Polar bear snap wins National Geographic 2013 photo prize (what an amazing picture!)

[Electric Monk]

The winner of the 2013 National Geographic photo contest has been crowned, with this stunning image of a polar bear peering through melting ice taking the prestigious honour.



Paul Souders won $10,0000 for his snap of the bear in Manitoba, Canada, and has been invited to National Geographic's headquarters in Washington DC in January to participate in the magazine's annual photography seminar.

His picture, which shows the setting midnight sun glowing red from the smoke of distant fires, will appear in the magazine.

National Geographic says the Manitoba population of polar bears, the southernmost in the world, is particularly threatened by a warming climate and reduced sea ice.

You can see more pictures taken by Souders on his Worldfoto profile here. He also won the 2013 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year award.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/national-geographic-photo-winner-incredible-2946028
more, and more photos at the link, too.

[geomon666]

1. That is amazing n/t

[jaysunb]

2. This is nice, but

It makes me "shiver."

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Of all the photos that I saw in competition,

I was not excited about this one....even though it is eerie. I just didn't give me a good feeling. It creeps me out.

Oh well, I knew it was one of the popular shots because of the interesting and challenging perspective.

[ManiacJoe]

4. My first though was, this is how photographers get eaten.

[calimary]

5. Makes me wonder if research is being undertaken to build platforms in the Arctic

onto which polar bears could climb up and rest, and survive - as the ice melts underneath them.

[postatomic]

6. Doesn't do much for me

Anyone can take a picture of a Bear.

[Stevenmarc]

7. LOL

It's getting away from the bear after you snap the picture that poses the challenge.

[justiceischeap]

8. It's a cool story on how the photog got the shot but I'm not overly impressed with it.

An aside: A while back I had a nightmare about a polar bear chasing me through the Arctic, I've been afraid of them since and this image doesn't help.