Rithved Girish, a 14-year-old photographer from India, has taken first prize in the Youth category of the Close Up Photographer of the Year contest. His winning image, Guardians of the Hive, depicts a stingless bee nest in Kerala. The relevant fact is that he used a Nikon D850 camera, a DSLR model released in 2017, in a contest that received over 12,000 photographs from 63 countries.
The technique behind the photograph: "old" equipment and patience 🐝
Girish worked with his Nikon D850 and a 105 mm macro lens. The settings were 1/250s, f/11 and ISO 400, using a ring flash for uniform and controlled lighting. The process required waiting for the right moment without disturbing the bees, demonstrating that technical knowledge and respect for the subject are key. This case shows that a several-year-old camera can be more than sufficient for top-level results.
Forum users who change cameras every year, in shock 😲
While forums endlessly debate the megapixels of the latest mirrorless sensor, a teenager with a seven-year-old DSLR wins an international prize. It seems the decisive factor was not having the latest hardware, but knowing how to use it and, perhaps, having the patience not to scare the insects. A lesson for those who think the next purchase will solve their photographic shortcomings.