Скачать или смотреть ** Fritz Pölking Junior Prize 2024 ** | Gianluca Damiani – Urban jungle

Winner of the Fritz Pölking Junior Prize 2024

Urbanisation is the fastest-growing anthropogenic land cover class and the conversion of natural habitats to urban areas is also increasing. The human population continues to grow and our ecological footprint is unmistakable all over the world. These developments pose many new challenges for the Earth's animal and plant species. In many regions, species are forced to either adapt or flee.
In urban areas, wild animals must make a wide range of behavioural and physiological adjustments to be able to exploit this expanding habitat type. While many species are negatively affected by increasing urbanisation, others are capable of behavioural and genetic adaptations to large metropolises such as Rome. Since ancient times, this city has been inhabited by large numbers of humans, and its history - influenced by Roman culture and the Catholic Church - is known around the world. Despite the fact that the city's endless streets, squares and buildings are currently populated by more than four million people and two million cars, a hidden natural world persists within Rome’s borders.

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Gianluca Damiani is a naturalist and wildlife photographer based in Rome. Passionate about nature and animals since childhood, Gianluca's interests currently centre on urban nature and conservation photography pertaining to Italy's endangered species. Having obtained a bachelor's degree in natural sciences and a master's degree in conservation biology, Gianluca is now working on his PhD exploring the effects of urbanisation on birds of prey. He is also the author of two books as well as several scientific and photography articles.
Gianluca's photography path initially took him to the wilds of Italy's mountains and remotest corners. Eventually, however, he returned to explore urban wildlife in this home town, Rome. With his photography, Gianluca aims to capture everyday scenes of coexistence between humans and animals in an unusual manner while simultaneously searching for the unexpected in the ordinary.
"I believe that nature photography is a powerful tool for getting people’s attention. With my images, I try to invoke awareness and awe. In this way, we can help save nature."

http://www.gianlucadamiani.com

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See the whole portfolio of winning images here:
https://www.gdtfoto.de/seiten/fritz-p...