A frozen lake in memory of a lost friend: Italian wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

The People Choice award of the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year is won by Italian photographer Cristiano Vendramin with Lake of ice, an image of willow branches reflected on the surface of a frozen lake. While visiting Lake Santa Croce in northern Italy’s Belluno province, Vendramin noticed that the water was unusually high and willow plants were partially submerged, creating a play of light and reflections on the water’s surface. The photographer recalled a dear friend, who had loved this special place and is now gone. The shot was then submitted in memory of a departed friend, reaching the hearts of more than 31,800 wildlife and nature enthusiasts who voted online from a shortlist of twenty-five images. The shortlist was selected by the Natural History Museum in London from 50,000 images from 95 countries.

“I hope my photography encourages people to realize that the beauty of nature can be found everywhere around us; we can be pleasantly surprised by many landscapes close to home,” commented the photographer. “I believe that having a daily relationship with nature is increasingly necessary for living a peaceful and healthy life. Nature photography is important to remind us of this connection that we need to preserve.”

“Cristiano Vendramin’s moving image symbolizes the positive impact nature can have on our well-being,” said Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum. “It can provide comfort and a space to reflect on the past and even inspire hope for the future. These past two years have redefined what really matters in each of our lives; people play a crucial role in our personal ecosystems. I hope that among those who will look at this landscape frozen in time, the importance of connection to nature and the steps we all must take to protect it will come to mind.”

The winning shot is on display until June 5, 2022 at the Fortress of Bard, Aosta Valley, along with the 100 awardees in the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

The other four finalists for the Audience Award are Ashleigh McCord’s Shelter from the rain, a tender portrait of two male lions in the rain; Jo-AnneMcArthur’s Hope in a burned plantation, the shot depicting a kangaroo emerging in one of Australia’s bush fires; Jeroen Hoekendijk ’s The eagle and the bear, which shows a curious encounter between an eagle and a bear; and Qiang Guo’s Dancing in the snow, two male golden pheasants under the snow.

Image: Cristiano Vendramin, Lake of ice.

A frozen lake in memory of a lost friend: Italian wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

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