Local snapper receives international recognition
AN EISTEDDFOD-winning image has also won a local photographer a runner-up prize in an international competition.
Polar Bear on an Ice Floe, by Anne Woodington, placed second in the Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographer’s Spirit of Nature competition.
‘It was my third trip to the Arctic,’ explained Anne, who was an orthoptist and a former HM deputy greffier.
‘We were at Svalbard, Norway. The first two times there were 100-plus people but the third time it was on a small boat called the M/S Stockholm, which carried 16. It’s an ice-breaker that goes right out to the ice sheet, which is 80 to 85% ice.’
The party had been out for half a morning when the crew suggested getting out on the ribs [rigid-inflatable boats].
‘We went out and up and onto the ice floe, which is about three feet above the water, and you could see the depression of where a bear had been sleeping. Then someone said, “Er...a polar bear is swimming towards us,” so we all jumped back into the ribs. The polar bear hauled itself onto the ice floe. We were about 15ft away and I was at the front of the boat. You wouldn’t normally get so close.
‘The bear, a male, was quite a poseur. He sniffed where the sleeping bear, a female, had been.’
Anne has ‘super long lenses’ for her camera but on this occasion she used just an 18-300mm to snap the award-winning image.
‘It was the most amazing experience. You would never normally be allowed to be this close. Even the boat crew wouldn’t normally be allowed so close. It was exceptional.’
She managed to get a few shots.
‘He was a big boy. If he’d dived off and rocked the boat, I would have been first in line. But what they usually do is slide in. We retreated very quickly.’
Back home, Anne entered the image into the Eisteddfod, and it came first in the nature section.
Then in July she entered the Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographer’s Spirit of Nature competition.
‘I’d entered the Eisteddfod many times and a few salons in the UK, but this was the first time I’d tried an international competition.
‘The winner received a year's membership of the society and I won a half-year membership.’
But there maybe further rewards later in the year.
The society holds monthly competitions with a different subject each time.
At the end of the year all the winners and runners up all go head to head for an award for the photographer of the year.
Looking at Anne’s breathtaking photograph of the polar bear you would be forgiven for thinking she was trained.
‘I’m very much self-taught,’ she confessed. ‘When I was younger I was always the family photographer.’
Admiring photographs that a friend had taken on a photography trip, he invited Anne to India with a group of other photographers, because someone had dropped out.
In 2003 they went to Tamil Nadu.
‘I didn’t have a proper camera – I think it was still film in those days – but my friend found me a camera and lenses.’
Anne took many pictures, documenting the life in a village, and even adopted a child there.
‘When I got back my friend looked at the photographs and said that I should enter some of them into the Eisteddfod beginners’ class. Then I joined Prism Photography Club and won the portrait of the year competition. I won an honours in the Eisteddfod and I’ve entered every year since. I learned a lot from Prism.’
In this year’s Eisteddfod Anne won the Sullivan Shield for best projected digital image, the Gillingham Cup for the best natural history image, the Spectrum Trophy for the best projected digital image overall and the Stanley Colour Print Trophy for the best print.
‘I was gobsmacked,’ she admitted. ‘I’m not very technically minded and I’ve lost the original file of the polar bear – but it’s not actually my favourite of the polar bear pictures.’
Although she has had much success in local competitions, Anne believes she needs to spread her wings. This means perhaps passing a few qualifications, entering other international competitions and more travel.
‘I’ve been to the Arctic and Africa and I’m going to India again. Some people like to go on holiday and chill out and relax on a beach. I like to spend my time travelling and taking photos, so I combine the two.’
A look through the Guernsey Press archives confirms that Anne actually has an affinity with her award-winning photo – she has taken part in the Christmas Day Polar Bear Swim at La Vallette.
‘I was a year-round swimmer for 10 years but I gave it up last winter. I’ve also swum in the Arctic twice.’
Despite her success so far she is modest about her talents.
‘It’s always astonishes me. I suppose I’m my own worst critic. But it’s through a lot of hard work. And if you work hard at something, you get your reward.’
