Annual Nature

For commentary on the whole competition please visit our Highlight page the winning images are shown below. This competition has both Projected Image and Print Sections.

Projected Image

White Faced Whistling Duck by Jane Wiltshire - 1st Place

Whilst visiting the Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, I noticed this beautiful duck tucked away under a bush, quite calm and still. I had my 100 to 400mm lens on my camera, so I was able to capture a shot without disturbing it.

Mating Demoiselles by Jane Wiltshire - 2nd Place

Kit Investigating its Territory by David Wilkinson – 3rd place

David was lucky to capture this Kit in daylight hours as they are mainly out and about in the hours of darkness. Photographed from a hide portraying this wild Pine Marten in its natural environment. Taken in the Scottish highlands.

Early Bumble Bee by Tim Tapley - HC

Resting Spoonwing Lacewing by Tony Leach - HC

After a reasonably gentle early morning climb in Bulgaria we located a known site of resting (or sleeping?) stunning Spoonwing Lacewings. I found this one resting in the sun on a contrasting flower with the background in shade.

Southern Carmine Bee-eater by Gerald Clarke - HC

The southern carmine bee-eaters arrived in numbers for the breeding season a few days before I took this image. The tops of three large trees were full of them early one morning, and over the following days they dispersed. We then came across small flocks on our safari trips, and with more luck than skill, we captured better images, understanding where they would land and their feeding habits.

Stocking Webcap at West Wood by Peter Evans - HC

This image was taken at West Woods near Marlborough. I used my Olympus OM-1 with the 60mm macro F2.8 lens on a tripod using a remote release cable. The image is a result of 20 images stacked together in Helicon Focus 8 and then edited in Photoshop.

The Belton Steeplechase by David Evans - HC

The Belton Steeplechase was taken at Belton Park in Lincolnshire (a lovely 1400 acre estate) with a large population of Fallow deer. This was during the Rut and up to 200 deer crossed the fence at this one point. It lasted for almost 20 minutes and on occasions could have been described as waterfalls of deer. Doubtful we will ever see such a sight again, magical.

Deer in Poppies By Richard Blackthorne

I spotted the deer on one of my local walks around the Bowood estate and couldn't believe it standing in the middle of the poppies.

Great Crested Grebe Swallowing Rudd by Robert Harvey - HC

Watching from a hide at Ham Wall nature reserve, I was astonished to see this great crested grebe swallow this Rudd. After accomplishing the feat with much difficulty, the grebe looked rather unwell and as if it might be in danger of sinking.

F/5.6, 1/1,600 second, ISO 200 www.naturalworldphotography.net

The one that got away by Penny Clarke - HC

At camera club last year we had a very inspirational talk by Steve and Ann Toon @steveandanntoon who keep to their journalistic roots and like telling a story with their images. Following a trip to Nambia in September we were in Etosha and the guide said that they had found a cheetah. We were trying to locate it in the dense bush and the action happened so quickly I was not able to lock on with the camera. I did however get this shot of the cheetah viewing ’The one that got away’. I liked the way it told the story of what we had seen. It was only later that we realised that there were in fact two cheetah. I think that the adult wildebeest were a bit big for them and they gave up the hunt and quickly disappeared back to dense vegetation.

Posing Banded Damselfly by Tony Leach - HC

An early morning shot of Sturminster Marshall mill was not that impressive so, prior to sunrise, I turned round where several damselflies were resting and quite still – at least until warmed up by the rising sun after which they moved far too fast. This pair were in a position for me to focus on both of their wings.

Wary Visitor by David Wilkinson - HC

Photographed here in Wiltshire, I have studied this Vixen for several years, she is not an urban fox and is very nervous therefore I have to say achieving this portrait of her gives me a great deal of pleasure.

Red Squirrel Leaping by Robert Harvey - HC

Red squirrels are fantastically agile. To get this picture I placed a few hazelnuts on a log, with a second log separated from it. The squirrels quickly learned to jump across the gap in order to reach them. I pre-focused on the landing point, set a fast shutter speed and fired off a fast burst of shots as the squirrel made its leap.

F/5.6, 1,2000 second, ISO 3200 www.naturalworldphotography.net

Bickering Buzzards by Jane Wiltshire - HC

Taken at a hide near Avebury in Wiltshire, these Buzzards were bickering over a dead animal. A fast shutter speed was needed to capture the action.

Chobe Lion Watching from the Shade by Gerald Clarke - HC

This pride of lions had killed a zebra overnight and gone to sleep it off under some bushes. While the rest showed no signs of stirring, this lion came out of the dark to scan the horizon.

Fulmar over the Cliffs by David Evans - HC

The Fulmar was taken during a trip to Bempton Cliffs RSPB on a sunny day last May when we were also fortunate to see the loneliest bird in Europe, the Black Browed Albatross.

Mountain Hare Running by Robert Harvey - HC

When disturbed, mountain hares rely on speed to avoid predators. I was fortunate that this one ran uphill across my field of view, enabling me to get focus locked on. I had pre-set a fast shutter speed to freeze the movement of a running hare.

Print

Marbled Whites at Dawn by Tony Leach – 1st place

Another shot that was not planned! The wind in Dorset that day was strong so photography of flowers and butterflies was out of the question. But returning to the car we passed down a track that was well sheltered by trees and bushes where a few marbled whites had settled out of the wind. Again, shooting a pair of them at right angles to the camera enabled me to get them both in focus.

Annoying Cub by David Wilkinson – 2nd place

David says ‘An amazing experience for me to be so close and able to photograph Mother and cub without them being aware of my presence. The image hasn’t been cropped. I photographed them on the Inner Hebrides hiding amongst the kelp, waiting until they came close to me. Patience is the key, as these animals will head for water as soon as they see, hear or smell humans’.

Bellowing Red Stag by Barbara Jones – 3rd place

Barbara took this image at Bushy Park, the stag was lying in long grass on his own, he started to bellow and she was lucky enough to get the shot.

Looking for reassurance by David Wilkinson - HC

Photographed in BC Canada on the Chilko river. The cub was one of three born this Spring. Photographed from a small boat, the Grizzly Mother wasn’t concerned about us as she didn’t perceive our presence as a treat. To be so close to an Apex predator was a highlight of my photographic journey.

Male Cuckoo in the Rain by David Wilkinson - HC

David’s image was photographed in the South West of Scotland from a hide. He was very fortunate to achieve this shot and particularly liked the fact it was in the rain.

Common Darter by Richard Jones - HC

Richard tells me - as with so many of my images the Common Darter was taken in our back garden. Not a true macro shot, but taken with 300mm lens with 1.4x converter, so approximately equivalent to 630mm full frame.

Dawn Awakens Spoonwing Lacewing by Tony Leach - HC

After a reasonably gentle early morning climb in Bulgaria we located a known site of resting spoonwing lacewings. I took loads of shots - backlit, against the dawn sky and amongst the shrubs and bushes. These were two of my favourites, one shot against a beautiful dawn sky, the other resting in the sun on a contrasting flower with the background in shade.

Rose Sawfly Caterpillars by Robert Harvey - HC

Sometimes the best photographs are right there under your nose. While eating breakfast on my patio, I noticed these rose sawfly (Arge ochropus) caterpillars nibbling their way through our garden roses. I managed to get them all sharp at F/16 while keeping the background (my box hedge) diffused.

DCC Comp 04 - Annual Nature - Projected Image Scoresheet
Held on 6th December 2022
Judged by: Ralph Snook ARPS EFIAP/b DPAGB
Results
1st	White Faced Whistling Duck	by	Jane Wiltshire	Adv
2nd	Mating Demoiselles	by	Jane Wiltshire	Adv
3rd	Kit investigating it's territory	by	David Wilkinson	Adv
Highly Commended
	Stocking Webcap at West Wood	by	Peter Evans	Int
	The one that got away	by	Penny Clarke	Int
	Great Crested Grebe Swallowing Rudd	by	Robert Harvey	Adv
	Chobe lion watching from the shade	by	Gerald Clarke	Beg
	Southern carmine bee-eater	by	Gerald Clarke	Beg
	Early Bumble Bee	by	Tim Tapley	Adv
	Deer in Poppies	by	Richard Blackbourne	Int
	Bickering Buzzards	by	Jane Wiltshire	Adv
	Resting Spoonwing lacewing	by	Tony Leach	Beg
	Wary Visitor	by	David Wilkinson	Adv
	The Belton Steeplechase	by	David Evans	Int
	Red squirrel leaping	by	Robert Harvey	Adv
	Mountain Hare Running	by	Robert Harvey	Adv
	Fulmar over the Cliffs	by	David Evans	Int
	Posing Banded damselfly	by	Tony Leach	Beg
DCC Comp 04 - Annual Nature - Print Scoresheet
Results
1st	Marbled whites at dawn	by	Tony Leach	Beg
2nd	Annoying Cub	by	David WIlkinson	Adv
3rd	Bellowing Red Stag	by	Barbara Jones	Beg
Highly Commended
	Common Darter	by	Richard Jones	Int
	Male Cuckoo in the rain	by	David WIlkinson	Adv
	Rose sawfly caterpillars	by	Robert Harvey	Adv
	Dawn Awakens Spoonwing lacewing	by	Tony Leach	Beg
	Looking for reassurance	by	David WIlkinson	Adv

Back to Competition Home Page