Leaping wolf snatches photo prize

21 October 2009 | Victoria Gill

[JoeProBono]

A picture of a hunting wolf has won the prestigious Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 award.

Jose Luis Rodriguez captured the imaginations of the judges with a picture that he had planned for years, and even sketched out on a piece of paper.

"I wanted to capture a photo in which you would see a wolf in an act of hunting - or predation - but without blood," he told BBC News. "I didn't want a cruel image."

With a great deal of patience and careful observation of the wolves' movements, he succeeded in taking the award-winning photograph.

Mr Rodriguez used a custom-built infrared trap to snap the wolf as it leapt into the air.

[JoeProBono]

[Snurple]

Cool pic.

[chris37]

That is an awesome photo. Wolves are amazing.

[papasmurf]

Awesome.

[pandoraou812]

Great pic

[afraidfortherepublic]

That doesn’t look like a photo — it looks like a painting. Beautiful picture.

[Doogle]

http://www.lakotawolf.com/

[Snurple]

Beautiful beasts.

[Mamzelle]

That is indeed prizeworthy. Even a beautiful gate and stone fence. Makes me think of a perfectly poised open jumper (horse).

[blackbart.223]

"I wanted to capture a photo in which you would see a wolf in an act of hunting - or predation - but without blood."

This is a huge contradiction. Good photo anyway.

[Doogle]

yeah, lakoda’s, about 20 miles from me...cool place to see them up close, but rather expensive if your into serious photography.

[Valpal1]

Makes me wonder if the farmer lost any livestock that night.

[historyrepeatz]

Photoshopped. (Okay.. Sorry).

[JoeProBono]

[The KG9 Kid]

I even like the gate and stone wall.

[blackbart.223]

"Makes me wonder if the farmer lost any livestock that night."

That would be the blood part of it he didn't want to see. Where do these people come from?

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[blam]

Wolves Eat Grapes

(I saw the grape eating documentary too)

[JoeProBono]