‘Squirrel Man’ Niki (36) wins National Geographic Photo Contest audience award: “Waited for hours for the unique moment” | InstagramHLN

Genk/DiepenbeekNature photographer Niki Colemont (36) from Genk has won thepublic prize of the National Geographic Photo Contest. He received the mostvotes in the Animal category with his photo of a squirrel jumping off a pieceof moss with a nut in its mouth.

Earlier, ‘The Squirrelman’, who was nicknamed for his creative snaps ofsquirrels, enthusiastically posted about the competition on his Instagram. “Adream would come true if I can win with a squirrel photo,” he told his fans.Today it turned out to be a hit and the Diepenbeken resident, who moved toGenk, won the audience prize of the National Geographic Photo Contest.

“I still can’t grasp it,” responds Niki, who walks off with a glass award,shopping credit at CameraNU worth 500 euros and an annual subscription toNational Geographic. That’s my favorite animal and my favorite fashion model_(laughs)._ On Monday evening, the results were suddenly published on theNational Geographic website. Incredible.”

Niki Colemont during his work as a nature photographer. © Caroline Coenen

How exactly was the winning photo taken? “By tempting the squirrel with ahazelnut on some moss, which I floated on a drinking pond,” Niki smiles. “Thatpond in a private forest in North Brabant in the Netherlands is specificallyintended for squirrels. Together with a good friend I went there and waitedfor four hours for a brave squirrel who dared to take the plunge. Manysquirrels wanted to, but did not find the courage.”

Niki Colemont exercises a lot of patience every time during his work as aphotographer.Niki Colemont exercises a lot of patience every time during his work as aphotographer. © Caroline Coenen

“Until that one squirrel suddenly jumped, took the hazelnut in its mouth andran off again. I was able to capture that special moment. If you look closely,you can see the reflection of the squirrel in the drinking pond and how theanimal’s tail creates a circular silhouette. I thought that was such a uniqueimage that I didn’t hesitate to send it in. I still can’t believe it’s nownumber one.”

Follow Niki Colemont’s work? Then you can visit instagram.com/nikicolemont.

Niki Colemont.Niki Colemont. © Caroline Coenen

Mini-documentary about Diepenbeek nature photographer has been viewed morethan 4 million times: “People from all corners of the world are asking forprints of my images”(+)

Niki Colemont, briefly world news because of his crazy squirrel photos,suddenly also had to swallow negative reactions: “Honestly? I have sometimesthought about quitting” (+)

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