Golden eagle aquarelle by artist Peter Nilsson

Golden Eagle image by Staffan Widstrand

Water colour artist Peter Nilsson, from Öland in Sweden is world famous for his emotional aquarelles of birds. For this one he was inspired by one of Staffans golden eagle images. Staffan says ”I think the photo is good, but the painting is really smashing! Well done Peter, and thanks for using my image! Thanks also for asking my permission beforehand, very professional and friendly!”

Image in the Swedish Association of Professional Photographers magazine

Polar bear image by Staffan Widstrand

The Swedish Association of Professional Photographers pays attention to the fifty year celebrations of /Naturfotograferna, which Staffan has been a member of since 2006. Staffans images are featured in relation to the articles about Naturfotograferna both in the January issue of their magazine Fotografisk tidsskrift and on their website. Please go to the Staffan Widstrand in press page to read the article (in Swedish). For more information about the 50 years celebrations of /Naturfotograferna, which includes an exhibition at the Swedish Museum of Natural History later this year, please visit /Naturfotograferna.

 

Photo assignment in Guangdong, China

Image by Staffan Widstrand on assignment in China

Yangcheng Evening News, one of China’s most read newspapers, invited Staffan to do a photo assignment in the Guangdong province in China. As part of the newspapers current focus on the Maritime silk route, Staffan traveled around Guangdong, including the capital Guangzhou, photographing daily life as well as cultural events and festivities. Staffan says ”I really enjoyed doing people photography again and look forward to more of that soon”. Please visit the gallery Maritime Silk Route, Guangdong, China. Please also view the story in Yangcheng Evening News

 

Staffan is a proud Nikon ambassador

Staffan Widstrand with Nikon camera

Staffan is a proud Nikon ambassador and test pilot since 1997, trying out and testing their latest gear in all kinds of conditions. From minus 39 degrees C, like in this image from Swedish Lapland 2016, or in tropical saltwater environments, hot deserts, dusty savannahs and rainy rainforests.  ”You can of course shoot good pictures also with gear from other brands, but it is just a bit more difficult and less reliable” says Staffan with a smile. His latest favourites are the Nikkor 800/5,6, Nikon D5, Nikon D500 and the new 24-70/2,8VR. Please view Equipment for the complete list of camera gear that Staffan uses.

 

The Nikon Ambassadors are authorized by Nikon to demonstrate to the public and professional image makers the capabilities and use of Nikon imaging products, but the expressive content of their work is solely their own. Nikon Ambassadors are independent contractors and visual artists and are not employees of Nikon. Ambassador Nikon Ambassadors are responsible for the content of their photographs, websites, exhibitions, and visual images and the manner in which such content and images are obtained. Any messages, beliefs, or viewpoints expressed in the Ambassadors’ photographs, websites, exhibitions, or visual images do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs or viewpoints of Nikon or any Nikon employee.

Por el Planeta photo competition

Image by Staffan Widstrand

Two of Staffans images were specially commended in the first edition of the international wildlife and nature photography competition Por el Planeta Photo. A competition aiming to reaffirm the power of photography as a tool to encourage conservation and appreciation for biodiversity. The registration fees are donated to conservation projects and through books and exhibitions Por el Planeta will continue to inspire the growing community of people around the world interested in conservation. Many thanks to all the people who voted for Staffans image in the People’s choice award.

Presentation at National Geographic China event

Image by Staffan Widstrand

On Friday November 13, Staffan was a keynote speaker at a high level event in Beijing, organized by National Geographic China. He was asked to show the VIP audience images from and tell about major initiatives like Wild Wonders of Europe, Rewilding Europe and the upcoming Wild Wonders of China.

China Folklore Photographic Association

Image by Staffan Widstrand

Staffan was one of the jury members in the Chinese International photo competition “Humanity Photo Awards”, arranged by the China Folklore Photographic Association (with 50 000 members) together with UNESCO, with its aims to show humankind as we are – not only the press or news angle on our lives, but also our working life, family life, celebrations, rites, festivals and traditional cultures. “It was an exciting jury process with an incredible array of images from all corners of the world, and even more interesting, also shot by photographers from all corners of the world. The winners were from many countries, where India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran and China stood out in numbers, and with winners also from Mali, Serbia, Bulgaria, Zimbabwe, Spain, Romania, Croatia, Russia, Ukraine, Chile, Peru, Canada, France, UAE, Bahrein and more”. The awards ceremonies were held September 15-18, 2015 in Shangri-La, Yunnan, China, mixed with outings to photograph different aspects of the mainly Tibetan culture in the area – from monasteries, family homes and farms to modern town life.

 

Presentation with Nikon at Stockholm Photofair

Bearded seal image by Staffan Widstrand

On November 6 and 7 Staffan will be at Fotomässan, The Photofair in Stockholm. On Friday November 6 at 13.00-14.00 Staffan will be at the Wild Nature fotoresor stand talking about the photo expedition he will be leading to The Pantanal in 2016. At 15.15 Staffan will enter the stage Scen 2 to show images and talk about Wild Wonders of China. After the presentation he joins Nikon at their stand, Staffan has been a Nikon ambassador since 1997. On Saturday at 11.00-11.30 Staffan is back at the Nikon stand to present images and talk about ”Reality Seen Through an 800”. At 13.00-14.00 he joins the Wild Nature fotoresor team again at their stand for more inspiring photo expedition talks.

 

Photograph jaguars and cowboys in Pantanal

Jaguar image by Staffan Widstrand

Join Staffan on a photo expedition to Pantanal, one of the worlds largest wetlands, home to jaguars, giant river otters, capybaras, tapirs, caimans, anteaters and howler monkeys. The birdlife is as rich with hyacinth macaw, jabiru stork and toco toucan just to mention a few of the colourful species you will have a chance to experience and photograph. For more information and booking please go to Wild Nature fotoresor

To view Staffans images from previous trips to Pantanal please visit the Pantanal gallery

Lammergeier and Bonelli's eagle in Spain

From Birding photo tours fantastic photo hides in the Pre-Pyrenees of Spain Staffan photographed Lammergeier and Bonelli’s eagle. Griffon vulture and Red kite also joined at the feeding station, made for conservation purposes, which also functions as a successful wildlife watching site. Please visit the Wild Spain gallery to view the images.

 
Lammergeier or Bearded vulture, immature bird, Gypaetus barbatus, at feeding site and wildlife watching site, images taken from a hide. Pre-Pyrenees, Catalonia, Spain (Staffan Widstrand)

New gallery Spring in Lithuania

Staffan was invited by the Baltic Environmental Forum to do a photo and consultancy assignment in Lithuania. He traveled through the fantastic Nemunas river delta, one of the finest wetlands in Europe, and the Punia forest reserve, an old growth forest that has not been logged or hunted in for more than 70 years. Please view the Lithuania gallery with Staffans images of people, birds and wildlife from these areas.

 
Musteika Village, on the border of the Cepkeliai reserve and the Dzukija National Park, Lithuania, EU (Staffan Widstrand)
 

Wild Wonders of China pioneer expedition

Together with the rest of the Wild Wonders of China team, Staffan visited Tangjiahe Nature Reserve in the Sichuan province of China for the initiative’s first photo mission, a test mission. The photographers Staffan Widstrand, Magnus Lundgren, Wu Ying, Jed Weingarten and Mr. Xu Yongchun were joined by renowned panda researcher Professor Yong Yange and later also by Mr. Chen Jianwei, Mr. Xie Jianjuo, and Professor Sun Jinqiang. The whole team was warmly welcomed by Mr. Deng Jianxin, Tangjiahe Nature Reserve photographer and chairman of the Qingchuan Photographers Society. This pioneer expedition was made possible through the generous support by Mr. Jean-Marie Hullot’s IRIS Foundation. Mr Hullot also joined the team in Tangjiahe with his son Jonathan Hullot. The team was able to observe and photograph a large number of species, both on the ground and under water, among them Asiatic black bear, takin, muntjac, golden pheasant, and tragopan. Read more about the whole initiative and the first mission on the Wild Wonders of China website where there is also a gallery complete with selected images from all the photographers who joined the expedition. Enjoy!

 
 

Wild Planet photo magazine

Staffan joined Keith Wilson, founder and editor of Wild Planet photo magazine, in a hide located in Boumort National Park in the Spanish Pyrenees, home to 10 lammergeier, 45 black vultures, and more than 100 griffon vultures. Their stay at Montsonis, Catalonia and the bird hide photography was organized by Steve West at Birding Photo Tours. Here is a preview with Staffans image ”A view from the hide”, to read the full story complete with images go to Wild Planet photo magazine issue 21 here https://wildplanetphotomagazine.com/magazine/issue-21/
 
View from the Hide

Staffan in Utemagasinet

There is a special feature on Staffan in the latest issue of the Swedish magazine Utemagasinet. Swedish readers can enjoy the two spread article with the title ”With a passion for the wild”, written by Kicki Lind, together with a selection of Staffans images here
 
Utemagasinet, Sweden, 05-2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Vote for Staffans image in Por el Planeta

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) aggressive dominant male, Lake St Lucia wetlands NP, South Africa (Staffan Widstrand)

 

Staffans image is one of the 25 finalists in The People’s choice award of Por el Planeta, the first international conservation photography competition. The winner of the People’s choice award receives a $10,000 USD prize and 50% of the funds collected by the #PlanetaPhoto registration fees will also support a conservation cause related to the winner’s photography. The voting will take place on the website https://porelplanetaphoto.com/ from April 23 to May 8th. Please vote now!

Staffan on National Geographic radio

Europe is having a major wildlife comeback, from bears to bison. Nature conservation works! Staffan talks to Boyd Matson on National Geographic weekend radio about the initiative Wild Wonders of Europe celebrating Europe’s natural heritage and showing it to Europeans and the rest of the world. Listen to ”Europe: Home (again) to bears and wolves – Staffan Widstrand” on National Geographic radio