2008: In Praise of Plants and Fungi - Highly Commended
Koos van der Lende (South Africa)
Bottle in the wind
'At first, the vast plain in Namibia's Namib-Naukluft National Park looked empty. Then I noticed a lone tree. The wind was blowing exceptionally hard, but it didn't bother the tree, which has grown leaning with the wind. I was just so amazed that this empty, barren world could be home to such a fat, happy little tree.' Bottle or phantom trees survive in the hostile deserts of Namibia by storing water and nutrients in their trunks. They look similar to baobabs because they have adapted to the desert in a similar way, but they aren't related. Bottle trees have many adaptations to the desert including silver bark to reflect the sun's rays.
Fuji GX617 panoramic + 90mm lens; 15 secs at f45; Fuji Velvia 50 120mm film; central grey filter to avoid one-stop fall-off to the sides; polarizing filter; Gitzo heavy-duty tripod; four reflector boards.
View other winners in this category
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Adult awards Swamp cypress Cece Fabbro
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Adult awards Celebration lily Fredrik Ehrenstroem
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Adult awards Boletus in the rain Thierry Van Baelinghem
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Adult awards Ancient survivor Koos van der Lende
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Adult awards Saffrondrop bonnets Danny Laps
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Adult awards Leaf drop Darran Leal
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