Members awards

1st Award  MontPhoto Community Award

Upon seeing the scale of the Verna Cave, I sought to create an image in which the emptiness was the main focus. The geometry of the line follows the water cascading from the ceiling and draws the eye towards the light in the background, whilst the natural mist and the waterfall reveal the true dimensions of the cavern where the Slackline Pays Basque association set the world record for an underground highline.

Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis) feeding on the nectar of red hot poker flowers (Kniphofia uvaria), a unique behaviour only recently discovered and documented for the first time. In performing this action, the wolves may also serve as pollinators, representing potentially the first known plant-pollinator interaction involving a large carnivore. The Ethiopian wolf is Africa’s most threatened carnivore.

The photograph was taken in south-central Hungary, where a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) was stalking its prey on a tranquil pond. The scene was lit by backlighting that emphasised the bird’s silhouette and created a warm, evocative atmosphere. To capture that moment of the catch, it was necessary to use a high ISO setting and a slow shutter speed, making the most of the limited available light without losing the essence of the moment.

Bioko's southern coast is a key sea turtle nesting site, where up to four species lay eggs each dry season. This vital moment also feeds many predators. Most hatchlings never reach the sea, like this Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) taken by a Atlantic land crab (Johngarthia weileri). A stark example of the relentless harshness of nature.

The autumnal colours of the beech forests in the Sierra de Aralar are reflected in a small pool, creating abstract shapes that reminded me of the characteristic textures found in Gustav Klimt’s works.

A tidal landscape photographed by drone over the salt marshes near Huelva, capturing the patterns carved out by the receding tide. On this occasion, the side lighting brought the scene to life and gave it a golden hue, lending depth and a striking sense of relief to the landscape.

2st Award  Award Nature in Catalunya

Nests play a crucial role in the reproductive biology of grey wrasse (Symphodus cinereus). This species builds its nests on the seabed, usually in areas with sandy or gravelly ground, often very close to seagrass beds. The male attracts females to his nest and, after the eggs have been laid, takes responsibility for protecting and caring for them, keeping the nest in perfect condition.

This man gets the dream image. A transparent small boat is carefully positioned using nearly invisible fishing lines, directly above two whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) lured with food, while a drone captures the scene from above. The resulting photographs create the illusion of a spontaneous close encounter, concealing the carefully orchestrated choreography behind their making.

"Chromatic Wounds" explores the hidden scars left on nature by industrial activity, revealed through seductive yet toxic colors. Photographed in Geamăna -a landscape transformed by mining waste-the images expose textures, lines, and contrasts that feel painterly while documenting a painful reality.