Natural Mystic by Leo Brinkmann

Natural Mystic by Leo Brinkmann

Very happy to announce that I’ve won first prize in the young category of Scandinavia’s biggest nature photography competition, the Finnish “Vuoden Luontokuva”. With close to 13000 entries sent in this year it is a real honor to be amongst the few awarded. It also happens to be the first time I’ve ever entered a competition. Much to my delight this photo also made it to the final round of judging in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year. It was a dull, rainy and overcast day but in hope of mist I set out to a nearby lake. Upon arrival everything was grey and still wet. I noticed two Common Gulls (Larus canus) flying back and forth across the bay next to me, where the mist was gathering, so decided to wait. After many hours my wait was rewarded as the clouds finally parted enough for the setting sun to shine through and light up the scene, creating a surreal golden backlit light. Eventually both gulls landed close to each other. I knelt down and positioned myself right at water level to include the reflctions and create a sense of symmetry. Then the mist suddenly lifted. I had my shot, a not so common scene of yet so Common Gulls.

Leo Brinkmann: Photos