2006: Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year - Overall Winner
Göran Ehlmé (Sweden)
Beast of the Sediment
Like most bottom-feeders, the walrus has messy table manners. Gorging on bivalve shells, it first uses its facial bristles to brush away the sediment. Then it roots, pig-like, with its snout or beats a flipper, to whip up the sediment. That's what is happening here. Swimming with this huge beast off northeast Greenland, Göran took more than 400 images with his new digital camera. This meant he wasn't limited to 36 before needing to surface to change film. The walrus, though, had to surface for air every four or five minutes. Hours later, after shooting from every angle, 'the moment came', says Göran. 'The walrus looked round, and we made eye contact.' It took Göran years of studying walrus behaviour to consider diving with them. 'At first I was very nervous,' he says, 'but now I know how to approach them safely and respectfully'.
Nikon D2x with 12-24mm lens; 1/50 sec at f4; 400 ISO; Seacam housing with wide-angle port.
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