Visit the exhibition
Pause, reflect and reconnect with the natural world through images that celebrate nature’s awe-inspiring beauty and urge us to protect it.
Tickets on sale now.
Santiago José Monroy García's Image
Santiago José Monroy García (Colombia) provides a compelling glimpse of this Andean bear’s intense stare.
Santiago was pleased with the images from the camera trap he had set near Colombia’s Chingaza National Natural Park.
They included this image of an Andean bear emerging through the vegetation.
The high humidity and a fortuitous arrangement of raindrops on the camera lens contribute to the photo’s artistic effect.
Ranging across much of the tropical Andes, Andean bears are South America’s only native bear species.
Omnivorous and opportunistic, they feed mostly on plants.
However, habitat loss from cattle farming has led to increased conflict between bears and humans.
Behind the lens
Santiago José Monroy García
Colombia
Santiago is a biologist and wildlife photographer. He’s the co-author of a guide to the amphibians and reptiles of the Chingaza National Park and has collaborated on research projects on migratory birds and evolutionary studies. He’s also worked on community training projects to produce audiovisual material and to boost ecotourism. Santiago wishes to inspire conservation action and to show the efforts of small communities that have dedicated their lives to preserve ecosystems.
Image details
- Nikon D7200
- 18–55mm f3.5 lens
- 1/80 at f11 • ISO 800 • 2x Camtraptions Z Pro flashes • Camtraptions housing + motion sensor
- Ecopalacio Nature Reserve, near Bogotá, Colombia
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.
Support our important work
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.