'Antarctica, Snow Hill Island, November 2006. Aboard the Russian icebreaker Kapitan Klebnikov, we are searching for the largest of all penguins: emperor penguins. The colonies are located using the helicopters carried on board. We are dropped off about three kilometers from the colony and continue on foot.
We spend four days on the ice, following the animals closely. Officially, we have to keep a distance of five meters, but that rule does not apply to the penguins. They have no natural predators on the ice, so they often waddle right up to our lenses.
On one of those days, I lay on my stomach for hours to capture the antics of a group of young emperor penguins. This photograph was the highlight for me. I call it 'friendship,' but in reality the penguin on the left simply needed a little support while scratching itself.
There were around thirty professional photographers on board, as well as seventy amateurs. This photograph ultimately won the 'on-board competition.'
Name: Dos Winkel (1947)
Location: Schoten, Belgium
Portfolio: self-managed
Info: www.dos-bertie-winkel.com
