The 14-year-old French wildlife images prodigy

In October 2025, a 14-year-old French boy made waves within the images world when two footage depicting Alpine ibex picked up prestigious worldwide awards.

Lubin Godin triumphed in youth classes for each Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPOTY) and the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year (EWPOTY).

Ibex are among the many many wild animals Lubin has turn out to be accustomed to observing of their pure habitat. 

A local of Taninges, a city of three,500 inhabitants in Haute-Savoie, he recurrently spends entire weekends trekking and exploring the mountains. The ibex footage, nevertheless, had been completely different.

“When I took them, I knew they were the best photos I had ever taken,” he instructed The Connexion. “But I didn’t count on to win such famend prizes.

The first picture, exhibiting ibex resting, was one in every of 18 pictures – from 60,636 submissions – to be awarded a WPOTY prize. Just eight days later, the {photograph} exhibiting an ibex on a rock, taken quarter-hour after the primary, was awarded an EPOTY prize.

The Connexion requested him extra about his photographic course of, in addition to his aspirations for the longer term.

Connexion: When did you’re taking these footage?

Lubin Godin: It was an August day at dawn, close to the Col de la Colombière, near Le Grand-Bornand. We left at 5:00 within the fog and by 7:00 we had climbed above it. 

The footage had been taken simply earlier than 8:00. As we climbed increased, the fog rose too. It reached the extent of the ibex. The mild hit the mist, and the rocks forged shadows in it. It created a surprising ambiance.

You could not discover it, however there are all the time three ibex within the body – every time there’s one which’s hidden.

Connexion: Is it troublesome to {photograph} ibex? 

LG: They disappeared from France within the nineteenth Century due to looking. 

Since their reintroduction, they’ve now not been hunted and have misplaced their concern of people however it’s nonetheless uncommon to see them, not to mention {photograph} them. 

The ibex within the Wildlife Photographer of the Year shot had been about 50 metres away. In the opposite shot, they had been round ten metres away.

Connexion: What do you assume caught the jury’s consideration?

LG: The mild, I believe. I’ve seen it a number of occasions earlier than but it surely stays distinctive. 

The glow at dawn offers a barely orange tone. The fog was white. When it mixes with the yellow mild, it turns orange. But in some darker areas, the fog didn’t brighten fully.

Connexion: Animals are clearly your factor. Why?

LG: I really like images, however I principally use it as an excuse to watch animals. That is what I get pleasure from most. 

Wildlife is my favorite sort of images. I’m not drawn to city topics, as a result of there’s nothing I actually need to observe there. It is nice observe for studying new strategies, however that’s about it.

Connexion: Are there nonetheless animals you dream of photographing? 

LG: I’ve a really lengthy listing! The lynx and the wolf are those I dream of seeing. They are giant animals, typically talked about, but nearly by no means seen. The method they’re so discreet fascinates me. 

I really feel fairly sure I’ve been watched by a lynx already, however I’ve by no means seen one myself.Bears curiosity me too. 

There aren’t many in Haute-Savoie. I went to the Pyrenees final yr, and in addition to the Abruzzo area in Italy – two locations the place they reside – however didn’t handle to see one.

Connexion: What digicam do you employ?

LG: My digicam physique is a Canon Eos R7. The lens is a 100-400mm, which suggests it will possibly zoom in eight occasions greater than the human eye. 

It is good for photographing timid animals that people can’t get near. I even have a teleconverter that will increase the zoom vary to between 140 and 560mm.

Connexion: Is a very good photographer essentially a affected person one?

LG: For wildlife and panorama images, sure. You typically have to attend a very long time for the appropriate mild, or for animals to seem.

Those who attempt to see the lynx have waited tons of, even hundreds of hours. It is a protracted course of. Patience and data of animals are important. You can not comply with a lynx when you have no idea the sort of habitat it lives in.

Connexion: Your older brother is a French mountain bike champion. How does photographing him differ from snapping animals?

LG: It is troublesome as a result of most of his competitions happen throughout college hours. I can’t precisely inform my instructor I’m skipping class to take photographs of my brother. 

But if he competes through the holidays, then I’m going with him. On a motorbike, you recognize precisely the place he’ll cross, in order that half is less complicated. 

But discovering a great spot to take an amazing photograph is commonly trickier than with ibex, for instance, who transfer round freely in many alternative areas.

Connexion: Do you need to turn out to be knowledgeable wildlife photographer?

LG: I might like to, however fewer than 10 folks in France make a dwelling out of it. I wish to work both in wildlife images or in one thing associated, reminiscent of mountain guiding or being a park ranger.

Connexion: What about working for the BBC, which has among the world’s finest wildlife photographers?

It would positively be value attempting. Although, I have to admit, my English will not be nice. I would want to practise. The Connexion will assist [laughs].