The Natural History Museum, London’s Wildlife Photographer Of The Year competition has announced its winner – and the breathtaking snap offers the chance to immerse yourself in the magical underwater world of the western toad tadpole.
Now in its 60th year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year celebrates the diversity and beauty of life on Earth, as well as highlighting what we can do to protect it. This year saw a record-breaking 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories. The winning image – The Swarm of Life, which can be seen above – was taken by Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, Shane Gross.
Captured while snorkeling through carpets of lily pads in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, the mesmerizing shot offers us a glimpse into the mystical lives of western toad tadpoles – a near-threatened species.
“The jury was captivated by the mix of light, energy and connectivity between the environment and the tadpoles. We were equally excited by the addition of a new species to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year archive,” Kathy Moran, Chair of the Jury and Editor, said in a statement sent to IFLScience. “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.”
See more of the stunning images from the 2024 competition below.
A Tranquil Moment by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod, Sri Lanka
Winner, Behaviour: Mammals
A Tranquil Moment.
Image credit: © Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod, Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A young toque macaque snoozes blissfully in an adult’s arms in this stunning image from Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod taken in Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka.
The Demolition Squad by Ingo Arndt, Germany
Winner, Behaviour: Invertebrates
The Demolition Squad.
Image credit: © Ingo Arndt, Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Ingo Arndt watched as red wood ants carved an (already dead) blue ground beetle into tiny pieces, taking this incredible photo before they dragged the dismembered beetle into their nest. After just a few minutes lying next to the scene, Arndt described himself as “full of ant”.
Under the Waterline by Matthew Smith, UK/Australia
Winner, Underwater
Under the Waterline.
Image credit: © Matthew Smith, Wildlife Photographer of the Year
This leopard seal lurking beneath the Antarctic ice was snapped by Matthew Smith using a specially designed dome port on the front of his underwater housing. According to Smith, the curious young seal made several close passes: “When it looked straight into the lens barrel, I knew I had something good.”
Dolphins of the Forest by Thomas Peschak, Germany/South Africa
Winner, Photojournalist Story Award
.jpg "Amazon river dolphin in seasonally flooded forest")
Dolphins of the Forest.
Image credit: © Thomas Peschak, Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The endangered Amazon river dolphin, also known as botos or the pink river dolphin, is one of two freshwater dolphin species living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins and has evolved to explore the seasonally flooded forest habitat. Here, Thomas Peschak documents the complicated relationship between the dolphins and the people with whom they share their watery home.
Life Under Dead Wood by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, Germany
Winner, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Life Under Dead Wood.
Image credit: © Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas from Germany was awarded Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 for this close-up image of the fruiting bodies of slime mold and a tiny springtail. Photographing the encounter was no mean feat: Tinker-Tsavalas had to roll over a log to capture it and work fast, as springtails are notorious jumpers. No less than 36 pics, each with a different area in focus, were combined to make this image.
“A photographer attempting to capture this moment not only brings great skill, but incredible attention to detail, patience and perseverance,” said Moran. “To see a macro image of two species photographed on the forest floor, with such skill, is exceptional.”
Hope for the Ninu by Jannico Kelk, Australia
Winner, Impact Award
Hope for the Ninu.
Image credit: © Jannico Kelk, Wildlife Photographer of the Year
New to this year’s competition is the Impact Award, which recognizes conservation success stories. In the adult category, Australian photographer Jannico Kelk took home the prize for his pic of a greater bilby – also known as the ninu – a small marsupial that was on the brink of extinction, but which now, within fenced reserves where most predators have been eradicated, is thriving.
To view these and all the other winning images in person, head to London’s Natural History Museum, where the stunning shots will be displayed, alongside soundscapes, films, and expert insights, from October 11 until June next year.
If you fancy your chances in the 61st competition, entries for next year open on October 14 and close on December 5, 2024 – so get snapping and submitting.
In the meantime, how about some award-winning astronomy pics or side-splitting nature shots to wet your photography contest whistle? You can also check out some of the highly commended photos from this year’s competition here.
