The storybook wolf by José Luis Rodríguez (Spain) This category – one of the most popular in the competition – invites portraits that capture the character or spirit of an animal in an original and memorable way. Iberian wolves have been persecuted by people who see them as a threat to game and livestock and are superstitious about the danger they pose. Rodríguez hopes his picture, ‘showing the wolf’s great agility and strength’, will make the Spanish proud to have such an emblematic animal.
Hasselblad 503CW with a 6x6 Fujichrome backing + Planar 80mm lens; 1/30 sec at f11; ISO 50; purpose-made Ficap infrared camera trap Photograph: José Luis Rodríguez/Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
Royal headgear by Sam Rowley (United Kingdom) Rising early on an autumn morning, Sam set out to stalk the red deer in London's Richmond Park. The park's red deer are used to people so Sam was able to creep to within 5 metres (16.5ft) of this magnificent stag. It had a full set of antlers, ready to clash with other males during the autumn rut, and was thrashing vegetation to get rid of the irritating remains of the velvet that had covered them. As he raised his head, he took the bracken with it, creating a magnificent natural crown against the rising sun.
Nikon D200 + VR Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G lens; 1/8000 sec at f5.6; ISO 800 Photograph: Sam Rowley/Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
Starling wave by Danny Green (United Kingdom) Photographs in this category must display a skilful and artistic use of the black-and white medium. The subject can be any wild landscape or creature. Starling populations in the UK swell in December and January as birds from the Continent head for milder wintering areas. 'This gathering', says Danny, 'was by far the most impressive I have ever seen'. The location was Gretna Green in Scotland. The stage was set: a perfect evening, hundreds upon thousands of starlings. And then the main character appeared, off stage-left, a peregrine falcon, which sent ripples of pulsating panic throughout the entire flock.
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II + Canon 70-200mm lens; 1/3 sec at f2.8; ISO 400 Photograph: Danny Green/Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
Raindrop refresher by András Mészáros (Hungary) This is a category for photographs of animals that are not mammals or birds; in other words, the majority of animals on Earth. Most of them behave in ways that are seldom witnessed and little known or understood. After a summer shower, Andras headed off to his local forest to take photographs. He specializes in pictures taken around his home near Lake Velence in Hungary; in particular, close-ups. In a sunny glade, he noticed lots of red ants running up and down a flowering common mallow, feeding on the sugar secretions of aphids sucking from the buds. Here, one of the ants sips from a raindrop balanced on a mallow petal.
Canon EOS-5D + Canon EF 50mm f1.8 lens reversed + 2 sets of extension tubes + Canon EF 1.4x teleconverter; 1/200 sec at f9; ISO 200; Gitzo 143 tripod + Manfrotto 469 Ball Head; Canon 420EX flash; beanbag Photograph: András Mészáros /Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
Yellowhammers fighting in winter by Fergus Gill (United Kingdom)
Fergus lured the yellowhammers to his garden with sheaves of oats during the heavy snows last February. Photograph: Fergus Gill/Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
