June 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest Third Place Winner
Theme: Reflections
“Impala Drinking at Night” by Alison Mees
Captured during a two-night stay inside a purpose-built night hide in Shompole Conservancy, Kenya, this photograph offers a rare glimpse into the nocturnal behavior of African wildlife. The hide overlooks a remote waterhole, equipped with low-impact LED lighting to preserve the natural environment while allowing for carefully controlled low-light photography.
On this particular night, a male impala cautiously emerged from the shadows to drink. With my camera mounted on a gimbal and ISO pushed high to handle the darkness, I manually controlled lighting and focus to capture the moment without disrupting the animal’s behavior. The soft, directional light highlighted the impala’s form and cast a clean reflection on the still water—preserving the quiet tension and mystery of the night.
Silence, patience, and precision were essential to avoid startling the impala, who knew predators like lions often shared this watering spot.
Winning Wildlife Photographer:
Alison Mees
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