Name: Hannes Lochner
Picture title: Descending
Category: People’s Choice
Nationality: South Africa
Occupation: Full-time Wildlife Photographer and Photo Guide.
Technical information
Camera: NIKON Z9
Lens: 100- 400 MM @ 100MM
EXIF: ISO 450 F4.5 1/1000s – Out of hand.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Hannes Lochner | Descending
Name: Hannes Lochner
Picture title: Descending
Category: People’s Choice
Nationality: South Africa
Occupation: Full-time Wildlife Photographer and Photo Guide.
Technical information
Camera: NIKON Z9
Lens: 100- 400 MM @ 100MM
EXIF: ISO 450 F4.5 1/1000s – Out of hand.
Hannes Lochner says:
Emerging from a day-long slumber, a youthful leopard awakens atop a majestic Mashatu tree. As it descends, the leopard seamlessly melds with the tree’s sinuous roots, almost blending into the landscape from a distance. The beauty of the scene lies in how effortlessly the leopard integrates with the tree’s base, appearing as an extension of the intricate, winding roots. Its sleek form gracefully merges with the organic pattern of the roots, creating a mesmerizing camouflage that makes the majestic creature nearly imperceptible against the natural backdrop. The harmonious blend of the leopard’s coat and the tree’s roots exemplifies the seamless unity between the animal and its environment—an exquisite display of nature’s artistry and the innate ability of creatures to adapt and merge with their surroundings.
Species name: Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Location: Mashatu Private Game Reserve, Botswana
Hannes Lochner
South Africa
Hannes is a multi-award-winning professional wildlife photographer who has been active since 2007. He has always been captivated by the arid regions of southern Africa, with the Kalahari at the top of his list. His name has become synonymous with the Kgalagadi and, in particular, leopards.
Hannes has produced five magnificent photographic collections, three of which focus entirely on the Kalahari. To create these, he lived in the Kalahari for six years, spending hundreds of hours capturing inspiring images of this captivating landscape and its enigmatic inhabitants.
Known for his extraordinary talent for composition and his mastery of light, Hannes creates photographs that communicate the essence of the animals and landscapes, telling their stories with a unique depth. His passion for the art allows him to stand out as a master in an era where photography has become increasingly accessible. It is his expertise that enables him to consistently produce photographic volumes that captivate the viewer.
Hannes has received international recognition, winning multiple awards over the years, including from the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature’s Best Awards, and SIPA competitions. Many of his photos and articles have been published in renowned South African press outlets as well as international publications such as Geo, BBC Wildlife, and National Geographic.
The books Hannes has published so far include: Colours of Southern Africa, Colours of the Kalahari, The Dark Side of the Kalahari, Kalahari Phototips: Photographer on Location, Planet Okavango, and his latest, Once Upon a Time.