1st prize in "Birds": €250 in cash
Christos Pantazis | Greece
1st prize «Macros»
Acrometopa servillea
«…Spring in Mount Poikilo. Captured a species of cricket found in southeastern Europe. It lives on bushy slopes and at the edges of forests, and is active during spring and summer…»
Salahuddin Ahmed | Bangladesh
Honorable mention «Macros»
Tiny Hunter
«…A baby praying mantis perches on the curled tips of a young fern leaf. With its unique head shape, large compound eyes, and raptorial forelegs, the mantis is a skilled ambush predator, capable of striking prey with lightning-fast reflexes. Its delicate frame and intricate details contrast with the structured symmetry of the fern, creating a harmonious balance between insect and plant…»
Josef Hinterleitner | Austria
Honorable mention «Macros»
Pulsatilla
«…Pulsatilla, also known as pasque flower. Photographed on a meadow slope in Dürnstein, Austria, with a Canon D5 Mark IV and 180mm macro lens…»
Athanasios Fitsios | Italy
Honorable mention «Macros»
Dragonfly heart formation
«..Dragonflies are amazing insects with incredible skills and of course we like to photograph them for the wonderful colours even if can be challenging.
This photo (take in a small natural protected are close to Venice in Italy) shows another interesting aspect of dragonflies: the mating wheel that most times is actually a heart-like shape. The blue male dragonfly with the yellow female dragonfly fortunately remained stable for a few moments and that helped me capture this photo…»
Alexander Sviridov | Canada
Honorable mention «Macros»
The Other Side of Me
«..This snail is not slow — it’s just enjoying life. Taking a long walk, thinking deep thoughts, and proving that rushing is overrated. Nature’s smallest philosopher, carrying its house and zero stress…»
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Azim Khan Ronnie | France
Honorable mention «Macros»
Playing with bubble
«…This stunning macro photograph captures a blue bottle fly (Calliphora vomitoria) perched delicately on a twig, releasing a mesmerizing liquid bubble from its mouth. The iridescent blue-green exoskeleton shimmers under the light, contrasting beautifully with its striking red compound eyes. The intricate details of the fly’s body, from its fine hairs to its translucent wings, are brought into sharp focus against a soft, blurred green background. The liquid bubble, reflecting the surrounding light, adds a unique and captivating element to this incredible close-up of nature’s tiniest wonders…»
Fabiana Fregonesi | Brazil
Honorable mention «Macros»
Open-mouthed
«…This photograph features a vibrant blenny in Curaçao. Though common, I spent multiple dives specifically timing the fleeting moment the fish opens its mouth to feed, capturing its unique, «surprised» expression. This shot was technically demanding, utilizing a +10 diopter for extreme magnification. Given the subject’s diminutive size and lightning-fast movements, the process required immense patience and focus. The final result is a testament to the perseverance and precision needed to transform a frequent underwater encounter into a distinctive, high-impact portrait that stands out through detail and character…»
Thomas de Franzoni | Italy
Honorable mention «Macros»
After Dark Now
«…A small cluster of mushrooms emerges from the dark bark, fragile and luminous against the forest’s shadow. Their delicate gills catch the soft, scattered light, creating a quiet dialogue between darkness and glow. Suspended in a shallow depth of field, they feel almost weightless, as if momentarily detached from the earth. The scene speaks of resilience and silence, a fleeting presence in the stillness of the woods, where life persists gently, unnoticed, after dark…»
Antonio Bernardino Coelh | Portugal
Honorable mention «Macros»
«Under my Umbrella… Ellla…Ella»
«…A small snail perched on a moss-covered wall against a green grassy background. The plant in the image, perched on the snail, is called Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris), and it looks interesting, almost like an umbrella, hence my patient exploration of the snail’s path through that spot…»
