News / european wildlife photographer of the year
Bristol photographer snaps European prize
A Bristol photographer has revealed how a freak accident helped him take the picture which has won him the title of European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014.
Neil Aldridge was preparing to take a photograph of stampeding blesbok antelopes on the plains of South Africa’s Kariega Game Reserve.
The conservation photographer was in South Africa working on a story about the rhino poaching crisis when he found the herd of blesbok.
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He collected his prize in Lunen, Germany last night at a ceremony marking the competition’s 14th year.
Speaking to Bristol24/7 he revealed how his winning photograph was one he very nearly missed.
“I saw the group of blesbok antelope running over the plains. I was using my vehicle to hide myself from them but, as I stepped down, I put my foot in a hole and collapsed in a heap,” he said.
“Luckily the tripod, with the camera still on top, was planted in the ground. As the antelope came towards me, I managed to struggle up and, from a sitting position, panned with them and shot a couple of frames.
“I think it really captures the essence and movement of the animals. Some people may think it’s too artistic for their liking, but I knew there was something special about it.”
A professional photographer for the past 6 years, he has worked in Africa, Europe and the UK capturing unique and spectacular wildlife moments. His photos have appeared in numerous nature magazines and he has published two books, Underdogs and Face to Face with Wild Africa.
Read our exclusive, feature-length interview with Neil Aldridge in the B24/7 magazine, out next week and available FREE across Bristol.
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