Honorable Mention / 2023 / Nature / Wildlife

• Photographer
  Ning Ding, Canada

This picture I captured when kayaking on a pond nearby the swan nest area. The swan mom was "walking" her babies out to get familiar with their neighborhood and to practice their swimming skills. I used 200 mm lens to shoot from a safe distance. But the swan mom was protective as long as she felt a little unsafe situation. And babies followed their mom closely and tried to climb on mom's back. I often kayaked during their grow-up period until one day they were independent to live and left. I am so glad and lucky to record the miracle lives and family bond in nature.