VEOLIA Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009

The winning shot The Storybook Wolf from José Luis Rodríguez (Spain) for Veolia's 2009 Wildlife Photographer of the Year is stunning.

EDIT: José Luis Rodríguez was disqualified which in the terms laid down for this particular contest clearly detract from its achievement. That said, it still evokes a lot of feeling though, perhaps, with a little less dimension. How sad. LINK

"When José Luis realized he had got the shot of his dreams he couldn't believe it. His fear had been that the wolves would be too wary. Iberian wolves have been persecuted by people who see them as a threat to game and livestock and because of ignorance about the supposed danger they pose. Even though they have always lived close to humans, there are no verified incidences of them attacking people. In Spain, the population of Iberian wolves - a subspecies of the grey wolf - is thought to number 1000-2000 in the north, with a few tiny, isolated populations in the south. José Luis risked a slow shutter-speed to reveal the moonlit sky and conjure up the atmosphere of the place. He switched from using his Nikon D2X to a Hasselblad so he could get the exact framing that he had in mind. What José Luis hopes is that his picture, 'showing the wolf's great agility and strength,' becomes an image that shows just how beautiful the Iberian wolf is and how the Spanish can be proud of this emblematic animal."

Links:
Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
Wildlife Award Stripped (Guardian)

Leaping Wolf Snatches Photo Prize