Dreamlike image of tadpoles in a lake wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

A magical underwater image of western toad tadpoles has won the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

The winning image, “The Swarm of Life” by Canadian photojournalist Shane Gross, was chosen from a record-breaking 59,228 entries, according to a statement from the organizers, published Tuesday.


“Shane captured the image whilst snorkelling for several hours through carpets of lily pads in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, making sure not to disturb the fine layers of silt and algae covering the bottom of the lake,” the organizers said.

“A near threatened species due to habitat destruction and predators, these tadpoles start their transition into toads between four and twelve weeks after hatching, but an estimated 99% of them will not survive to adulthood.”

Jury chair Kathy Moran, former deputy director of photography at National Geographic magazine, said the judges were “captivated by the mix of light, energy and connectivity between the environment and the tadpoles.”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/09/travel/wildlife-photgrapher-2024-winners-scli-intl/index.html

[Biophilic]

1. What an amazing photograph.

[TubbersUK]

2. Beautiful - thanks for posting. n/t

[femmedem]

3. How beautiful!

It's good to be reminded how beautiful this world is.
Thank you.

[jfz9580m]

4. Charming

Some tough competition too..many beautiful and dream-like images. These stood out for me:
# 4: Tubesnout eggs
# 9: Carrion Crow
# 10: Amazon River Dolphin
# 12: “Old man’s beard”
# 14: springtail and slime mould


Very cool. Thank you for posting that. I save images like these.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

13. yeah, those are some good ones

[3catwoman3]

5. Absolutely enchanting!

[lark]

6. It's so perfect, I'd have first guessed it was a painting, too gorgeous for real life.

Whoever shot this did a perfect job, just a totally amazing shot!!

[if..fish..had..wings]

7. Beautiful

Also loved the Demolition Squad

[Chautauquas]

8. Fantastic photo

[erronis]

9. A couple of links with more images

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/10/09/from-post-coital-lions-to-sleeping-seals-marvel-at-some-of-this-years-best-wildlife-photog

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn879w0n843o

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

14. thanks for the link... this is a good one. Seals sleeping in the ice

[Martin68]

10. Wow!

[MagickMuffin]

11. Amazing photo, sad only 99% won't make it into adulthood

I wonder why?

I spent a month in Vancouver Island and the many smaller island in between VI and the mainland. So, beautiful I didn’t want to ever leave.

Congratulations Shane Gross!

[wryter2000]

12. They probably get eaten by other animals

That's normal with a lot of species.

[Hekate]

15. If they all made it to adulthood, we would be knee-deep in toads. Species that reproduce so abundantly....

…pretty much are an important link low on the food chain.