Kiwi's African images win him praise in Wildlife contest

Lions from a portfolio submitted by London-based New Zealand Wildlife photographer David Lloyd. Photo / Supplied

An Auckland-born photographer has been recognised at the highest level for his striking portrait of a giraffe flicking its tail.

Freelancer David Lloyd, now based in London, received a specially commended award for the picture in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

The black-and-white picture, taken in Masai Mara, Kenya, was also chosen from 41,000 entries to feature on the cover of the book that accompanied the 20-year-old awards.

Of the giraffe picture, Lloyd said: "I didn't really think I was on to a big winner. The picture-taking conditions weren't ideal; it was the middle of the day, the light was quite bright. It was a good picture, but once I turned it into black and white, I then thought it was something special."

He said the animals were difficult to shoot because of their size, so he decided to photograph one at close quarters, with another in the background.

Three of his Kenyan pictures were chosen as finalists for the competition, with judges also impressed by his picture of a lion gazing longingly at a lioness, and another of wildebeest scrambling across a river.

First prize went to Spanish photographer Daniel Beltra for an image of brown pelicans coated in crude oil in Louisiana.

The top photographs are on display in Palmerston North until February, and will be shown in Christchurch, Rotorua and Porirua next year.