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Aquatic Life, Winner: “Tadpole Migration” by Shane Gross
The California Academy of Sciences has unveiled the winners of its BigPicture photography competition, which celebrates striking images from the natural world. Now in its 11th year, the competition is judged by a panel of nature and conservation photography experts, which is chaired by wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas. Featuring stunning images by several shooters from the DPG community, the contest highlights Earth’s incredible biodiversity and illustrates the numerous threats facing our planet and its inhabitants.
The Grand Prize Winner is “The Forest of the Monarchs” by Jaime Rojo, a professional photographer and National Geographic Explorer who specializes in environmental stories about wilderness and wildlife. The image, shot in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán, Mexico, shows monarch butterflies “sleeping, clinging in clusters” to the reserve’s tall, lush trees as sunlight streams through the dense forest canopy.
Meanwhile, regular DPG contributor (and DPG Masters competition winner) Shane Gross bagged the top award in the Aquatic Life category with a fabulous image of western toad tadpoles during their daily migration in a lake on Vancouver Island, Canada. Shane told DPG about how he captured the image—which was also awarded in the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition—in an article earlier this year.
The Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora category winner was, appropriately enough, a split shot of a blanket of sea anemones blooming in a South African tidepool. The photographer, Geo Cloete, whose name you’ll also recognize from many contests, including DPG Masters and the UN World Oceans Day photo competition, captured the serene image of sandy anemones showing off their beautiful, variegated colors as they ensnare passing food.
Interestingly, the Winged Life category winner is also an underwater shot—a dynamic image of northern gannets diving for a meal in the chilly waters of Scotland’s Shetland Islands, taken by DPG contributor Franco Banfi. Check out our Interview with the Pros article, where we chat to Franco about just some of the mind-blowing images he has captured in his career.
Hearty congratulations to all the winners and runners-up in this year’s contest. Don’t forget that the deadline of the inaugural Underwater Awards Australasia 2024 imaging competition—August 1st—is fast approaching, so make sure you get your entries in soon and claim your share of the spectacular prize pool!
Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora, Winner: “In Celebration” by Geo Cloete
Winged Life, Winner: “Underwater Harmony and Chaos” by Franco Banfi
Human Nature, Finalist: “Hopeless” by Alvaro Herrero
Aquatic Life, Finalist: “How Many Dolphins Is Too Many?” by Merche Llobera
Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Pike Place” by Luc Rooman
Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Bubble-Net Feeding” by Scott Portelli
Aquatic Life, Finalist: “Parenthood” by Dennis Corpuz
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