2010: In Praise of Plants and Fungi - Highly Commended
Jordi Busqué (Spain)
Salt-desert cacti
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, is one of the more extraordinary places on the planet. At 3656 metres (11,995 feet) above sea level in the Andes, it's not only the world's largest salt pan, visible from outer space, but also one of the flattest places on Earth. Huge pasacana cacti grow there, some hundreds of years old and more than 10 metres (33 feet) high. 'I wanted to show just how vast, silent and otherworldly a place this is,' says Jordi. He chose to photograph them in the soft light of sunrise. A shimmer of water left over from the rainy season makes the small mountain seem to float on the horizon - a mountain that is made from fossilized coral, adding geological intrigue to the place.
Nikon D300 + 18-200mm VR lens; 1/125 sec at f11; ISO 200.
View other winners in this category
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Adult awards Ephemeral gift Frédéric Demeuse
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Adult awards Floodwater tapestry Peter Cairns
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Adult awards Bugloss at sunset Francisco Mingorance
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Adult awards Orchid in a flush of garlic Sandra Bartocha
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Adult awards Flowers of the volcano Francisco Mingorance
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Adult awards Grass strokes Georg Kantioler
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Adult awards Desert icon Chris Linder
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