“With many pandemic-era travel restrictions in the rearview mirror, we are out in the world again. The winning entries in our 23rd annual photo contest were captured all over the globe, but they are connected by a common thread—gratitude. They share an appreciation for life’s everyday wonders, be they small (the tidiness of a shoeshine station or the shimmer of a fish’s scales) or large (the thrill of a lightning strike or the vast expanse of a night sky). Travel hones our awareness of wonder at any scale.” —The Washington Post
On September 6, 2022, the Washington Post introduced three prime winners and 10 honorable mentions for his or her twenty third Annual Travel Photo Contest. Wes Tomer, a seasoned Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund traveler, was amongst these celebrated.
Guided by our Expedition Leader into the wilds of Alaska’s Katmai National Park, Wes and his spouse Linda, together with just some different visitors, witnessed a young second shared between three grizzly cubs. Wes picked up his digicam and took this picture, incomes him a second place title and a lifetime of recollections.
Photographed with a Sony a7 III digicam physique and Sony FE 100-400mm lens f/5.6 | 1/1000 | 400.00 mm | ISO 1250 © Wes Tomer
I chatted with Wes to study the story behind his award-winning shot. Read on to see the total interview!
Tomer: It was really our first afternoon out after arriving to Katmai, we trekked into Geographic Harbor and have been amazed by the density of bear exercise within the space and immense great thing about the panorama. It was fascinating to look at these huge bears chase the salmon whereas paying little or no consideration to us. During that point, a mom with three cubs arrived stealing the present from all the opposite bears. I began to concentrate on their interactions and at one level the mom, whereas fishing, moved a long way away from the three. I then stayed intently centered on the three and that’s the shot I took. The curiosity and apprehension on their faces have been a results of being surrounded by many different bears, engulfed in their very own feeding frenzy. It additionally exhibits that collectively, there’s consolation.
f/6.3 | 1/1000 | 600.00 mm | ISO 2000 © Wes Tomer
Brief: What impressed you to decide on that exact picture over the others you had taken in Alaska?
Tomer: Easy reply—Linda. It was her favourite image I took on the journey. I used to be leaning towards an motion shot of a bear fishing or cubs taking part in, however this one does seize many feelings and emotions in a single shot. Plus, who doesn’t love cubs!
f/5.6 | 1/2000 | 256.00 mm | ISO 2000 © Wes Tomer
Brief: Which Natural Habitat Adventures journeys have you ever launched into as a pair? Which journeys are subsequent in your bucket record?
Tomer: So far we have now been on the Ultimate Churchill Adventure and the Alaska Grizzly Encounter: Kodiak to Katmai. Although we didn’t journey with Nat Hab to Uganda to see the mountain gorillas (the timing and itinerary didn’t work for us), we stayed on the identical lodge because the Nat Hab group and trekked with them on the primary day, so it felt like we have been on a Nat Hab journey!
Wes posing in entrance of our Polar Rovers in Churchill.
We’d like to do Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands subsequent. Linda grew up within the UK and had a pen pal within the Falklands whom she misplaced contact with after the battle. They simply reconnected and he or she would love the prospect to fulfill her in individual. It would additionally permit us so as to add one other continent to the record! Although, we might need to journey again to the Arctic for the polar bears or Botswana for one more safari first. We’d additionally love to do the Land of the Snow Leopard and the Wilds of Borneo journeys!
Brief: How would you describe the Expedition Leaders’ and naturalist guides’ talents to permit for the closest proximity to wildlife to assist lengthen the attain of your lens?
f/5.6 | 1/1250 | 400.00 mm | ISO 5000 © Wes Tomer
Tomer: Drew Hamilton, our polar bear information, and Brad Josephs, our grizzly information, have been completely top-notch. Their data, ardour and look after each the vacationers and wildlife, have been superb and added tremendously to our experiences. Then, add of their experience with images; positioning us for one of the best pictures, serving to educate us on one of the best set-up within the varied environments and the way finest to work together with the wildlife, permitting for nearer encounters. What extra may you ask for together with your guides!
Brad Josephs, Linda and Wes aboard our Polar Rover in Churchill.
Brief: In your expertise, which animals require probably the most endurance and planning to {photograph}? How do you place your self and regulate your digicam settings to account for various environmental circumstances?
Tomer: Out of Nat Hab’s journeys, I must say the polar bears, as you’re successfully taking pictures white on white on white (polar bear, snow, and clouds), with various levels of sunshine and visibility. Africa afforded me the luxurious to place myself higher, however the fast actions, altering panorama, and sheer vastness meant you needed to be ready always and capable of shortly regulate, particularly to seize a predator encounter.
One of Wes’ many shut encounters in Katmai!
Brief: How did your expertise with grizzlies differ out of your time with the polar bears? Did you must regulate your images strategies relying on the bears’ conduct? Which bears would you want to look at subsequent?
Tomer: I didn’t change a lot between the 2 journeys, though I did have a brand new digicam for the grizzly journey, however comparatively the identical lenses. For the grizzly journey, I introduced completely different gear, reminiscent of a lightweight tripod/mono-pod and rain gear as we knew we might be extra uncovered to the climate. The main factor I realized between the 2 journeys was to take a second away from the digicam and simply observe these majestic animals of their pure surroundings. These have been the primary bear journeys we have now made, however we’re taking a look at one other journey for polar bears or a brand new journey to see the solar bears in Asia!
f/6.3 | 1/640 | 600.00 mm | ISO 1000 © Wes Tomer
Brief: When touring, what digicam gear do you pack? Do you favor lightweight, or having all of your necessities with you?
Tomer: It actually relies upon; for safari and the polar bears, we had the luxurious of additional storage in a car, so I primarily took every part I had to verify I may get the shot. When we did the Great Migration in Tanzania, I had two Sony cameras arrange so I didn’t need to take time altering lenses for various pictures as a result of chaotic nature and depth of a river crossing or predator encounter. For the gorillas and grizzly journeys, I selected one digicam physique and minimal gear, permitting for straightforward carrying and fewer fear in regards to the danger of injury from environmental elements. It let me simply concentrate on the shot and offered ample time to sit down again, watch and luxuriate in.
Brief: Which wildlife encounters have left the best influence on you each to date?
Tomer: For Linda, she has had a lifelong obsession with polar bears, so happening the Ultimate Churchill Adventure was positively a dream come true. Being capable of see these majestic animals within the wild was indescribable.
Linda celebrates a polar bear recognizing on Nat Hab’s Churchill journey! © Wes Tomer
For me, I must say the safari journeys in Africa. While each bear journeys have been unimaginable, the variety of every part in Africa is an expertise like no different—from the huge lovely landscapes—to the various cultures of the folks and the sheer density of animals of their pure habitats. I may sit in our safari car from solar as much as solar down, day in and time out, taking in all that Africa has to supply. Where else may you may have extraordinary shut encounters with the Big Five!
Wes and Linda photographing grizzlies alongside their fellow Nat Hab & WWF vacationers.
For skilled photographers and picture lovers alike, Nat Hab & WWF provide a variety of unique images adventures. Check out our Photo Tour itineraries and Photo Pro Expeditions to study extra!