Ornithologist/photographer Amir Ben-Dov spent five days and some 46 hours in a plowed cornfield in the Shfela region waiting patiently to snap a photo he had dreamed about: three red-footed falcons standing on a tree branch. That photo propelled Ben-Dov to this year’s prestigious title of ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Birds’ in the celebrated London Natural History Museum competition.
The 2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year drew 42,000 entries from almost 100 countries.
Ben-Dov, a businessman, fell in love with birds as a child and has been photographing them since 1979. The birds in his photo were likely resting in Israel on their way to Africa.
Ben-Dov, who received his prize in a London ceremony, told Ynet that his message to nature lovers is: “love thy neighbor as thyself starts with your treatment of the environment, and preserving it for future generations.”
The grand title winner was ‘A Tale of Two Foxes’ taken by Canadian photographer Don Gutoski of two foxes in a deadly clash.
Underwater winner: A whale of a mouthful by Michael AW (Australia).
The winning photos are on exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London through April 10, 2016. The travelling exhibit is expected to arrive in Israel at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.
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