Simon Ndegwa Maina

First Place, Single Photo Amateur

Simon took this photo at his brother Patrick’s wedding, held in August 2009 at Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya, a world renowned wildlife sanctuary for birds. For their wedding, Patrick and his fiancée decided to buy 20 trees that they and their wedding guests and attendants could then plant. Flamingoes especially are attracted to the lake by its abundance of algae, along with pelicans and cormorants and terns. The Park itself serves as a rare and vital wildlife corridor for animals including the black rhino, and it boasts around 25 rhinos living in the Park, one of the largest concentrations of black rhino in Kenya.

Simon is a youth pastor who works closely with young people in Kenya. He said he has been a big fan of nature and photography since his boyhood days, and has always had a small camera ever since he could first afford to buy one.

“I really enjoyed being part of my brother’s wedding planning committee, especially since the wedding was to be done at the world’s premier bird sanctuary,” Simon said. “I want people to see that ‘anytime is conservation time,’ that any occasion can be turned into a conservation time.”

“I truly hope this photo will inspire more people,” he continued. “I look forward to the time when every couple will plant at least one tree to commemorate their wedding day.”