‘Reflection’ © Géza Attila Szabó
On December 14, 2024, the audience of the prestigious Nature Photographer of the Year contest selected Géza Attila Szabó as the winner of the People’s Choice Award for his mesmerizing photograph ‘Reflection’. I had the privilege of interviewing him just before he set off on his journey.
Congratulations again on winning the People’s Choice Award! Can you tell us a bit about your background as a photographer and how you got started in wildlife photography?
“Through my wife Irma, I was introduced to wildlife photography. I accompanied her on trips from Iceland to Tuscany, and all the way to Africa, learning to appreciate the magic of the moment—the unique, unrepeatable moment. It doesn’t matter that you have to wake up at dawn, in the dark, braving the winter chill, and walk for hours to reach the spot where, with a little luck, you might witness a miracle. It’s an experience you must live, and once you’ve lived it, it’s a wonderful thing to capture and share with others.”
Your photograph Reflection is a beautiful capture. Could you walk us through the story behind the image? What inspired you to take this photo?
“I captured this photo in Hungary during the winter. Deer are quite common here and primarily inhabit forest edges, with scattered fields and meadows. As food becomes scarcer in winter, many deer visit crop fields to feed. To help, experts (such as forest officers and national park staff) set up feeding stations in various locations throughout the forests, making food more accessible to the deer.
This particular shot was taken from a bird hide in a small, secluded field within the forest. Lights were positioned in front of the hide, with additional lighting installed behind the scene, where seeds were scattered to attract the deer. A small birdbath nearby reflected the deer, adding a unique element to the composition. All I had to do was patiently wait for the deer to appear.”
In your opinion, what role does patience play in wildlife photography, especially when working with unpredictable subjects like deer?
“Nature photography requires a lot of patience. It is important that the photographer knows the subject he wants to photograph. You need to know the place, what animals you will encounter there and the nature of the animals you want to photograph. You need to know the habits of the animals. In the summer, it is not certain that the roe deer will be attracted to the hide by the corn, because they will find food, but in the winter, there is a serious chance of this, because there is little food to be found. I spread corn, so the roe deer came to the hide.
Failure is something you have to deal with very well, and it’s most painful when you think you’re close to the finish line. We wanted to photograph a deer roar. It was a beautiful morning; nature was in its autumn colors. The first rays of the sun were playing pink with the fog in this picturesque spot. When did the deer appear? When it was all gone. The fog has lifted, the lights have become too bright, the magic has gone, but I’m not annoyed. I am happy that it was a beautiful day after all.”
What message or emotion do you hope to convey through your work? How do you want viewers to feel when they look at your photographs?
“My father said: “My son, we must appreciate what we have. We have this fragile little planet full of many wonders. It is a joy to be able to convey this wonder through my photographs.” I don’t want to make viewers feel guilty by showing images that show the destruction of nature by man, but rather to show the beauty of nature. Who would want to destroy this beauty? I would like people to leave with a good feeling after seeing my photos.”
Looking ahead, what are some of your future goals in wildlife photography? Are there any particular animals or locations you hope to capture next?
“I still have a lot of plans on my bucket list. Tomorrow I’m leaving for southern Spain, where I want to photograph the Iberian lynx. There are in my list: Bear in Alaska, while catching salmon, Patagonian puma while hunting guanaco, etc. The most important thing, and that’s why I don’t have to travel much, is a capital deer bull while roaring in the fantastic early morning light.”
