Three bear cubs snuggle closely beside their mother, a family of four peacefully sleeping on a protruding rock, with only the starry deep blue sky providing shelter and warmth. This heartwarming scene, set against the backdrop of the vast star-filled sky, is truly beautiful and awe-inspiring.
This picturesque scene, titled “Dreaming Above the Universe,” was captured by Spanish photographer Lurdes Santander. With this mesmerizing piece, Santander emerged as the winner of the 2024 Siena Creative Photo Awards in Italy, earning her the title of “Creative Photographer of the Year.”
Hailing from the Cantabria region in northern Spain, Santander shared with The Epoch Times the story behind creating this artwork.
During early summer this year, she and a companion were observing wildlife in the Cabarceno Natural Park in their hometown of Cabárceno. One day in June, a sudden downpour left Santander drenched, but this weather provided her with the opportunity to experiment with different lighting effects. As night fell, she noticed several bear cubs snuggled up sleeping with their mother.
Santander explained that as she tightly held her camera waiting for the perfect moment to capture the scene, she instantly connected with it. “I immediately recalled those happy moments of sleeping together with my pets,” she said.
It is worth noting that the award-winning piece is actually a composite image. Adjusting the camera settings due to low light, Santander chose a very blue color temperature to photograph the bears. With the help of astronomical photography software like PhotoPills and Stellarium, she quickly located the position of the Milky Way and captured the Milky Way arch as the background. She then used digital techniques to blend the two photos into one.
While the rules of the Siena Awards allow post-processing of photos, they require photographers to verify that the scene captured in the photo is real and explicitly prohibit the use of artificial intelligence systems.
“When I saw the photo on the big screen, I could clearly see one of the bear cubs leaning its small head against the mother’s face, while the other two little ones were fast asleep cuddled against the mother’s belly. I felt like embracing them at that moment!” Santander said. “I felt an extraordinary sense of peace and harmony within me, realizing our intrinsic connection with the Milky Way galaxy.”
Santander hopes to convey a positive message through her work, emphasizing the importance of respect, inclusivity, and coexistence for everyone on this planet rather than trying to possess or control others’ lives.
Santander’s passion for photography dates back to her childhood when, at just 9 years old, she asked her grandparents for a camera. About five years ago, she began to take this art form more seriously, dedicating more time and energy to photography. She apprenticed under José Maria Mellado and Carles Marsal, whom she considers the best teachers in photography techniques and image editing.
Her love for animals also stems from her childhood, with her initial subjects being wildlife. She now views these furry animal friends as her “best emotional guides.”
“I want to give a voice to the voiceless through my photos,” Santander expressed.
Her outstanding achievement in this year’s Siena Creative Photo Awards will undoubtedly help spread this message wider and farther. According to a press release from the competition organizers, “Dreaming Above the Universe” stood out from over 6,500 entries submitted by more than 4,000 photographers from 135 countries/regions.
However, Santander is not stopping here. The award-winning piece is just a part of her collection “Animals Under the Stars,” showcasing animals’ behaviors after sunset.
Currently, she is dedicated to a new work titled “Babies,” which has been three years in the making and is set for release next year (2025).