2024’s IES Photography Competition yielded some fascinating submissions, from IES members and beyond. Exploring this year’s theme – ‘Together’ – the entries were reflective of the unique perspectives and insights offered by those working across the environmental science sector.

From photos of unlikely pairings, such as Guy Mercer’s owl and woodpecker staring each other down on a perch, to unexpected takes on more familiar views, such as the family of sheep who seem to be disappearing into the clouds behind them (see winning photograph by Kyle Le), the photographs entered into the competition this year were of remarkable quality and creativity. Judges were particularly struck by the entrants’ impeccable timing, and ability to capture sweet moments between animal families and couples (see Daniel Clampin’s pair of gannets). 

The winner

To determine the winning entry, shortlisted photos were ranked using a points system, and the top 8 photos were then re-scored to determine the winning image.

The winning photograph, 'Sheep in the Clouds', was submitted by IES Member Kyle Le. The photo shows an unusual take on a familiar scene: the sheep appear to be fading into, and blending with, the clouds on the brow of the hill. Judges were particularly struck by the atmospheric composition of the image. Kyle described how the photo was taken: "While hiking on the Isle of Skye, I encountered this family of sheep. They noticed me from afar and we shared a quiet connection before I captured the scene. Afterward, they returned to grazing, and I continued my journey."

Highly commended

Jamie Wood took this photo, titled 'Clash of Grace: A Scuffle Between Egrets' during an ecological survey at Fountainstown Estuary in Co. Cork, Ireland, in the summer of 2024. On capturing this exciting shot, Jamie writes: "The Fountainstown Estuary is a hot bed for bird life and otters, and is a great spot to study interactions between individuals. I snapped this image just after the competition was announced, and I love this image as I think that it manages to capture the elegance of the egrets while still emphasising the intensity of their fight."

Roger Barrowcliffe captured this striking image, titled 'Garden Spider, Together with Breakfast' on 4 Sept 2023 in his back garden in Crouch End. As Roger notes, "Autumn tends to see a proliferation of spiders and their webs decorate the garden quite widely".

'Friend or Foe?' by Guy Mercer shows a woodpecker and owl facing each other down: a remarkable moment to capture. Of taking the photo, Guy says "The brief encounter of this Little Owl (Athene noctua) and Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) took place in a remote part of the Worcestershire countryside. Both were each very inquisitive and at the same time respectful of each others space. Their chance meeting lasted no more than just a minute or two before they headed off in separate directions".

'Gannets Greeting', submitted by Daniel Clampin, was taken at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, a popular seabird hotspot on the Yorkshire coast and home to the largest gannet colony in the UK. As Daniel wrote of his entry, "Gannets rub and intertwine their necks when greeting each other when landing back on land after going out to see. This behaviour strengthens the bonds between pairs of birds", perfectly expressing this year's theme.

The IES would like to extend its thanks to all the entrants to this year's competition: all of the judges were impressed by the quality and range of interpretations of the chosen theme, which made selecting the winning image a very enjoyable experience. A selection of the judges' favourite photos will be published in the September edition of environmental SCIENTIST.