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By Tsai Tsung-hsien and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Kenting National Park service technician Yang Jien-fon (楊政峰) won a silver award in World Grand Prix Photography Awards Spring Season for his photograph of two male rat snakes intertwined in combat.
Yang’s colleagues at Kenting National Park said he is a master of nature photography who has been held back by his job in civil service.
The awards accept entries in all four seasons across six categories: architectural and urban photography, black-and-white and fine art photography, commercial and fashion photography, documentary and people photography, nature and experimental photography, and mobile photography.
Photo courtesy of Yang Jien-fon
Awards are ranked according to scores and divided into platinum, gold and silver, recognizing the photographers’ observational skills and potential.
Yang is an accomplished writer and photographer, having published several books on natural ecology and held solo photography exhibitions in national parks.
The award-winning photo “Intertwined of two male snakes” was taken in May 2020 on a Canon G12, a compact consumer camera, Yang said.
“This photo did not require any staking out or camouflage,” he said.
While patrolling a hilly area west of Fongchueisha (風吹沙) in Kenting, he unexpectedly spotted two large male rat snakes fiercely fighting over territory in a pond, he said.
The two rat snakes, which are non-venomous and can grow up to 2m long, were tightly entwined, resembling the taut twists of a braid, Yang said.
