A remarkable photograph of a microscopic predator-prey encounter has earned 17-year-old German photographer Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas the Youth 15-17 years category at the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025. The extraordinary image, titled "Predator," captures a pseudoscorpion (chernes cimicoides) in the act of preying upon a springtail, showcasing incredible detail that required significant technical skill and patience to achieve.
The subject of this award-winning photograph is a pseudoscorpion, a tiny arachnid that measures only a few millimeters in length. Despite their fierce appearance when magnified, these creatures are virtually invisible to the naked eye in their natural habitat. The moment of predation that Tinker-Tsavalas captured represents a drama that unfolds constantly beneath our feet, yet remains hidden from most observers without specialized equipment and techniques.
To create this stunning image, the teenage photographer employed a sophisticated technical approach using a Fujifilm X-H2 camera paired with a Laowa 25mm f/5.6 2.5-5x Ultra Macro lens. The camera's 40-megapixel X-Trans sensor proved ideal for this demanding work, providing the pixel density necessary to capture minuscule details when working at extreme magnifications. The specialized Laowa lens was crucial to the project's success, as it extends from 2.5x to 5x magnification – far beyond the 1:1 life-size capability of most standard macro lenses.
The most challenging aspect of creating this image was the focus stacking technique employed by Tinker-Tsavalas. He meticulously captured 104 separate exposures at varying focal planes, each shot at ISO 320 with flash and diffuser lighting. This extensive series of frames was later combined through focus stacking software to create a single image where both the pseudoscorpion and its prey appear in sharp focus throughout – an impossible achievement with conventional photography at this extreme magnification level.
Maintaining consistency across all 104 exposures presented significant technical challenges. At ultra-macro magnifications, the depth of field is measured in fractions of millimeters, making any microscopic movement between frames potentially problematic for the final composite. Tinker-Tsavalas's use of flash with a diffuser ensured even, controlled illumination throughout the shooting process, while the short flash duration helped freeze any movement from the active subjects.
Beyond the impressive technical execution, the image demonstrates a mature artistic vision that belies the photographer's young age. The low shooting angle emphasizes the pseudoscorpion's aggressive, predatory posture, creating a sense of drama and tension. The controlled lighting expertly reveals the rough texture of the arachnid's exoskeleton while maintaining the delicate, transparent form of its springtail prey. The background is rendered soft and unobtrusive, ensuring that viewers' attention remains focused on the dramatic encounter.
This remarkable achievement highlights macro photography's unique ability to reveal hidden worlds that exist all around us. The image serves as a powerful reminder that extraordinary wildlife photography doesn't always require exotic destinations or expensive travel to remote locations. Sometimes the most compelling subjects can be found in our immediate surroundings, requiring only the specialized tools, technical knowledge, and artistic vision necessary to capture them effectively.
