Do not forget to SHUT OFF YOUR LIGHTS AT 8:30 PM TOMORROW 03/19/2016!
Why?
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Here in New York City, the weather keeps joggling between hot and cold reaffirming the reality of climate change myth. Last week as the sun warmed the city up to 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius to us Europeans) everyone put their “fake” furs away and took their summer dresses out. Right now I am staring at the weather app showing the pretty snowflake icons for this Sunday 03/20/2016. Is sustainability merely green washing? The latest move of the capitalism? We care to disagree nowadays.
Mark your calendars ladies and gentlemen, as tomorrow Saturday March 19th at 8:30 pm millions of individuals, businesses, and governments will participate in the Earth Hour in support of a sustainable future. Earth Hour is already titled the largest environmental event in history. May this message get across to many more to join the millions with hopes for the smallest awareness-raising.
In honor of this special occasion, we found it fitting to share a portfolio of exceptional nature and nature-relevant photographs that were nominated in the annual National Geographic Photo Contest- 2014. Every year, we witness breath-taking moments captured by acclaimed talents. It is an honor to share this series- which happens to be one of my favorite years with most memorable nominations that aspire to encourage us in acting against the destuction of these natural delicacies.
Do not forget to SHUT OFF YOUR LIGHTS AT 8:30 PM TOMORROW 03/19/2016!
Enjoy.
First Place Winner: The Independence Day
Photo and caption by Marko Korosec
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While on storm chasing expeditions in Tornado Alley in the U.S. I have encountered many photogenic supercell storms. This photograph was taken while we were approaching a storm near Julesburg, Colorado, on May 28, 2013. The storm was tornado warned for more than one hour, but it stayed an LP [low precipitation] storm through all its cycles and never produced a tornado, just occasional brief funnels, large hail, and some rain.
National Geographic Traveler Director of Photography Dan Westergren, one of this year’s judges, shares his thoughts on the first-place winner:
“This winning photo of a supercell over the plains of eastern Colorado stopped the judges in our tracks. When we first saw the picture we guessed that the photographer probably had dedicated quite a bit of time chasing storms to capture such an amazing sight. But what makes the picture particularly strong is that except for the cloud, the rest of the scene is quite ordinary. The crazy UFO-looking shape gives the impression that it’s going to suck up the landscape like a tablecloth into a vacuum cleaner. The unresolved tension in the image makes me want to look at it over and over.”
Location: Julesburg, Colorado, USA
Third Place Winner: Diver in Magic Kingdom
Photo and caption by Marc Henauer
- Green Lake (Grüner See) is located in Tragöss Austria. In spring snowmelt raises the lake level about 10 meters. This phenomenon, which lasts only a few weeks, covers hiking trails, meadows, and trees. The result is a magical diving landscape.
National Geographic Traveler Director of Photography Dan Westergren, one of this year’s judges, shares his thoughts on the third-place winner:
“This shot at first seems like just another diver swimming by underwater. But after viewing it for a few seconds the truth begins to sink in. That is not an aquatic plant! How is it possible for a tree to grow leaves underwater? And that looks like a trail—what creature could create a hiking trail at the bottom of a lake? When we chose this picture we didn’t know the particulars of why a view like this exists, but we really wanted to reward the photographer for bringing it to our attention.”
Location: Grüner See at Tragöss – Austria
Merit Prize Winner: End of the World
Photo and caption by Sean Hacker Teper
- This photo, taken at the ‘end of the world’ swing in Banos, Ecuador, captures a man on the swing overlooking an erupting Mt. Tungurahua. The eruption took place on February 1st, 2014. Minutes after the photo was taken, we had to evacuate the area because of an incoming ash cloud.
- Location: Banos, Ecuador
Merit Prize Winner: A Well Earned Rest in the Sahara
Photo and caption by Evan Cole
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This photo of Moussa Macher, our Tuareg guide, was taken at the summit of Tin-Merzouga, the largest dune (or erg) in the Tadrat region of the Sahara desert in southern Algeria. Moussa rested while waiting for us to finish our 45-minute struggle to the top. It only took ten minutes of rolling, running, and jumping to get back down.
The Tadrat is part of the Tassili N’Ajjer National Park World Heritage area, famous for its red sand and engravings and rock paintings of cattle, elephants, giraffes, and rhinos that lived there when the climate was milder.
Location: Summit of Tin-Merzouga, Tadrat, Tassili N’Ajjer National Park, Algeria
Merit Prize Winner: “Khotso” Peace at Devil’s Knuckles
Photo and caption by Byron Inggs
- On arrival at Jonathan’s Lodge our horses took to celebrating liberation from their heavy burdens. With the backdrop of “The Devil’s Knuckles” and the afternoon’s glow, how could I not take advantage of these magnificent creatures rejoicing? This was the end of the first of a three-day horseback ride through Bushman’s Nek, up the Drakensberg escarpment and into Lesothos’ Sehlabathebe National Park.
- Location: Jonathans Lodge, Qachas Nek, Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho
Viewer’s Choice Winner: Among the Giants
Photo and caption by James Eimmerman
- Capturing a brief moment of wonder and awe during a trip to Sequoia National Forest and the Trail of 100 Giants.
- Location: Sequoia National Forest, CA
P. O. P. 