Martin Wenner, a passionate nature photographer from Werl, Germany, has captured first place in a prestigious photography competition organized by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Environment and the North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation. His winning photograph features an ermine in its pristine white winter coat, standing out magnificently against frost-covered grass. The image earned him the top prize among 1,783 submitted nature and landscape photographs from 479 participating photographers.
Wenner vividly recalls the decisive moment that led to his victory. On that January morning, shortly after sunrise, he had been kneeling quietly behind his camera for about forty-five minutes. He had positioned his tripod extremely low to capture the small predator at eye level. When the ermine finally appeared in the hoarfrost-covered grass, Wenner managed to capture an entire series of stunning images. One of these photographs has now brought him victory in the statewide competition, along with a prize of 1,000 euros.
The competition's jury was thoroughly impressed by Wenner's ermine photograph in its white winter attire. According to the Ministry of Environment, his image stood out among the twelve selected winning photos that will be featured in a large-format wall calendar. Wenner's prize-winning photograph will be prominently displayed for the month of January. Environment Minister Oliver Krischer praised the decision, stating that such photographs showcase North Rhine-Westphalia's natural heritage at its most beautiful. Eckhard Uhlenberg, President of the NRW Foundation from Büderich, also congratulated the winners, emphasizing the foundation's understanding of intact nature's invaluable worth.
Interestingly, Wenner captured this winning photograph five years ago near Neuenrade, following a tip from a fellow photography enthusiast. The 65-year-old photographer explained that while ermines are typically very shy creatures, this particular animal had likely become accustomed to humans due to a nearby hiking trail. He had observed and photographed this ermine multiple times in the same location, which contributed to his success in capturing such an intimate and striking image.
Wenner's journey into wildlife photography began seventeen years ago, ironically due to medical advice. His doctor had recommended outdoor exercise for health reasons, and Wenner initially intended only to observe birds. However, he quickly realized that he needed photographs for accurate species identification. Since then, he has captured many remarkable specimens through his lens, including bee-eaters, kingfishers, and most recently, a snake eagle. Now retired from his previous roles as a municipal enforcement officer and registrar, Wenner dedicates as much time as possible to his photographic pursuits.
While Wenner typically explores locations within the Soest district, he's willing to travel considerable distances for exceptional subjects. He describes photography as his great hobby, though his wife Gabi playfully corrects him, calling it 'our great hobby.' She serves as his spotter while he handles the camera work. Gabi Wenner expressed her joy about her husband's recognition, stating that he deserves the award for the tremendous joy and energy he invests in his craft, along with his natural eye for compelling subjects. Even on the day of the interview, Wenner had already spent three hours in the Voßwinkel Wildlife Forest, photographing wood ants and mushrooms.
Looking toward the future, Wenner hasn't yet decided how to spend his prize money, though he plans to vacation on Texel island to focus on photographing shorebirds. When asked about dream subjects after years of photography, he mentions that capturing a hazel dormouse would be ideal, along with a hamster or capercaillie. Both Martin and Gabi emphasize the importance of nature conservation in their hobby, never publicly revealing locations where they've spotted or photographed rare animals to avoid attracting crowds of curious onlookers.
Wenner typically shares his wildlife captures through calendars he annually distributes among relatives and friends. This year, however, he won't need to create his own calendar, as he'll receive fifteen copies featuring his winning image alongside the eleven motifs from other prize winners. The competition organizers have already launched a new contest with a submission deadline of August 28, 2026, requiring nature photographs taken in North Rhine-Westphalia in landscape format.
