The dilemma - Rick Stanley - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2006

2006: 15-17 Years - Winner

Rick Stanley Enlarge image The dilemma

Rick Stanley (United States of America)

The dilemma

While on an expedition in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean, with a group of naturalists, Rick wandered off with his Dominican friend Rubio to look for wildlife in the forest. 'Suddenly,' says Rick, 'we heard a loud squeaking'. Rubio was the first to discover its source - a distressed Hispaniolan treefrog, which had been caught by a green vine snake. 'I photographed the drama as the frog dangled in front of me, but Rubio was unable to resist helping the victim and gently touched the snake, which promptly dropped its meal and slithered away along the branches.' The frog, seemingly unaffected by the snake's mild venom, hopped off. Rick was left wondering whether it would have been morally better to let the snake have its meal - and, indeed, if it would have succeeded in swallowing such a large frog had it been left to try.

Canon EOS 1D Mark II with Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM zoom lens; 1/400 sec at f8; 800 ISO.