November 21, 2024 | News
🐘✨ Celebrating Excellence in Wildlife Photography: IPPVA Gold Award Winner 2024 🏆📸
We at the Irish Professional Photographers & Videographers Association (IPPVA) are thrilled to announce that Tara Keane has been awarded Gold in our 2024 Summer Round Wildlife category. Her captivating image from the banks of the Kinabatangan River in Borneo showcases the very best of wildlife photography, blending technical skill with storytelling prowess.
Tara’s winning photograph takes us on an emotional journey into the world of pygmy elephants, capturing a moment of familial love and community spirit that resonates deeply with viewers. The image features a six-week-old elephant calf, the newest member of a herd, facing a challenging river crossing.
What makes this photograph truly exceptional is the story it tells. As Tara recounts, the tiny elephant found itself unable to scale the steep, muddy bank that the rest of the herd had climbed. In a display of remarkable empathy and problem-solving, we see the entire herd rallying around their youngest member.
The photograph beautifully captures a tender moment between mother and calf, their trunks intertwined in a comforting embrace. This intimate scene is just one part of a larger narrative that unfolded over an hour, as the entire herd worked together to find a safe passage for their littlest member.
Tara’s patience and dedication in following this story to its conclusion exemplify the qualities we celebrate at the IPPVA. Her work not only showcases the beauty of wildlife but also highlights the complex social structures and emotional depth of these magnificent creatures.
This winning image serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of wildlife conservation and the role that photography plays in bringing these crucial stories to a wider audience. It invites us to reflect on the intelligence and empathy present in the animal kingdom and our responsibility to protect these incredible species and their habitats.
We commend Tara for her exceptional work and for sharing this touching story with the world. Her image stands as a testament to the power of photography to educate, inspire, and create empathy for the natural world.
Congratulations once again to Tara Keane on this well-deserved Gold Award. Your work embodies the spirit of excellence that we strive to recognise and promote at the IPPVA.
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