2011 Fritz Pölking nature photography award - in pictures

The photographic realisation of the story about the vixen Sophie was began following two phone calls. 'Herr Echle, you are the forest ranger around here and wild animals are your responsibility, aren't they?', began the first call, which continued: 'I really have no problem with wild animals, but a fox has no business being in my garden. Please deal with this and ensure it doesn't stroll on my property anymore!' Photograph: Klaus Echle/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Award

While patrolling his district in early summer shortly after this excited phone call, Klaus Echle had the chance to observe a young fox. In the same week a hunter called to tell him that she had seen a young fox playing near a raised hide while she was out there. As it turned out it was the same animal. The hunter, a professional forestry scientist, is just as curious and enthusiastic about nature as Echle. Together they succeeded in accompanying Sophie for more than half a year Photograph: Klaus Echle/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Award

The jury, consisting of Gisela Pölking, Stephanie and Hubert Tecklenborg, Markus Botzek and Ingo Arndt, was especially convinced by Klaus Echle's use of different photographic techniques, which he succeeded to combine with a good eye for the right moment and a continuous thread throughout Photograph: Klaus Echle/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Award

The vixen Sophie Photograph: Klaus Echle/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Award

Sophie sleeps Photograph: Klaus Echle/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Award

Sophie tries to climb a tree Photograph: Klaus Echle/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Award

Radomir Jakubowski won the junior award for his portfolio 'Norwegian Autumn', which showcases the exceptional beauty of autumn in Norway Photograph: Radomir Jakubowski/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Junior Award

He says: 'A long time ago I fell in love with the images I had seen of Norway's landscapes. I was especially taken with the atmosphere in autumn. So it was not really a surprise when I got my gear together and travelled to Norway in 2009 for the first time, staying for more than a month, from September to October, and then for a second time in the autumn of 2010' Photograph: Photographer: R.Jakubowski, Radomir Jakubowski/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Junior Award

Musk oxen in Dovrefjell national park. 'I went on numerous hikes exploring a number of areas, especially the national parks of Rondane, Dovre and Dovrefjell. Daily tours ranging between 12 and 17 hours allowed enough time to enjoy nature, to take in the tundra-like landscape and to photograph extensively' Photograph: Photographer: R.Jakubowski, Radomir Jakubowski/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Junior Award

One of the shots from Norwegian Autumn Photograph: Photographer: R.Jakubowski, Radomir Jakubowski/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Junior Award

Norwegian Autumn by Radomir Jakubowski Photograph: Photographer: R.Jakubowski, Radomir Jakubowski/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Junior Award

Norwegian Autumn by Radomir Jakubowski Photograph: Photographer: R.Jakubowski, Radomir Jakubowski/GDT Ewpy 2011, Fritz Pölking Junior Award