Vote Gerald Hinde’s photo into top spot

Benoni resident and internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer Gerald Hinde is again flying the city and South Africa’s flag high.

Gerald is a finalist in the People’s Choice Award, a special award category in London’s Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which gives the public the chance to vote for their own winner.

His image is among 25 pre-selected by the jury and the Natural History Museum staff from the pool of images that made it to the final round of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, from nearly 50 000 entries submitted. The images are judged anonymously, with no reference to the identity of the photographer.

Another South African photographer, Brent Stirton, is also a finalist in the People’s Choice Award with his image Bull in a Garbage Dump, captured in Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka.

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Gerald’s image, titled Curiosity, was captured in the Kruger National Park.

He relives the moment for us.

“In the heart of the wilderness, under the vigilant gaze of his protective mother, a young lion cub dared to explore the unfamiliar. His curiosity was piqued by the unexpected arrival of an outsider – me – stationed in a vehicle nearby.

“Despite the inherent vulnerability of lion cubs to formidable predators like leopards and hyenas, the territorial male lions pose the most significant threat.

“For this reason, these precious cubs remain concealed for their initial six weeks of life, only to be introduced to the pride once they are deemed ready for the rigours of the wild. A collective effort then ensures their safety.

“I strategically positioned my vehicle within the riverbed the day this image was captured, effectively blending into the landscape.

“This unassuming cub first mustered the courage to inspect this alien presence in his world.

“With my camera poised outside the vehicle, barely skimming the ground, I captured a genuinely immersive snapshot of the cub’s explorations.

“The technical prowess of my Canon EOS 5D Mark lll, coupled with a 200–400mm f4 lens and a 1.4x extender, allowed me to freeze this moment in time at 1/640 at f5.6, ISO 320, adding an intimate perspective to the majesty of nature.”

About Gerald

In 1989, the sale of Gerald’s family motor business gave him the opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time professional photographer. He had been photographing wildlife since an early age and produced and self-published his first book, The Original Game Drive, in the last year of his business career.

In 1990, he was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend seven months at MalaMala Game Reserve to pursue his lifelong passion for leopards and produce his second book, Leopard.

This launched a career that led to producing 13 books and numerous wildlife documentaries that have all been successful towards his mission of promoting conservation in Southern Africa.

Africa’s Big Five was published in 1999 and is still in print today. The photograph of the lioness stalking on the cover won him the honour of being named Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2000 – one of many awards Gerald has received.

Support

Gerald said he is incredibly thrilled and deeply humbled at the announcement of his photograph being in the 25 selected for the People’s Choice Award.

“This recognition means the world to me as it resonates with my passion for capturing the breathtaking beauty of our natural world,” he said.

He had this message for fans of his work and our readers: “Your support has always been my greatest motivation – now, I need it more than ever. The final decision is in the hands of the public, and that’s you!
“I would be immensely grateful if you could take a moment to look through the photographs and hopefully vote for me.”

How to vote in the People’s Choice Award
• Visit www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/peoples-choice to see all 25 finalists’ images and to vote for your favourite.
• Online voting closes on January 31 at 14:00 GMT (16:00 South African time).
• The winner and top four images will be announced on February 7.
• The top five images will be displayed on the Wildlife Photographer of the Year website (https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/peoples-choice) and in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum until June 30.
• The prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition opens every year in October, for photographers of all ages, nationalities and levels.
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
• See more of Gerald’s work and background at https://www.geraldhinde.co.za

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