Photo contest winners show the hidden wonders of Romania’s forests

23 August 2021 Forests in photos

PEFC Romania announced the winners of its 2021 Photo Contest “The people of the forests, the forests of the people”, showing magical moments and encounters in the forest.

“There were some exceptional photos entered this year, making it very difficult for the jury to choose the winners,” said Lucian Filigean, National Secretary of PEFC Romania.

“If we could, we would have awarded at least half of the photos submitted.”

The winners

First place went to Andrei Lazăr for his magical photo ‘Cerbul’ (‘Stag’), taken in Olt, in Southern Romania. The photo shows a stag looking out of the darkness, right at the photographer.

“The stag in the photo was running in circles with a doe, being in mating season. It noticed me and looked curiously at me for a few moments, after which it continued to play its game of running in circles with the doe,” explained the winning photographer.

Second place went to Vlad Ionescu for the photo ‘Rasarit de toamna’ (‘The autumn sunrise’). The photo shows a foggy morning at Fundătura Ponorului, Romania.

Doru Groza came in third with the photo ‘Din dragoste pentru padure’ (‘Out of love for the forest’), taken in Sebes Alba, Romania.

“It was at sunset and this deer was coming towards me at a fast pace,” said the photographer.

“Suddenly it stopped and started rubbing its neck against the trunk of the tree. After a few minutes it moved away and got lost among the silhouettes of the trees.”

The prizes

For first place, Mr. Lazăr wins two nights at Hotel Peștera in the Bucegi Mountains, including a guided tour through a PEFC-certified forest.

Mr. Ionescu can look forward to a stay at Hotel Perla in Slănic Moldova, and a guided tour through a PEFC-certified forest.

Mr. Groza receives a voucher of 1000 RON for the purchase of photo equipment.

To discover all the photos entered into the Romanian photo contest, head to Instagram and look for #2021pefcfoto.