A photo the judges called a "miracle": The best shots of the Nikkor photo contest
Nikon Japan has announced the winners of the 74th Nikkor Photo Contest. The grand prize went to Mayumi Takeuchi, who captured a close-up image of a gannet underwater. In the "Nature" category, a photograph of two owls flying as if they were mirror reflections of each other won the gold award.
A photo called a "miracle" by the judges: The best shots of the Nikkor photo contest
Amateur and professional photographers participate in this contest, which has been held annually in Japan since 1953. The competition covers several categories, with cash and other prizes awarded to the winners.
Mayumi Takeuchi from Kanagawa Prefecture took the Grand Prize-winning shot underwater. She used a wide-angle lens, a sturdy waterproof housing for the camera, and a strobe flash.
During the shoot, the distance between the photographer and the stingray was less than one meter. The judges described this shot as a "miracle."
The Gold Award in the "Nature" category went to Koichi Ikeda from Fukuoka. He captured two owls in flight at such a moment that the birds appear to be mirror images of each other.
According to Nikon, the photographer took this shot using a super-telephoto lens with a focal length of 800 millimeters.
The Silver Award in this category went to Keiko Negishi. Masato Nakata, Yasuyuki Konishi, and Akira Sato became Bronze winners.