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International guest speakers
The podium of the International Festival will feature six renowned international masters who will take you on a journey into the adventurous world of nature photography. This year we are proud to present one guest from Italy, two speakers from Poland, Niall Benvie from Scotland and the Dutchman Jan Vermeer, winner of several BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year nominations and of course the pride of Belgium, the team Bob Jorens and Els Beldé
Jan Vermeer
"World of Ice"
"World of Ice" is an expedition into the Polar Regions. Antarctica and the Arctic are the frozen backdrop in this photographic search for animals in this white world. Temperatures down to -40ºC are a raw ordeal, for the photographer but even more for his delicate digital equipment. Polar bears around Spitsbergen (Svalbard), deep blue icebergs on Iceland, Seals in Canada, Leopard Seals in the Ross Sea, Hokkaido with Whooper Swans, Red-crowned Cranes and the majestic Steller's Sea Eagle, plus, not be left out, the hard to visit Emperor Penguins will receive ample exposure in "World of Ice". De ingredients ice, wind, hail and snow form the base for this entirely digitally photographed presentation.
Jan Vermeer has received many prizes, e.g. at the GDT in Germany and the BBC Wildlife (England). In 2004 he won two BBC prizes, for a singing Great reed-warbler (1st prize category birds) and a "Highly Commended" in the category Composition and Form for a very graphical picture of a Royal albatross.
A book based on "World of Ice" is in preparation and will be published shortly before the festival.
Website: www.janvermeer.nl
Maurizio Biancarelli
"The green heart of Italy"
The green hearth of Italy is a well known catchword normally used to define Umbria region in central Italy, but Maurizio Biancarelli uses it in a wider sense comprising the greenest areas of central Apennines, Tuscany and Abruzzo. This is where he lives and concentrates his activity as a natural-history photographer. His aim is to render the extraordinary complexity of the natural word with well-composed, essential images in the belief that less is more in photography or, better, simplicity is synonymous with beauty.
Maurizio Biancarelli has contributed many magazine articles and published several books.
Website: www.mauriziobiancarelli.net
Niall Benvie
“Seeking Ecological Asylum” and
“Beyond the Frame”
A presentation in two parts will show his enormous involvement with nature and at the same time his talent to put things in perspective. Niall Benvie has a knack to inspire new thoughts by pulling the spectator's leg.
Niall Benvie is not only a dedicated photographer, but also an inspired writer and many visitors of his web site found themselves captured much longer than they planned to stay. These articles are free for everyone to download, as are his photographs for educational purposes. An extraordinary stance!
Niall Benvie will present a show that a month earlier will have been premiered in Canada at the Wilderness World Conference. With various subjects he will illustrate the diverging philosophies and policies held in Scotland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Israel. Then on to the power of the photographer in nature conservation, for instance as a Trojan horse. Although these are quite serious subjects, Niall has assured us that his presentation will feature many beautiful pictures!
Website: www.ImagesfromtheEdge.com
Ireneusz Graff en Grzegorz OkoŁów
"10 years of ZPFP - Polish fascination with nature" and
"Nature of the Vistula River and Kampinos Forest"
As chairman and instigator of the Polish Nature Photographers' Union (ZPFP), Irek Graff will show images from many photographers and various area's as illustrations of the history of polish nature photography. This year the ZPFP celebrates its second lustrum. The 11 regional branches that make up the association are fairly independent, each having its unique character. At the same time, the organisation has enhanced the visibility of Polish nature photography and is well aware of the need to educate the public in the beauty of nature and the responsibility of humanity towards it.
Towards this goal the ZPFP organizes many photo exhibitions and presentations, accompanied by ample publicity in the local press. The association has formulated an extensive code of conduct, that in many aspects resembles the code of the BVNF.
In addition, ZPFP maintains an extensive website both in Polish and English.
Several regional branches of ZPFP work closely with the Polish National Parks. Employees of e.g. the Kampinoski National Park (to the west of Warsaw) are active members of the nature photo association.
Grzegorz Okołów is director of the Centre for Education in the Kampinoski National Park and at the festival he will speak passionately about 'his' area. He was born at the world famous Białowieża National Park (primal forest with wisents) where his father was the manager. In 2004 together with Tomasz Hryniewicki he published a book with many photos about the nature of Kampinos: 'Echo of Mazovian Forest'.
Website: www.zpfp.pl/eng.htm
Bob Jorens en Els Beldé
“Namibia, land of contrasts”
This year Bob and Els are our local international photographers, well known in Belgium and abroad.
About their new project they said: It may seem odd for long-time Alaska travellers to proclaim Namibia as your favourite destination. Indeed the climate is very different, but both share unspoiled, vast landscapes and rich nature and offer everything a nature photographer may ask for. Namibia is a country of surprising extremes. Apparently lifeless deserts contrast with lush river beds with impressive biodiversity. Namibia is much more than red sand dunes.
