Photo Competition

This was taken in Tela Bay, Honduras in 2025. It shows our site manager and project lead (Rowan, on the right) with his three research assistants – all equipped with slates and pencils. They’re on a Reef Ecology dive, spotting, identifying and recording different marine species. The PVC pipes Rowan is carrying form a quadrat which is used while surveying an area of seabed.

This is probably my favourite photo of the trip. It shows the teamwork and communication that goes on during the dive. Every diver is busy doing something. I particularly like how the divers and their activities and attention form a circle in the middle of the shot and the focussed diligence of the diver at the bottom with her slate.

Background: Before the dive, I briefed Rowan and his RAs about underwater photography, the dive signals I would use and what I’d be doing. We also agreed I wouldn’t get in their way and for them not to be put off by me whizzing about trying to get the shot. I really wanted some candid pics of the team working together, so I deliberately didn’t try to position anyone. The dive went as planned and just as they were regrouping ready for the ascent, I took this shot.”

x543 votes

This was taken in Tela Bay, Honduras in 2025. It shows one of the project leads (Ross) using the stereo video capture rig that was used for marine surveys and in the background, his two research assistants carefully practicing “”laying and tucking”” a transect tape. I like this shot because it tells a story, it’s genuinely interesting and makes the viewer spend a moment investigating what’s going on in the photo. It shows Opwall’s activities, the environment in which we worked, demonstrates collaboration and teamwork and shows good diving skills. I’m also very proud, as I was the dive instructor and the two RA’s were my students!

Background: Before the dive, I talked to Ross and his RAs about the shot I wanted to get, the dive signals I would use to help position everyone and what I’d be doing. We also agreed where I wanted them to look and not to be put off by me nipping about trying to get the best angle. The dive went as planned, they did the work, data capture and skills they needed to do, and right at the end I took the shots as planned. This is one of the best.

x500 votes

This photo was taken the morning after setting up a moth trap, we caught an amazing variety including Elephant Hawk moth, Poplar Hawk moth, Buff-tip, Scalloped Oak, Drinker and many more! We quickly identified as many as we could and then let them all go free.

x10 votes

The second photo is of a huge white storks nest in an oak tree, above an old hedge that has been allowed to spread out and scrub up as part of Knepp’s rewilding process.

x11 votes

Gray Foxes are some of the most common mammals that we encounter in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Whilst in the Hormiguero camp, it was cool to see a small family of them hanging out within the Mayan ruins on surveys. Although usually solitary, young gray foxes can stay with their mother for several months before venturing out on their own. Here were two of the juveniles keeping a watch from the edge of the forest as we walked past.

x80 votes

The Mexican parrot snake is definitely my favourite snake to find in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Although commonly believed to be hylid specialists, there are accounts of these guys also predating on small lizards, birds eggs, and even a redback coffee snake! They have remarkable eyes, which they use to spot their cryptic prey hiding out in the thick foliage that they will systematically search whilst hunting. I spent an epic afternoon photographing this guy whilst he sunned himself on a dead tree in the camp aguada.

x43 votes

Frog in foliage near Base Camp.

x27 votes

I was out looking for spiders in the evening close to hostel This handsome chap with 4 pairs of eyes was happy to pose

x33 votes

Also a turtle having a good scrub up at the cleaning station

x20 votes

Throughout my time in Somkhanda Game Reserve, my class and I loved our field drives out onto the reserve to track the game species. At the end of the day, our guides took us up to the highest hills of the park, and we got to witness the most specular sunsets on the planet. The sunset’s reminded me that special trips like this one are similar to the cycles the sun takes. Eventually, your trip will set over the horizon, so it’s important to cherish each and every moment to make the light shine.

x108 votes

The highlight of my expedition to South Africa was scuba diving at Sodwana Bay Marine Reserve. I was blessed to witness the incredibly diverse marine life of the region’s coral reefs, and in particular observe the mutualistic relationship between this pair of towbar clownfish and sea anemone. It’s only when you see these animals in real life, that you understand the significance of these relationships in nature.

x75 votes

x12 votes

x54 votes

This picture was taken after the release of a juvenile giant parrot snake. This individual was first observed in the river shower in Guanales, after it caught a frog the size of its head. Although we gave it enough space to cross the river, it lost its prey, probably due to its large size, so the herp team decided to catch it for processing. While taking pictures after its release, the sun came out for this beautiful display, illuminating just enough to highlight the snake’s features.

x90 votes

Wolf Spider

Both were taken on night surveys (probably the best part of the trip) in the Mariarano/Mahajanga area of northern Madagascar.

x120 votes

Madagascan pygmy kingfisher

Both were taken on night surveys (probably the best part of the trip) in the Mariarano/Mahajanga area of northern Madagascar.

x133 votes

The turtle makes me nostalgic for an OpWall summer.

x14 votes

I spent ages trying to photograph pelicans in flight and this was the least rubbish.

x14 votes

A Purple Emporer Butterfly landed on the branch of an oak tree, taken in mid-July, nearly at the end of the Purple Emporers’ life cycle.

x36 votes

A white stork perched on a branch near it’s nest.

x34 votes

A tree sparrow caught during mist netting in Romania after being weighed and measured for data collection.

x9 votes

A picture of a blue-tailed emerald hummingbird nesting on what I believe is a telecommunications wire in the hotel my school group was staying at in Utila.

x7 votes

Another bird (not too sure what species it is) caught just after taking off from a palm tree branch.

x6 votes

Sub-adult male lion
Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM lens
After many weeks of hearing but not seeing the pride of lions at Somkhanda we came across the group resting in the early morning sunlight. This young male is yet to develop its full adult mane.

x40 votes

Purple-crested Turaco (Gallirex porphyreolophus) Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF500 mm f/4L lens
A small flock of the purple-crested turacos flew in to get a drink at a water hole on our way back from a bird count. This one landed on a branch over the water and was checking us out before dropping down for a drink.

x17 votes

Kinkajou:
I took this photo on the last day staying at Guanales satellite camp in Cusuco National Park, during a night herp walk.
Though we didn’t encounter any herps, I did get the privilege of photographing this amazing animal, a kinkajou, that was high in a tree above us.
The first thing we saw was the eyes shine, so while editing the photo, I wanted to try to bring that feeling to everyone: two eyes looking straight at you, in pitch black darkness, in the middle of the jungle.

x200 votes

Anole:
This photo was also taken at Guanales satellite camp.
We were all just resting in late afternoon when some of the cooks started calling us to see something in the tree.
What we saw was this: a cicada had just been caught by an anole – her last song.

x104 votes

A juvenile frog found among bromeliad plants in the base camp garden — I believe this is Bromeliohyla bromeliacia

x161 votes

A frog we found during a night river walk near Cantiles with Whitney — I think this is Duellmanohyla soralia

x115 votes

An Emerald Pit Viper caught by George the Herpetologist

x20 votes

An Atlas moth on a boot during light trapping at base camp at Cusuco National Park

x22 votes

These are green sea turtles which I photographed on my GoPro while snorkelling around nosy Tanikely in Madagascar in July 2025. Both images are of different turtles I think, but roughly the same location. We saw about 10 total so was unsure.

x19 votes

These are green sea turtles which I photographed on my GoPro while snorkelling around nosy Tanikely in Madagascar in July 2025. Both images are of different turtles I think, but roughly the same location. We saw about 10 total so was unsure.

x14 votes

Neon Goby, Elacatinus oceanops, swimming over Stephanocoenia spp., Utila, Honduras 2cnd of April 2025. Colour corrected from underwater colour loss using Dive Colour Corrector.

x31 votes

Photo 2. Curly Hair Tarantula, Tliltocatl albopilosus, waiting in wall for prey, Utila, Honduras 3rd of April 2025. Saturation & Sharpness Increased.

x25 votes

Both of these images were taken on my expedition in Cusuco National Park this summer. The frog is a spike-thumbed tree frog who had just been examined and marked by a herpetologist during my last survey of the trip.

x11 votes

Both of these images were taken on my expedition in Cusuco National Park this summer. The butterfly is a glasswing butterfly seen during a mammal survey.

x7 votes

x18 votes

x23 votes

A well camouflaged crocodile fish resting on the reef, blending seamlessly into its environment.

x40 votes

A curious batfish hangs beside the anchor line, watching as divers descend.

x42 votes

x41 votes

I found Nemo! Diving around Hoga island, I spotted clown fish in an anemone on one of the fish ID surveys.

x60 votes

Picture of corals with a school of midnight triggerfish swimming past around Hoga island on one of the coral ID surveys.

x53 votes

Photo 1 is an image of the flora and fauna in a dive site covered with rubble.

x3 votes

Image two shows a large tube worm.

x9 votes

I chose this first photograph as I think the detail in the eye is incredible, these toads were abundant around our campsite especially on the rainier days in the jungle. I came across this toad in the morning of our bird survey, where it initially jumped onto me, startling me. once I realised it was only a toad, I took my camera out and it stood still for just long enough for me to take this portrait.

x210 votes

I chose this photograph firstly, because think the lighting in the image is beautiful, with it reflecting off the seagrass with lots of different colours. I also think how camouflaged the fish are against the seagrass is really interesting, it gives a nice perspective on how these fish have adapted to their environment to hide away from predators.

x167 votes

Snake Eel was seen during our post-Hurricane Maria coral reef surveys.

x17 votes

The Freshwater Lake in the Elfin Forest of the high elevations of Dominica.

x26 votes

During a bird netting morning we caught this beautiful Malagasy paradise flycatcher. This individual was a male and sat very elegantly in our tour guides hand while we took measurements of his tail streamers, wing length and body weight.

x44 votes

During a reptile walk in the dry forest in Mahajanga, Madagascar, we saw lots of these Day Lizards. We were walking in the early hours of the morning not seeing anything other than cool beetles and bugs, when we suddenly see this little fella perfectly staying still on the tree, once we started looking the were surrounded by them on every tree and stump we came across.

x34 votes

1. Photo taken of a frog endemic (only found in) Cusuco National Park Honduras found on a night transect

x20 votes

2. Taken diving in Utila

x8 votes

A picture of a chameleon

x17 votes

A picture of a ghost spider.

x16 votes

“Hidden but seen” – Nearing the end of my trip, my group stumbled upon this small lizard; hidden but seen, this creature, who is defined by staying unseen by predatory eyes, with its green, grey scales, hightlights how even with our vast discoveries and awareness, we are still missing features right around us, who are simply living their lives trying to be a quiet as possible. Surrounded by vegitation and rocky surfaces, and centered as the combination of both, this lizard is caught in its adaption.

x17 votes

“Charming already” – Caught and not needing a kiss, this charming little amphibian sits captured and admired at the center of the image, waiting for release, highlighting its splashed deep red colouration, with a cream undertone.
(This one does have someones hand, but that person is not identifiable)

x8 votes

This photo was taken at sunset on silba island right after an informative lecture when we were walking by the beach

x7 votes

This bat looks like it has been captured in a studio but was actually caught in a mist net on the edge of a lake on the Knepp Estate, UK in early August 2025 around midnight and ringed. There weren’t many bats caught that night but it was an awesome experience nonetheless.

x6 votes

The picture that highlights the epiphytes was taken near base-camp in Cusuco National Park in Honduras (specifically near the trees that are used for tree-climbing).

x15 votes

The ridge-top picture was taken from the dwarf forest (ridge) between the satellite camp, Cantiles, and base-camp in Cusuco National Park, Honduras. We went up to that location for a fungus-survey.

x18 votes

1. A nocturnal mouse lemur clings to a branch, its large reflective eyes catching the light as it moves through dense foliage at night.

x20 votes

2. A vividly colored “Madagascar paradise flycatcher” perches on a slender branch, its bright red body and dark head standing out against the softly blurred green background.

x26 votes

IMG_7089 shows a Bee eater perched on a branch with a bee I had just watched it skilfully catch.

x220 votes

IMG_7242 shows a Chameleon which was one of the many which I had the privilege of seeing whilst on one of the night surveys I took part in.

x205 votes

x121 votes

This is a photo of a monkey hanging about in the beautiful cactus awaiting his next feed from our campsite scraps

x119 votes

x22 votes

x17 votes

This is one of the many stunning sunsets taken from the camp site during our week on the reserve, this was taken through a sphere ball.

x125 votes

One of the Monkeys that hung around camp, keeping an eye on us while enjoying the sun.

x118 votes

Early morning Bird Survey in the farmlands of Buton Island

x4 votes

The Bajau community off of Hoga Island.

x6 votes

Vervet Monkeys atop Euphorbia Trees in the Somkhanda Game Reserve (July 2025).

x27 votes

Vervet Monkeys atop Euphorbia Trees in the Somkhanda Game Reserve (July 2025).

x25 votes

1. A preying mantis on the lavender bushes outside the house at the krka site.

x17 votes

2. A Stag beetle found on transect 6 while on a bird point count survey.

x32 votes

A Lionfish displaying with its pectoral spines fully spread, taken during a Lionfish research dive.

x10 votes

A feather worm with its fronds fully extended amongst Agaracia agaracites coral.

x20 votes

x17 votes

x29 votes

Beautiful coral

x31 votes

A sunset with wild horses

x9 votes

Both of the pictures entered are of gulf coast toads. Whilst these amphibians are a common encounter both in camp and on transect in the Calakmul Biosphere reserve, they are never less full of personality and (in my opinion) charisma! In one image you can see a particularly friendly individual who was happy to pose to have their picture taken, and in the other you can see another, more shy, individual peeking out from behind a mushroom covered log.

x12 votes

Both of the pictures entered are of gulf coast toads. Whilst these amphibians are a common encounter both in camp and on transect in the Calakmul Biosphere reserve, they are never less full of personality and (in my opinion) charisma! In one image you can see a particularly friendly individual who was happy to pose to have their picture taken, and in the other you can see another, more shy, individual peeking out from behind a mushroom covered log.

x24 votes

During an invertebrate session when we ran into a large chameleon on the route to the rice patties.

x16 votes

Taken in Cusuco National Park both on herp surveys.

x17 votes

Taken in Cusuco National Park both on herp surveys.

x54 votes

A leopard snake captured during a transect, picture taken during release of the snake after being processed at camp

x30 votes

A leopard snake captured during a transect, picture taken during release of the snake after being processed at camp

x12 votes

On the way to the forest camp, we stopped at a small waterfall by the side of the road, where I spotted this crab.

x452 votes

1. Owlfly
My team and I were participating in a bird point count at dawn on the first official day of our expedition, following a 24-hour journey to the field site. As I documented every wildlife surrounding me, I noticed an unfamiliar creature resting directly infront of me. When I saw this creature right in front of my eyes, it was utterly confusing, making me question if dragonflies and butterflies could somehow form a hybrid. At the same time, I was captivated by its dandelion-yellow wings and cartoon-like eyes and antennae, resembling a fairy from a fantasy illustration. It appeared almost artificially crafted, yet it was perfectly blended into nature. ‘What animal could this possibly be?’ I thought. To seek the answer to my questions, I raised my camera and took a photo. This was the first time I had ever encountered an Owlfly.

x252 votes

2. To Return
On the third day of our stay in Krka National Park, our team headed to a dam where we had set bird mist nets to record the local species diversity. The nets were opened before sunrise and checked frequently with a 10 to 15-minute gap to minimize the stress of any captured birds. In this photo specifically, we were returning a juvenile Blackbird back into the wild with the help of Kate, the scientist leading the activity. She guided each participant on how to hold and release the birds carefully and responsibly. Watching the young bird take flight was an unforgettable experience. It reinforced for me that wildlife is at its best when allowed to return to where it belongs.

x261 votes