Rab - For the most extreme conditions in the world | Athlete News

Belgian talented nature and wildlife Photographer Werner Van Steen, had a winning image in the prestigious European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 photo contest.

His picture of a lavafield was selected out of 14.000 participating photos from 39 countries and became winner of the “Nature’s Studio” category. He photographed these magnificent lava patterns inside the actif  Nyiragongo volcano in Congo.  Only about one and a half year ago, this place was not yet accessible due to poachers who had build their camp on the southern rim of this crater. Inside the 1km wide crater, at approximately 350m deep, a big actif lavafield can be found  the size of two football fields. It is one of only four crater lakes on Earth so it is truly unique to witness it. With temperatures of about  1250°C, the lake was continuously moving and creating abstract formations.

Werner Van Steen travels the whole World ; from the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean in search of a close encounter with the Great White Sharks to the highest Mountains of the Himalaya.

Werner Van Steen

• Nature- and wildlife Photographer since 1999 ; the year he made his famous picture of a Brown bear catching a jumping salmon.
• In that same year, he won golden awards at the Agfa Gevaert photo club.
• Various expositions at International Nature Photo Festivals in the Netherlands, Germany and France.
• W.W.F – Belgium used his photos for their design calendars.
• In 2007 he won a “Highly Commended” – price in the prestigious BBC/Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year photo contest.
• Two final places at the Maria Luisa photo contest of  2010
• 2011 : European Wildlife Photographer of the Year photo contest - winner of the  Nature’s studio category.

Website :  www.wernervansteen.com