Winners of WSC23: People in Science

The following post list the winners of WSC 2023.

The winning submission of People in Science category shows us a wildlife photographer wearing a ghillie suit. It was made by Giles Laurent.

Comment from the author:

I am a lawyer based in Switzerland and photography is my favorite hobby. I’ve been lucky enough to travel a lot and that’s what made me start photography, as it is such a great way of creating beautiful memories that can be seen again. In 2017 I got a taste for hiking and the magnificent natural landscapes that Mother Nature has to offer and that soon afterwards led me to take up landscape photography. After a hike during which I came into contact with wild ibexes, I enjoyed photographing them and very quickly developed a real passion for wildlife photography. Through my photographs I hope to share with the world the beauty of nature and animals.

Some wild animals are very difficult to approach without disturbing them, and I often wear a ghillie suit when I go looking for them. By remaining undetected, I can observe animal behaviour that would otherwise not be observable if the animal would have had knowledge of human presence.The camouflage also allows me to get closer to animals and get good photographs without disturbing them.

My main goal of the day when this picture was taken was to search for a group of wolves that was seen multiple times in the previous weeks in the area and that attacked a group of cows. Unfortunately I didn’t see wolves that day but that’s just nature!

Comment from the jury:

After numerous winners associated with the academic environment, this year we also celebrate the role of amateurs. What sets this image apart is its ability to showcase the fine balance between the photographer’s technical skill and preparation, as well as their silent, patient dedication.

Wildlife photography often relies on dramatic post-processing or high-action moments. However, in this case, the photographer becomes a unique subject—a species to be documented in their natural environment. The divide between observer and observed blurs, encouraging us to reflect on the process as a whole.

Runners-up:

Fritz Gorodiski (Fritz Goro), circa 1976. Saidelsky from USA.
Children in a village of Purulia (West Bengal, India) playing and experimenting with a foldscope, an optical microscope that can be assembled with a sheet of paper and a lens. Arpan.basuchowdhury from India.
Covered snow pit in Antarctica illuminated by sun light shining through the snow from an adjacent pit. The chemicals and gases in the layers record the climate conditions. Kendrick Taylor from USA.
Sampling for microbiology from geothermally heated soils at Tramway Ridge, Mt. Erebus, Antarctica. Stephen Noell from New Zealand.
Researcher checking the growth of oil palm seedlings placed in a controlled temperature environment. Agustinuselwan from Indonesia.
Drilling peat bog in Southern Estonia; the peak thickness can reach up to 10 meters but in this small bog in Karula national park the peat thickness is about 7 meters. Peeter Paaver from Estonia.

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