Photography enthusiasts from around the world have submitted stunning images showcasing the beauty of nature, wildlife, and landscapes in The Guardian's latest readers' photography contest. The collection features diverse subjects ranging from macro photography of insects to majestic wildlife encounters across multiple continents.
Among the standout entries, Lucy Green from Essex captured an intimate moment using her macro lens, photographing a ladybug perched on a clover. Green shared the photography experience with young children at a friend's house, introducing them to the fascinating world of close-up photography. The children helped place the ladybug on the clover to get a better view, creating an educational and memorable photography session.
Wildlife photography features prominently throughout the collection, with several remarkable animal encounters. Victor Burnside documented a frog in a garden pond in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, while Barry Thomas captured the precise moment a squacco heron speared a fish in the Chobe River between Namibia and Botswana. Steve Harvey contributed a striking image of an adult great blue heron returning to its nest in a tree at a California park.
The submissions also include rare wildlife sightings that highlight conservation concerns. Thomas Schorn photographed a young white rhino in South Africa, noting that such sightings are becoming increasingly uncommon. The image shows a skeptical youngster, emphasizing both the beauty and vulnerability of these endangered animals.
International landscapes and cultural scenes add diversity to the photographic collection. Will Aitken documented the elliptical lotus pool at Tadao Ando's Honpukuji Temple (Temple of Water) in Awajishima, Japan, built in 1991. The unique architectural design features an open-air, roofless upper level with a circular vermillion sanctuary containing a Buddha statue located beneath the pool, accessible through a staircase that bisects the lotus ellipse.
European entries showcase both natural beauty and traditional architecture. Tylaar Haran captured traditional painted timber houses in Telthusbakken, Oslo, Norway, while Cara Gordon photographed a sea of bird's-foot trefoil blanketing the machair in Mannin Bay, Ireland. Gordon's image provides a view toward the Twelve Pins during what she described as an unprecedented stretch of sunny weather in western Ireland during May.
The collection also features unique moments of daily life and unexpected encounters. Steve Palmer spotted green transportation along the Bollin Valley Way, approximately 500 meters from Manchester Airport. In Egypt, Allie Nour captured a humorous scene of a camel interrupting a picnic in Dahab, while Tamzid Rahman Leo documented workers taking a prayer break on the banks of the Jamuna River in Bangladesh.
Cultural traditions and community events are represented through Ben Honeybone's documentation of a flower and produce show in South Newington, Oxfordshire. Honeybone described the event as "a little haven of rural constancy" in a rapidly changing world, where local residents compete with their vegetables, cakes, fruit, flowers, jams, and craftwork for top prizes and bragging rights. The contest celebrates both perfectly formed and charmingly misshapen entries, emphasizing community participation over perfection.
The photography contest demonstrates the global reach of amateur photography, with contributions spanning from the wildlife-rich landscapes of Africa to the architectural marvels of Japan, and from the traditional communities of rural England to the bustling waterways of Bangladesh. These images collectively showcase the diverse beauty of our world through the eyes of everyday photographers who find extraordinary moments in both common and exotic locations.
