Rare Bee Close-Up Secures Top Prize in Wildlife Photography Competition

A photograph featuring a rare bee has been declared the victor in a wildlife photography competition. The top award in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) 2024 Photography Competition went to an extreme close-up image of an armed nomad bee. Luke Chambers captured this photograph at BBOWT’s Dry Sandford Pit reserve, situated near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Mr. Chambers stated that he utilized approximately 10 frames to achieve the intricate detail he sought. According to Mr. Chambers, the chance arose during an early morning excursion while he was “checking some vegetation for any subjects.” He recounted, “…there she was, a very rare species of nomad bee, fast asleep.” He further explained that he took “around 10 frames, all at different points of focus across the bee, then merged them together.” “It wasn’t an easy photograph, but it was worth it and is one of my favourite images to date. To win this competition with it means a great deal.” As the competition’s overall victor, he was awarded a high-tech bird feeder camera, and his image is slated for inclusion in BBOWT’s 2025 calendar. The competition commenced in April, featuring nine distinct categories, among them ‘taking action for nature’ and ‘mobile phone photography’. Participants, encompassing nature enthusiasts of all ages, were encouraged to capture images either within one of BBOWT’s nature reserves or within their local community. The children’s category was secured by nine-year-old Logan, whose entry depicted a red admiral butterfly resting on red valerian. Beyond the category accolades, Logan also received a collection of nature books for his school. Frankie Gillespie, speaking for him, stated: “Logan has recently been diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disease and unfortunately the outcome will be total blindness. He has always loved photography and nature, so for him to have become one of the winners is wonderful news and he’s so excited!” Other winning entries included a winter lake scene and an image of a hungry bank vole. The trust’s judging panel selected these from submissions made by almost 200 photographers. Ben Vanheems, editor of BBOWT’s Wild Magazine and a member of the judging panel, commented that the photographs exhibited “a real flair for detail and an eye for creativity.” “There’s been incredible deliberation because there’s been such strong photography this year. It’s a joy to be involved in this process.” Readers can connect with BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.