2006: Wildscapes - Highly Commended
Jan Baks (The Netherlands)
Great water, Devil's Throat
The glare off the water on a hot February day made it difficult to photograph the spectacular Iguaçu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina. But then the weather suddenly changed. 'There was lots of wind and a gloriously inky sky preceding rain,' says Jan. 'With such a contrast between sky and water you could at last begin to appreciate the scale and wildness of the place. The thunderous roar was deafening.' After an hour of dramatic thunderstorm, 'the sky cleared and the oppressive heat returned,' he adds. These falls have spray that, in the right conditions, can reach heights of 90 metres as the river plunges into the chasm known as the Devil's Throat. Iguaçu comes from an Indian word meaning 'great water', and today these 2.5-kilometre-wide falls have been honoured with UNESCO World Heritage status.
Nikon D2x with AF-S Nikkor 12-24mm 1:4G ED lens; 1/180 sec at f6.3; 160 ISO; tripod.
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Adult awards Sky and reef Jordi Chias Pujol
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Adult awards The great delta Theo Allofs
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Adult awards Antartica sunrise Daisy Gilardini
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