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A picture of emperor penguin chicks, captured by Talesmith's Secrets of the Penguins team has achieved one of the highest honours in wildlife phtoography.
Bertie Gregory, cinematographer on a shoot led by Series Producer Serena Davies and producers Ross Kirby and Heather Cruickshank, freeze-frames the moment fledgling emperor penguin chicks walk along the edge of an ice shelf. The team spent two months with the penguin colony and saw most chicks using ice ramps to descend to sea level for food.
But this group missed the easy way down.
Keeping the drone at a safe distance, Bertie watched as they took a 15-metre (49-foot) leap into the water.
Left to fend for themselves, emperor penguin chicks must find a way to make their first dip into the icy ocean to find food.
Scientists think the continued decline of sea ice in Antarctica may force more penguins to breed on ice shelves. This would make the behaviour shown in the photograph more common in the future.
The picture was 'Highly Commended' in the Animals in their Environment category described as 'Evoking atmosphere and a sense of place – with the habitat as a major element of the picture – to convey how an animal is an integral part of its environment.'
It is on display alongside other winners and finalists at the Natural History Museum in London, from 17th October.
Bertie is a British wildlife filmmaker and photographer. The presenter and producer of Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory and Secrets of the Penguins on Disney+, he’s a BAFTA- and multi-Emmy Award-winning director of photography.
