Past Winners of our Photo Competitions
As we did not hold our photography competition last year, we are celebrating the winners and finalists from 2019. Scroll through the galleries below to see the shortlist and winners for the Amateur and Young Biodiversity Photographer of the Year competition 2019.
Biodiversity Photographer of the Year 2019
Amateur Photographer Winners and Shortlist
Suzanne Behan (WINNER) – Great Crested Grebes “The great crested grebe is the largest member of the grebe family and is known for its elaborate mating displays, watching these birds is such thrill and thankfully they are successfully breading in Ireland like this pair spotted on a lake in Cavan. The grebe was almost hunted to extinction in the 19th century due to its head plumes that were used to decorate hats.” 
Mike Lavery (SECOND PLACE) – Ducklings leap of faith “When animals recognise and follow around their mother it’s called imprinting. It warms the heart to see these little ducklings not only swim in a line behind their mother but to fearlessly jump down all the sections of the waterfalls as she waited below.” 
Thomas Ormond (THIRD PLACE) – Emerging Mayfly “In late April and throughout the month of May large numbers of mayfly emerge from Lough Corrib. They normally take flight within seconds of appearing but luckily this one got trapped in the surface film just long enough to capture this image.” 
Katie Gordon (Highly Commended) – Gathering Materials “Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) collecting nesting material before flying back to their nests on the Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford. It was a joy to sit and watch the gannets collecting sea campion and other plants for nesting material.” 
Simon Carter (Highly Commended) – Solitary bee resting on cowslip “A wild honey bee drying itself after a shower, sitting on cow parsleyin Nenagh, Co Tipperary..” 
Kenny Goodison (HighlyCommended) – HARE “I was out at the Wexford wildfowl reserve going to one of their hides to shoot some birds and noticed four hares were around in the area so I went about my business into the hide, After I was done in the hide I quietly opened the door and noticed this hare sitting off in the distance from the hide and managed to get this shot through the fence without the hare noticing I was there.” 
Chris Howes – Relaxing Squirrel 
Chris Howes – First Outlook 
Pat Somers – Common Green Shieldbug “This photo of a Common Green Shieldbug was taken in the Raven Forest, CurracloeCo.Wexford. I was just about to pack up my gear after being caught in a heavy shower when I noticed this little guy sitting on a Gorse Bush.” 
Suzanne Behan – Sealed with a Kiss “This image of a beautiful grey seal was taken on Ireland’s east coast. Grey Seals are Ireland’s largest land breading mammals and are thrilling to watch both in & out of the water. They have a real character about them and thankfully their numbers have been rising since their protection as a species.” 
Robert O’Leary – Collector General “This photo was taken on a sunny afternoon in Rathfarnham, Dublin beside the river Dodder. It was taken with a macro lens in an effort to show in the greatest possible detail the work of the bee, covered in pollen, as he goes about his all-important business.” 
Marcin Kaczmarkiewicz – Puffin Wings “The puffin with wings opened was photographed on Great Saltee Island on beginning of breeding time in May, while collecting material for its nest in burrow. From time to time they come out to stretch their wings.” 
Pat Russell – Dinner is Served “A heron hunting in one of the many quiet backwaters in the middle of Galway city indulging in a spot of pest control.in the hour that i watched the bird he struck twice to great effect and swallowed the rats head first” 
Stephen Walsh – Hard working bee collecting Pollen “I went out in a friend’s field down in Inch Co. Wexford equipped aiming to snap some nice looking ladybirds when I saw some bee’s flying about the flowers so I chanced my arm at capturing them flying and collecting pollen.” 
Marcin Kaczmarkiewicz – Curlew on Beach “The Curlew on the beach was photographed on the Tacumshin brackish waters just before sunset in Co Wexford. I was waiting to take a picture under my camo meshwith a nice and colourful background.”
Biodiversity Photographer of the Year 2019
Young Photographer Winners and Shortlist
Naoise McManus (WINNER) – Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head “When I saw this leaf in in Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath, I was delighted as it seemed to sum up Ireland for me -rain and greenery but still absolutely beautiful. It also shows the importance of rain in helping our plants survive and thrive.” 
Maria Alomar Quetglas (SECOND PLACE) – The Frog “I was working in a festival in Athlone and frogs were joining us for the whole day. When I got to photograph one of them, I could see the depth in their eyes. I got lost in them.” 
Karolina Solecka (THIRD PLACE) – A ladybird 
Aoife Heverin – Blue eyed baby fox 
Naoise McManus – The Hungry Caterpillar “I was very lucky with this shot. The caterpillar caught my eye because of the contrast of the dark caterpillar against the white flower. It really made it stand out. It was very natural and shows both animals and plants surviving together.”
