LIFE THROUGH A LENS
The South African Photographer of the Year competition showcases South Africa’s stunning natural heritage
The South African Photographer of the Year competition celebrates the diversity and beauty of South African and African wildlife and nature. It’ sa unique platform that highlights exceptional local talent, offering photographers the chance to have their work seen, while also contributing to nature conservation by showcasing our country’s exceptional biodiversity. The overall winner is The Shark Portal by Linda Ness.
OVERALL WINNER SAPOTY 2023
The annual sardine run is a dramatic natural spectacle, and last year it presented a local photographer with a truly extraordinary scene. In unusually clear and warm waters, a vast shoal of sardines found itself cornered behind a headland, resulting in a dense mass of life that stretched from the ocean’s surface down to its sandy depths.
The sight of a large dusky shark weaving through a “blue hole” in the shoal, leaving behind a trail resembling azure smoke, was an unforgettable sight. On the third day, a shoal-wide shark feeding frenzy ensued — a rare phenomenon seldom witnessed.
WATER PRO WINNER
Discovering a flap-necked chameleon during a rain shower at night presented an extraordinary photographic moment. This particular chameleon ventured onto the tip of a branch, intriguingly standing on its hind legs for more than five minutes, seemingly attempting to “catch” raindrops — a captivating behaviour highlighted under the ambient rain.
The use of a spotlight for backlighting transformed the scene into something truly magical, casting the chameleon and the raindrops in a dramatic, ethereal light.
BIRDS AMATEUR WINNER
A pair of Malachite sunbirds, frequent visitors to my garden, have become subjects of countless photographs. This image captures the female at sunset, illuminated by light shining through coral trees, creating a captivating bokeh effect.
Achieving the right lighting balance required a fill-in flash and a fast shutter speed. This carefully captured shot showcases the bird in stunning detail against a beautifully blurred background.
AFRICA WINNER
Photographed from a helicopter over Lake Magadi, southern Kenya, in November 2022, this image shows two women carrying firewood across the lake. The aerial perspective highlights the lake’s unusual colouration, which shifts from red to purple depending on the angle of the view.
The final image emphasises the red hues, adjusted to match the scene observed. Lake Magadi’s colour changes are caused by chemical reactions between the algae and salt in the lake bed, intensified by evaporation from saline hot springs during the dry season.
BIRDS PRO WINNER
Amid a feeding frenzy over an elephant carcass, a tense standoff unfolded between a Cape vulture and a hyena, both vying for access to the same flesh. Despite the hyena’s attempts to leverage its size to displace the vulture, the bird resiliently held its ground, aggressively snapping at the hyena’s face whenever it came too close.
Go to timeslive.co.za to see all the winners. southafricanpoty.com.