Italian photographer Cristiano Vendramin wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award

Cristiano Vendramin, a Venetian photographer and lawyer, has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award, organized by the Natural History Museum in London. His image of a frozen lake, dedicated to a deceased friend, received over 31,800 online votes, winning out of 25 images selected from 50,000 entries across 95 countries in the 57th annual competition. The photograph, titled "Lake of ice: Frozen in time," actually depicts melting ice on Lake Santa Croce in Belluno province, Italy, where a willow oasis can become submerged depending on water levels. Vendramin captured the scene at dawn as the surface ice began to melt, creating reflections. The winning photo is on display until June 5 at the Natural History Museum in London (South Kensington) and at Forte di Bard in Valle d'Aosta, alongside the four Highly Commended finalists, as part of the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition featuring 100 best nature photos of 2021. The overall 2021 competition winner was French marine biologist and underwater photographer Laurent Ballesta, whose image "Creation" shows camouflage groupers mating in Fakarava lagoon, French Polynesia, during a full moon and falling tide, while gray sharks hunt them.