(01 of12)
Open Image ModalANIMAL BEHAVIOUR WINNER - KRIS WORSLEY: Pheasant Display(Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus) Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, EnglandIt’s always good to photograph wildlife on the doorstep, and I particularly like photographing wildlife within walking distance of my house. The farmland around where we live provides fantastic opportunities for this, and the spectacle of spring means you don’t have to wait very long to catch the sight of pheasants displaying in the fields where we walk.
(02 of12)
Open Image ModalHIDDEN BRITAIN WINNER - ALEX HYDE: Dew-covered Crane Fly(Crane fly, Tipula paludosa) Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, EnglandEarly on a crisp September morning I noticed scores of crane flies clinging to the tops of grass stems. Dew drops covered every surface including their delicate bodies, each droplet creating a tiny inverted view of the surrounding landscape.
(03 of12)
Open Image ModalURBAN WILDLIFE WINNER - TOMOS BRANGWYN: London Starling Gang(Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris) London, EnglandI placed a fisheye lens in a car park favoured by starlings during the winter. Using a remote trigger and flash I sought an eye-level view as I wanted to bring out some of their cheeky and curious character. Starlings are often overlooked by birdwatchers and photographers and, as a bird in decline, need to be appreciated as highly intelligent, inquisitive and beautiful birds.
(04 of12)
Open Image ModalWILD WOODS WINNER - CHAITANYA DESHPANDEA Flutter in the Woods, London, EnglandTaken on an autumn morning when I was in the woods early and had them to myself. Knowing there would be mist, I waited for the woods to wake up. In the silence of the morning I heard a flutter of wings. I wasn’t fast enough so missed a few opportunities. I finally came away with this image that represented my experience that morning. I can still hear the flutter of wings.
(05 of12)
Open Image ModalWINNER OF THE 12–18 YEARS CATEGORY - KYLE MOORE (AGE 16)Bokeh Frog, Lowestoft, Suffolk, EnglandWhile trying to photograph frogs one evening, a sudden downpour occurred, giving me an idea for a unique image. A quick but careful positioning of a flashgun coupled with a warming gel behind my pond allowed me to illuminate the droplets of rain. Finally, the use of a shallow depth of field helped to isolate the frog among a cascade of rain droplets, producing this dreamy bokeh effect.
(06 of12)
Open Image ModalWINNER OF THE UNDER-12 CATEGORY - MAX EVE (AGE 10)Blue-tailed Damselfly, Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Dumfries, ScotlandI took this blue-tailed damselfly at Caerlaverock Wetland Centre near Dumfries on grass beside a large pond. We stayed in a cottage on the reserve and got up early when it was cool so the insects moved less.
(07 of12)
Open Image ModalBOTANICAL BRITAIN WINNER - TIM HUNT (Fairy moss, Azolla caroliniana) Enys Gardens, Penryn, Cornwall, EnglandMy eye was drawn to the carpet of green algae that covered the pond.The bubbles provided an interesting texture but the potential image needed another element. After searching around the pond, I came across this fairy moss that added a splash of colour and an ideal focal point.
(08 of12)
Open Image ModalBRITISH SEASONS WINNER - KEVIN SAWFORDWinter: Snow Roe, Suffolk, EnglandAfter a heavy snowfall I was out searching for any wildlife to photograph in the winter landscape. I came across a small herd of roe deer in a field. The light was very harsh so I opted to capture this image of a pair of deer as a semi-silhouette on the bright white snow.
(09 of12)
Open Image ModalANIMAL PORTRAITS WINNER - WILLIAM HARVEY(Common/Viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara) Thursley Common, Surrey, EnglandThe boardwalk at Thursley NNR is an amazing place to see lizards – on hot summer days you can find dozens of them basking in the sun on the boards. They are very skittish creatures, and sudden movements will often send them diving for cover in the long grass at the edge of the boards. Working with a wide-angle lens meant getting very close, and it took a lot of patience and a number of failed attempts to get any photos.This photo was taken during a warm spell relatively early in the year. It was towards the end of the afternoon, the sun was starting to drop and the temperature was falling. This lizard, along with a few others, had climbed a very short way up the trunk of a dead tree at the edge of the boardwalk to reach the last of the day’s sun. I had to lie flat on the boardwalk to get low enough to be looking up at the lizard. I manually focused the lens to its closest focusing point then, holding the camera with one hand and a flash with the other, very slowly moved towards the lizard, trying to avoid startling it with any quick movements. Thankfully it stayed still, allowing me to take this photo.
(10 of12)
Open Image ModalCOAST AND MARINE WINNER - PAUL COLLEY: Beautiful Blues(Blue shark, Prionace glauca) English Channel south of Penzance, Cornwall, EnglandThe blue sharks approached our small boat about one hour after a fish scent trail was laid in the water. After letting the sharks get used to the boat, I slipped into the cold water wearing a wetsuit, mask and snorkel. The sharks were curious and made a few close approaches. In this case, a large shark passed by accompanied by a slightly smaller one, creating this pleasing composition, captured using natural light.
(11 of12)
Open Image ModalBRITISH NATURE IN BLACK AND WHITE WINNER - TERRY WHITTAKERPink-footed Geese in Mist (Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus) Black Isle, Highlands, ScotlandDuring spring and autumn thousands of pink-footed geese gather on Cromarty Firth en route to and from their breeding grounds in Iceland. Some overwinter here but most are using the Firth as a staging post in their migration. On this morning, mist was hanging over the Firth and the geese were rising through it with snow-capped Ben Wyvis in the background.
(12 of12)
Open Image ModalCLOSE TO NATURE WINNER - CHRIS SPELLERMite Walking in Frog Valley (Common frog, Rana temporaria) Bristol, EnglandI enjoy photographing around the small pond in my urban back garden. After taking this close-up of a frog I realised I had also captured an orange mite-like creature. This is the only time I have seen such a relationship but I have been unable to identify the smaller animal. The macro photographic world is fascinating and I find the resulting scene reminiscent of a larger lone animal walking in a mountain valley.