Kuril Lake - Gli orsi della Kamchatka
Kuril Lake (Kamchatka) is a photographic work realized in the area of the Kuril Lake in the south of the Kamchatka peninsula (northeastern Russia), where the unique phenomenon of migrations of the "red" salmon takes place every year. Dozens of brown grizzly bears dive into the lake water to feed on the enormous numbers of fish.
Lake Kuril is located in the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the Asian part of Russia. Every year from July to September, the lake fills with thousands of red salmon swimming up the rivers. Coming from the sea, where they saw the light of day, they are full of eggs that they want to lay.
Dozens of grizzly bears are found in the adjacent forests around the lakeshore and waterfalls, attracted by the enormous amount of fish. Sufficient food with rich amounts of fat as a reserve for long hibernation.
This creates one of the most interesting spectacles that nature offers us. Kobalan is the name of the bear in the local language, the main protagonist of this story in an abandoned and secluded world, where time follows its own precise rhythm, regularly and repetitively in this wonderful ecosystem, protected by UNESCO and human heritage.
I was in the water of the lake together with the bears who, busy hunting this delicious food, did not allow themselves to be distracted by the human presence. I also took pictures with a 100mm lens, i.e. from a distance of about 5 - 6 meters. That was in August 2012.
The most expressive shot was when I was following a group of different bears fishing. One of them dived with great enthusiasm and shortly afterwards came up again with a large salmon in its mouth, full of ripe eggs that splashed around like fireworks when the large animal bite.
Valter Bernardeschi (IT)
Started photography in 1980. First landscapes of his Tuscany where he was born in 1958 and still lives today, later wild animals in Italy and around the world.
From the beginning he loved all forms of artistic expression, especially painting, which gave him a picturesque vision for photography and especially for nature photography from an early age.
Nature as an elevated expression of the highest art of creation. Nature, which is the source of instruction for a basic education, surpassing human education.
With his recordings he always tries to arouse, discover and surprise feelings. The animals captured in the camera viewfinder appear to him like actors in an ancient story, like the universe, but which he wants to show each time in a new light.
His photographs have been published in the most important natural magazines in Italy and worldwide, such as: Uccelli in natura, Oasis, Asferico, BCC Wildlife, Natl'Image and National Geographic. Cooperation with various authorities and national parks for the realization of books, exhibitions and other photographic works about the life of different species of plants and animals in Italy and the world.
Important recognitions: World Champion 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014, 2 gold and 1 silver medal in singles. Italian champion 2013. Many successful participations in nat. and international competitions. In 2013 he was awarded the title of the world's most important natural history competition by the Natural History Museum in London Wildlife Photographer of the Year chosen.
Attimi, Luci, Colori Moments, lights, colors) is the title of his various exhibitions in Italy and abroad as well as the digital image presentations, often both together.
This is the synthesis of his photographic activities. He still prefers to define it as a collection of important moments in the life of wild animals. The intention is to document the miracles of biodiversity with a personal artistic interpretation, with the help of light and colors.