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Luca Melcarne's Image
Luca Melcarne (France) makes the most of his mountain guide skills to reveal the fascinating lives of Alpine animals.
A rock ptarmigan rests among limestone rocks. Its brown summer feathers replaced with white plumage ready for camouflaging among the winter snow, but in 2022 the snow was late. ‘Every year, it’s arriving later,’ says Luca.
Ptarmigan are well adapted to the cold, developing thick feathers on their feet that act as snowshoes and feeding mainly on buds, twigs and berries during the winter months.
However, populations are declining due to habitat loss caused by global warming, overgrazing and the development of ski resorts.
Behind the lens
Luca Melcarne
France
Luca has been passionate about animal watching and photography from a young age, having always lived in the Drôme Valley, a region at the foot of the Vercors Massif in the western French Alps. After studying Sport, he decided to become a mountain guide so he could work in the heart of nature in a career that allowed him to pass on his love and knowledge of fauna and flora. He hopes that through his activity as a guide and photographer he can raise awareness and bear witness not only to the beauty of nature but also to its fragility.
Image details
- Nikon D850
- 400mm f2.8 lens
- 1/2000 at f2.8 (+0.3 e/v) • ISO 320
- Vercors Regional Natural Park, Rhône-Alpes, France
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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