Selected from almost 60,000 entries from 117 countries and territories, the winners in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest offer a stunning window into the natural world, celebrating its beauty and fragility. Canadian photojournalist, Shane Gross, took the top honours for his image ‘The Swarm of Life’, a breathtaking photo that shines a light on the magical underwater world of western toad tadpoles.
Overall winner & Winner, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture
Shane Gross looks under the surface layer of lily pads as a mass of western toad tadpoles swim past.
Shane Gross / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
To capture the award-winning shot, Gross spent several hours snorkelling through carpets of lily pads in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, being careful not to disturb the layers of silt and algae coating the bottom of the lake. The metallic-blue tadpoles begin transitioning into toads between four and twelve weeks after hatching at which point they are highly vulnerable to predators. Only around one percent of the hatchlings will make it to adulthood, a dangerously low number for a species significantly impacted by habitat loss.
"The jury was captivated by the mix of light, energy and connectivity between the environment and the tadpoles," says Kathy Moran, Chair of the Jury and Editor. "We were equally excited by the addition of a new species to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year archive. Over the last few years, the competition has highlighted environments and species that are often overlooked yet provoke the same wonder and delight when shared as the more typically photographed wildlife and wild places."
The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award went to Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas from Germany for his image ‘Life Under Dead Wood’, depicting the fruiting bodies of slime mould on the right and a tiny springtail on the left.
Winner, 15-17 Years
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas rolls a log over to see the fruiting bodies of slime mould and a tiny springtail.
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Tinker-Tsavalas used a technique called focus stacking to produce the photo, combining 36 images with different areas in focus into one compelling shot. Often overlooked, springtails are free-living organisms found in almost every corner of the globe. They play a crucial role in improving soil health by feeding on microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, assisting in the decomposition process.
"A photographer attempting to capture this moment not only brings great skill, but incredible attention to detail, patience and perseverance. To see a macro image of two species photographed on the forest floor, with such skill, is exceptional." Moran said in a press release.
Celebrating its sixtieth year, the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition featuring the 100 award-winning and highly commended images will open today (Friday, 11 October 2024) at the Natural History Museum, London.
Winner, Behaviour: Invertebrates
Ingo Arndt documents the efficient dismemberment of a blue ground beetle by red wood ants.
Ingo Arndt / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Impact Award
Jannico Kelk illuminates a ninu, with the wire grass and shrubs behind it providing a frame against the darkness.
Jannico Kelk / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behaviour: Mammals
Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod finds this serene scene of a young toque macaque sleeping in an adult’s arms.
Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Photojournalist Story Award
‘Among the Trees’
The Amazon river dolphin is one of two freshwater dolphin species living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Only this species has evolved to explore the seasonally flooded forest habitat.
Thomas Peschak / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, 11-14 Years
Parham Pourahmad watches as the last rays of the setting sun illuminate a young Cooper’s hawk eating a squirrel.
Parham Pourahmad / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Urban Wildlife
Robin Darius Conz watches a tiger on a hillside against the backdrop of a town where forests once grew.
Robin Darius Conz / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles
Karine Aigner recognises the skin of a yellow anaconda as it coils itself around the snout of a yacaré caiman.
Karine Aigner / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Natural Artistry
Jiří Hřebíček creates an impressionistic vision of this perching carrion crow.
Jiří Hřebíček / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Animal Portraits
John E Marriott frames a lynx resting, with its fully grown young sheltering from the cold wind behind it.
John E Marriott / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behaviour: Birds
Jack Zhi enjoys watching a young falcon practising its hunting skills on a butterfly, above its sea-cliff nest.
Jack Zhi / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Animals in their Environment
Igor Metelskiy shows a lynx stretching in the early evening sunshine, its body mirroring the undulating wilderness.
Igor Metelskiy / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Underwater
Matthew Smith carefully photographs a curious leopard seal beneath the Antarctic ice.
Matthew Smith / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, 10 Years and Under
Alberto Román Gómez contrasts a delicate stonechat bird with a hefty chain.
Alberto Román Gómez / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.