Europe’s Wild Corners
Eugi, Navarra, Spain
“Welcome to my forest”
Peekaboo
This is one of the four little owls that fledged from the campus of the University of Navarra last summer. The photograph was taken a few days before it set off on its journey in search of new territory. At the time, it was hiding nervously among the foliage to avoid the adults, which had become highly aggressive toward the juveniles in their final days on campus.
Elizondo, Navarra, Spain
Movement
Banquest
Life on the edge
Eurasian griffon vultures inhabit the steep cliffs of canyons and gorges where, out of reach for most predators, they rest and breed. It’s an extreme adaptation in this hostile world.
Lost in the landscape
Look closely, a pyrenean chamois is standing amidst this landscape.
King of the mountain
On the hunt
A nap on shimmering water
Under the harsh midday sun, I searched for a creative composition when I came across a flock of flamingos dozing in the heat. Instead of avoiding the intense light and reflections, I chose to embrace them, deliberately overexposing the shot and using a small aperture to create a sunburst effect. While this resulted in a technically incorrect exposure and may not be for everyone, I feel this image best conveys the atmosphere of that afternoon.
Flying through fire
On the runway
The spectacular mass takeoff of flamingos takes place just before darkness falls, and witnessing the evening sky suddenly fill up with flamingos is nothing but breathtaking.
Zumaya, Guipuzkoa, Spain
Lantz, Navarra, Spain
Lantz, Navarra, Spain
Bardenas Reales, Navarra, Spain
Two hunters
On a warm summer evening, I was strolling along my local river near Pamplona, Spain. Damselflies filled the air. They differ from dragonflies in that they fold their wings vertically when resting, rather than holding them horizontally.
After a while, I noticed one resting on the tip of a rush, with a spider hanging beneath it. It was a quiet reminder of two predators living side by side, each adapted to a different niche, each equipped with its own superpower.
Night adventurer
Under the cover of darkness, tiny creatures of the forest venture out into the open to forage, such as this wood mouse.
Rock pool resident
The marbled rock crab is a common sight at Cala de los Frailes. A stroll along the beaches of northern Spain will reveal these agile creatures scuttling beneath rocks and hiding in crevices. They play a vital role in the coastal ecosystem: as prey for larger animals and scavengers that feed on algae and detritus, they help maintain the delicate ecological balance along the shoreline.
Calmness
On a foggy morning, I was delighted to find out that the forecast had perfectly predicted the conditions I craved for my envisioned shot. My destination was Guenduláin, home to a group of wild mallards. Although these birds are common all across Europe, they are remarkably wary of humans at this very location.
Knowing this magical condition can change quickly from one minute to another, there is no time to lose. I cycled to the location as fast as possible and settled quietly by the lake’s edge.
As I stood there, slowly but surely melting into the surroundings, watching the world come to life, the mallards gradually grew accustomed to my presence; they stopped perceiving me as a threat and swam around me with ease, though still maintaining a safe distance. With patience and stillness, I captured this image—one that, to me, best conveys the serenity and calm of that magical morning. Knowing this magical condition can change quickly from one minute to another, there is no time to lose. I cycled to the location as fast as possible and settled quietly by the lake’s edge.
Madoz, Navarra, Spain
Puerto de Ibañeta, Navarra, Spain
Puerto de Ibañeta, Navarra, Spain