “The SureLab D1070DE supports a variety of businesses, including on-site photographers, photography labs and graphic artists with fast, outstanding single and double-sided photo applications for creating tangible mementos.”

The SureLab D1070DE offers low cost of ownership and high productivity that is designed to help print businesses grow their bottom line. Additional features include:

  • Outstanding photographic quality – Delivers high-quality prints using Epson’s MicroPiezo® AMC™ printhead and AccuPhoto™ image processing technology, with 6-color UltraChrome® D6r-S dye-based ink for vibrant water-, smudge- and fade-resistant prints1
  • High-capacity ink packs – UltraChrome D6r-S high-capacity 250 mL ink packs deliver wide color gamut; Cartridge-Free Printing can help reduce waste compared to traditional cartridge systems
  • Easy to operate – New front-facing 1.44-inch LCD panel simplifies print tasks and operation; features new nozzle detection and alignment technology for less downtime and more reliable operation
  • Improved connectivity and simplified software – Easily connect over Wi-Fi®, Ethernet or USB using redesigned printer driver for Windows® and Mac®
  • Small footprint – Compact size with integrated output tray is well-suited for photo booths, as well as portrait and event photography
  • Versatile media handling – Prints on a range of high-capacity roll and double- or single-sided sheet photo media, including glossy, luster and matte finishes
  • Built for reliability – Reliable print engine backed by U.S.-based support team and Epson’s limited warranty
  • Epson Cloud Solution PORT® – Monitor the live status of your entire printer fleet regardless of where they are in the world, view output production rates, printer status, errors, and more

Pricing and Availability
The SureLab D1070DE Minilab printer ($2,995 MSRP) is now available with a standard 1-year Epson PreferredSM Limited Warranty through Epson Authorized Professional Imaging Resellers. SureLab D1070 Duplex Feeder ($600 MSRP) is available for purchase separately to add double-sided printing to the SureLab D1070. For more information, visit www.epson.com/minilab.

About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader whose philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson’s goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/

Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson’s regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).

*This product uses only genuine Epson-brand ink packs. Other brands of ink packs and ink supplies are not compatible and, even if described as compatible, may not function properly or at all.

1 Smudge-, water- and fade-resistant prints with Epson Genuine Photo Media and Ink only.

EPSON, MicroPiezo, SureLab, UltraChrome, and Epson Cloud Solution PORT are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. AccuPhoto and AMC are trademarks of Epson America, Inc. Mac is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2023 Epson America, Inc.

SOURCE Epson America, Inc.

‘I want fun and colour’: Walter Pfeiffer on his search for beauty

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‘I want fun and colour’: Walter Pfeiffer on his search for beauty

In the wake of his latest photo book, Chez Walti, we speak to the cult photographer about stage fright, social media and his advice to upcoming image-makers

30November 2023

“I can’t tell you what beauty looks like, but I know when she’s in the streets,” quips Walter Pfeiffer in the middle of our phone call. Indeed, the artist’s leitmotif has long been beauty, found in rosy cheeks, Swiss fields and flower beds. Pfeiffer has a hefty new volume out called Chez Walti: Photographs 2000–2022 (published by Edition Patrick Frey), which takes a long, hard look at what the artist has been up to since the turn of the millennium.

The cult photographer has a history with publisher Patrick Frey. In 2001, they released Welcome Aboard: Photographs 1980–2000, a star-making book that put the artist at the top of every fashion house’s wish list. While Pfeiffer was a trailblazer for his times, at the heart of his repertoire lays a charged and sexy realism that set the mood of what would follow in fashion, his new book contains enough knockouts to evidence his enduring originality, appeal and attitude – if you needed reminding, of course.

Below, we catch up with Walter Pfeiffer about falling into photography, his love of ‘colour and fun’, and influencing the next generation of image-makers.

Hi Walter! How are you? How was your book launch in Paris?

Walter Pfeiffer: A success, I tell you! I love to walk around, but I missed the turning because my cell phone clearly wasn’t made for Paris. So I was ten minutes late and full of sweat and despair. But when I arrived, everyone was already queueing up with their books under their arms, like in the movies. So many people came! So many beauties! I was trapped behind the table for two hours because I like to write personalised messages to everyone. They all shared my messages on Instagram, and I reshared them on mine.

Why do you like using Stories?

Walter Pfeiffer: Well, they’re only up for 24 hours, so it’s easier. It takes too much time to post, and my time is really, really running out. My agent told me I had to get a smartphone, and he was right. I love it when people write to me. You never know what might come out of it. I recently got a message from a woman who asked me to photograph her two sons, but they were, well, a little unripe.

How do you deal with fame?

Walter Pfeiffer: After my first book, I was kind of overwhelmed by all the fan mail. One boy wrote to me every week and I thought, ‘Ugh! Do I really have to reply to each and every letter?’ Anyway, I’m not interested in making a book every year. I prefer to collect the photographs every decade or two, so I can see which ones have aged well. I never think about whether I have a style or not. I just don’t want to be boring. Sometimes I have my moment, but sometimes you need to know when to box it up for another day.

What was the editing of the book like?

Walter Pfeiffer: It took ages. And as soon as it’s finally printed, when you can’t change anything anymore, you think, ‘Oh no! How could I? Blah blah blah!’ I always start the editing by pinning photographs to the wall, and everything slowly comes together. I want to see a story, with a beginning, a middle and an end. I followed the colours, which was a way for me to find a line of beauty.

I can’t see any of your ‘super fashion’ scenes in the book.

Walter Pfeiffer: Can you image a book of all of my fashion work? Please! There’s only some fashion in the book, including my very first Robbie Spencer pictures for Dazed. Before I ‘restarted’ in 2000, I wouldn’t dare to make photographs for fashion. They would have said I’m too much of an amateur. I only ever photographed my people. In 2000, I had to find a living, so the commissions racked up. After my 2007 retrospective book called In Love with Beauty, I was asked whether I would do Vogue Hommes. I was thrilled! Then Dazed came. That was when I had an agency. Before that, I didn’t even know what an agency was.

You’ve said that you use humour to free your models from anxiety, even the supermodels?

Walter Pfeiffer: I prefer working with beginners. The supermodels can be a bit too stiff sometimes, but I think they end up understanding what I’m looking for. When I saw Eva Herzigova making all these poses in the hotel room, I told her to lie on the floor, and she did. [Laughs].

Do you still get stage fright?

Walter Pfeiffer: Yes. But not as bad as before. I used to take sleeping pills at all those wonderful, grand hotels before shoots. Can you imagine? Next week, I’m taking a portrait of a dear friend who helped me out in a difficult situation, and I’m so nervous. My head is constantly working. I imagine the worst all the time, and then it never happens. When I look back, I’m glad I did all those things, but oh, time goes by so quickly. I always used to think, [sings] ‘It’s ooover!’ You know, like my favourite Roy Orbison song. But nothing ever seems to slow down. I haven’t had time to go on holiday all year. Only little walks.

How did your big summer retrospective in Lucerne go?

Walter Pfeiffer: Fabulous! I asked for a huge room showing all of my movies. ‘Is this you?’ they asked. No one had seen them before. They aren’t, you know… [shouts] ‘Attention! Art! Deeper meaning!’ I have no time for any of that intellectual business. I want colour and fun.

You’re often labelled as the precursor – or ‘gay grandfather’ – of the late 90s and early 00s photographers like Wolfgang Tillmans and Ryan McGinley. How do you feel about that, considering you fell into photography accidentally and never studied it?

Walter Pfeiffer: It’s nice, but I don’t believe it. You have to remember that I come from a different era, when everything was under the carpet. I grew up in the countryside, but when I was 19, destiny brought me to Zurich to study art. My head was turned upside down. I wouldn’t dream of studying photography. My arms would, and still do, shake like crazy. Those heavy cameras were too much for me. I started out with this cheap little Polaroid and then bought a real camera with a flash. From then, there was no holding me back.

Do you still teach?

Walter Pfeiffer: Only as a guest lecturer now. I love the energy you get from being around young people. You will understand what I mean when you reach my age. I love to learn and forget as soon as possible. I don’t want to influence anyone. No young Walters, please!

Do you have any advice for photography students?

Walter Pfeiffer: They seem to know everything already. They’re so perfect, or too perfect. I’m a little worried that they’re perched to become world famous next week. The most important thing is to teach your eye. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Be funny. And keep your feet on the ground… Are you on TikTok?

I’m not… Are you?

Walter Pfeiffer: No. Isn’t it funny, how it all started with Facebook in the old days? What I miss is that you can’t share links. Like the link of the article I will hopefully receive from you!

Of course! And maybe we can touch base again when your 2040 book comes out?

Walter Pfeiffer: That’s too kind. Will I still be here in 2040? I don’t think so. But let me surprise you.

Chez Walti: Photographs 2000–2022 is published by Edition Patrick Frey.

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The Comedy Wildlife Photo winners are here — and they are a hoot

By in Photography

The Comedy Wildlife Photo winners are here — and they are a hoot

From a kangaroo seemingly rocking out on an air guitar to a fox taking a “smoke break” on a twig cigar, the 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photography Award winners and finalists are a hoot, and will surely make you say “animals, they’re just like us.”

Thousands of photos from 85 countries were submitted. There were six categories of winners. The top prize went to photographer Jason Moore for his photo “Air Guitar Roo.” Moore said he took the photo in a wildflower field in the suburbs of Perth, Australia in 2021.

“I was driving past a mob of Western Grey Kangaroos feeding in an open field that was filled with attractive yellow flowers,” Moore said. “I had my camera with me, so I stopped to grab a few photos. I suddenly noticed this individual adopt a humorous pose – to me it looks like he’s practicing strumming on his air guitar.”

The comical awards is for a serious cause. Photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam launched the competition to promote wildlife conservation. This year’s event supports Whitley Fund for Nature, a U.K.-based charity that helps fund conservationists around the world.

Scroll below to see some of this year’s hilarious winners and honorable mentions:

Overall Winner and Alex Walker's Serian Creatures of the Land Award - Air Guitar Roo

Overall Winner and Alex Walker’s Serian Creatures of the Land Award – Air Guitar Roo (Jason Moore/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Spectrum Photo Creatures in the Air Award - Unexpected plunge
Spectrum Photo Creatures in the Air Award – Unexpected plunge (Vittorio Ricci/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Creatures Under the Sea Award - Otter Ballerina
Creatures Under the Sea Award – Otter Ballerina (Otter Kwek/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Affinity Photo 2 People's Choice Award and Junior Award - Dispute
Affinity Photo 2 People’s Choice Award and Junior Award – Dispute (Jacek Stankiewicz/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Amazing Internet Portfolio Award - I finally learned to fly or - or maybe not
Amazing Internet Portfolio Award – I finally learned to fly or – or maybe not (Tímea Ambrus/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - The happy turtle
Highly Commended Winner – The happy turtle (Tzahi Finkelstein/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - Monday Blahs
Highly Commended Winner – Monday Blahs (John Blumenkamp/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - One for the family album
Highly Commended Winner – One for the family album (Zoe Ashdown/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - Don't look down
Highly Commended Winner – Don’t look down (Brian Matthews/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - Boing
Highly Commended Winner – Boing (Lara Mathews/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - The rainforest dandy
Highly Commended Winner – The rainforest dandy (Delphine Casimir/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - Look at right Bro
Highly Commended Winner – Look at right Bro (Pratick Mondal/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - That wasn't here yesterday
Highly Commended Winner – That wasn’t here yesterday (Wendy Kaveney/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - Snowball (Jacques Poulard/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner – Snowball (Jacques Poulard/Comedy Wildlife 2023)
Highly Commended Winner - Excuse me sir but I think you're a little too young to be smoking
Highly Commended Winner – Excuse me sir but I think you’re a little too young to be smoking (Dakota Vaccaro/Comedy Wildlife 2023)

See the full list of the finalists, winners and honorable mentions here.

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