Like every year at this time, the London Natural History Museum reveals the winners of its major photo competition. Shane GrossCanadian photographer, receives the Grand Prize of this 2024 edition of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Phototrend brings you its selection of the most beautiful award-winning images from this prestigious competition, which is about to celebrate its 60 ans d’existence.
Shane Gross, winner of the Grand Prix (Adult category)
Canadian photojournalist specializing in protection of marine environments, Shane Gross delivers a shot worthy of one of masters of impressionism. Certainly, the medium used is not painting, but photography, with a naturalistic approach identical.
Thus, this photograph immerses us (literally) in the middle of Cedar Lakenot far from Ottawa. Using a lens fisheye offers a panoramic view on the stage. In the middle of water lily stemsof the thousands of tadpoles try to return to the surface of the lake, where they can feed.
The clarity of the water is linked to the prowess of the photographer, who remained several hours underwater so as not to disturb the species – and not to raise mud at the bottom of the lake. The result: an image of great poetry, of free and sublime nature.
Grand Prize for photographers aged 15 to 17
Fascinated by nature since childhood, Alexis Tinker Tsavalas (Germany) receives the Grand Prix in the category reserved for elderly photographers from 15 to 17 years old. On a log that he had carefully turned over, we discovered a tiny collembolefacing a bubble formed by a slime fruit mold.
The difficulty came not only from the size of the beast (less than 2 mm), but also from the speed and length of its jumps (several times their size in a fraction of a second). The image was taken using a Laowa macro lens, and the technique of focus stacking.
“Macro photography is already a challenge when trying to capture a single species. Seeing them both photographed in such detail is exceptional. When the photographer has done his framing, we have the impression that the slime mold and the springtail are talking,” explains Kathy Moranmembre du jury du Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024.
Category “Animal portraits”
Canada’s natural wealth is once again in the spotlight with John E. Marriottwhich highlights this group of lynx resting in the middle of a snowy landscape. After tracking down this family of felines for almost a week through the forest of the region Yukonthe photographer was able to keep a sufficient distance so as not to disturb them.
The result is this striking photo, where the lynx seem look down in those of the photographer – and in ours…
Category “Birds”
Suspended in mid-flight, this young peregrine falcon and this butterfly share the frame for eternity in front of the lens of Jack Zhi. Over the past 8 years, the American photographer has traveled to the same place, observing the evolution of these birds.
This shot is both a technical feat (taking into account the speed of peregrine falcons). It is also the result of a perfect awareness habits of these birds.
Category “Behavior: Mammals”
It is a scene of great tenderness that managed to capture Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod. Initially seeking to photograph birds and leopards, the Sri Lankan photographer realized that he was not alone, a group of toque macaques having placed themselves above him.
Having spotted this young monkey sleeping in his mother’s arms, he managed to capture this very simple – but movingly beautiful – shot.
Category “Behavior: Amphibians and Reptiles”
It is also serendipity which is in question in this very beautiful photo of Karine Aigner. Photographing marsh deer in the National Park Pantanal (Brazil), the American photographer noticed this strange shape floating on the water.
Using her binoculars, she was able to follow the fierce fight between the two reptiles. However, the play of reflections seems to express a certain serenity, while the yellow anaconda wrapped its rings around the alligator’s mouth.
Category “Behavior: invertebrates”
Effective cutting. The scene immortalized Ingo Arndt is very impressive. In close-up (and in its smallest details), a cloud of red ants is seen cutting a beetleso that its pieces can pass through the entrance to the anthill.
Placed in the center of the frame, one of the ants is seen in profile in action. From a certain point of view, we will almost be reassured to know that the blue insect was already dead at the time of the events!
Category “Oceans: full frame”
As beautiful as it is tragic, this mosaic created by Justin Gilligan shows the approximately 403 pieces of plastic found in the digestive tract of a pale-footed shearwater, whose silhouette can be seen on the left of the photo.
The Australian photographer documents the work of the Adrift Lab, a group of scientists studying the consequences of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.
This photograph was captured on the island Lord Howein New South Wales (Australia). According to the research team, plastic residues were found in the bodies of 3/4 of the adult shearwaters that breed on the island. For chicks, this figure rose to 100%.
Category “Plants and mushrooms
It’s a shot with very soft colors that delivers Lucky Cat. At the heart of Highlandsin Scotland, an old birch tree spreads its twisting branches, which are covered in pale lichens – a sign that pollution is minimal. We enjoy the game of complementarity of the coppery, golden, green and charcoal hues.
“Urban life” category
On a hill where a forest once stretched, a tiger india rests. THE contrast between the wild animal and the human activities below is striking. Likewise, the foggy atmosphere gives an element of mystery to this shot captured by the German photographer Robin Darius Conz using a drone.
Find below a selection of photographs from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024:
Organized each year by the Natural History Museum de Londres, The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition aims to reward the most beautiful photos of wildlife. For this 60e editionnot less than 59 228 photos coming from 117 pays were submitted. All the winning photographs can be found on the competition website.
The winners are exhibited from October 11, 2024 to June 28, 2025 in London. A book has also been published by Biotope editions (hardcover, 160 pages, 25 x 25 cm, €34).
Practical information :
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
Natural History Museum de Londres
From October 11, 2024 to June 28, 2025
Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, Royaume-Uni
Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.
Tickets: from £15.50
