Tiger in Town

Robin Darius Conz's Image

Robin Darius Conz (Germany) watches a tiger on a hillside against the backdrop of a town where forests once grew.

Robin was following this tiger as part of a documentary team filming the wildlife of the Western Ghats.

He used a drone to watch the tiger explore its territory for several hours before it settled in this spot.

This image sums up many of the problems that face the world’s tigers today. Editor and Chair of the Jury Kathy Moran says “we initially revel in seeing a tiger seemingly at ease, out in the open, but as you move through the frame reality hits hard. Where’s the forest, what’s happened to the habitat? No tiger should ever be considered urban!”

The protected areas in the Western Ghats, where tigers are carefully monitored, are some of the most biodiverse landscapes in India and have a stable population of tigers. Outside these areas, where development has led to conflict between humans and wildlife, the number of tigers has fallen.

Behind the lens

Robin Darius Conz

Robin Darius Conz

Germany

With more than a decade of experience working in wildlife documentaries and on projects for renowned networks like National Geographic Wild, BBC, Netflix and Apple, Robin has honed his craft in diverse environments. From the freezing mountains of the Himalayas to the dense rainforests of South India, he’s filmed species of all shapes and sizes. In this pursuit, Robin’s mastered various filming techniques, including long-lens filming and drone operation, and is a certified GSS operator.

Image details

  • DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine
  • 70mm f2.8 lens
  • 1/15 at f2.8  •   ISO 400
  • Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
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