Stefano Unterthiner: Animals in the wild at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral

Aug 20 2009 Chester Chronicle

CAPTURING the personalities of animals in the wild takes a fine eye for art, terrific skill and most of all patience, as photographer Stefano Unterthiner can testify.

He was crowned winner in the Animal Portraits category of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008, the stunning entries to which will be exhibited at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral from Saturday until September 20.

Stefano picked the black crested macaque on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi as his subject. This one was snapped scouring the beach for fallen fruits and nuts.

“I nicknamed this adult Troublemaker,” recalls Stefano. “He was interested in me, so getting a close-up wasn’t difficult. But he would leap at me and kick my back like a trampoline.

“It was part play, part attention-seeking, part curiosity. I think Troublemaker’s expression captures the spirit of these wonderful monkeys.”

Other categories include Endangered Wildlife and Underwater World.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is owned by National History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.