The c't Photography Gallery community has voted to crown the winners of their latest photography contest themed "Beetles and Insects," with three talented photographers taking the top honors. The competition challenged photography enthusiasts to dive deep into the fascinating world of majestic beetles and industrious insects, capturing the miniature inhabitants of nature in all their glory.
The submitted photographs showcased an incredible diversity of natural subjects, ranging from predatory insects on intense hunting missions to delicate butterfly-soft moments and unexpectedly humorous captures. Three participants – 35mm, Otto Hitzegrad, and ek3108 – managed to convince the majority of voters with their compelling motifs and secured the top three positions in this competitive showcase.
Macro portraits dominated this edition of the contest, with close-up shots of insect eyes proving particularly popular among both participants and voters. Photographer 35mm claimed the first-place victory with a stunning close-up photograph of a dragonfly. The image captures the creature appearing busy and industrious, though it leaves viewers wondering exactly what the insect is doing with its long, delicate legs. The photograph demonstrates exceptional technical skill in macro photography while maintaining an air of natural mystery.
Second place went to Otto Hitzegrad for his impressive portrait of a fly that showcases remarkable attention to detail. The photograph's most striking feature is the incredibly detailed rendering of the fly's compound eyes, which literally draw viewers' gazes and hold their attention. The level of detail achieved in this macro shot demonstrates the photographer's technical expertise and patience in capturing such intricate natural structures.
In stark contrast to the armored protagonists featured in the first two winning images, the third-place motif by ek3108 presents a lovely contrast and reveals a completely different side and interpretation of the contest theme. This romantic composition features a butterfly perched delicately on a grain stalk, beautifully framed by the backlight of the setting sun. The image offers a softer, more poetic approach to insect photography compared to the intense macro detail work of the other winners.
The editorial team expressed their delight with the numerous high-quality submissions received for this contest. The ten best works from the competition will be featured in greater detail in the upcoming issue of c't Photography 06/25, providing readers with an in-depth look at the technical and artistic achievements of the participants. The contest gallery includes comprehensive coverage of all winning images, accessible through keyboard navigation commands for easy viewing.
The winning photograph by 35mm, titled "Dragonfly," exemplifies the exceptional quality that made this macro photograph stand out among all submissions. The image successfully captures the essence of the busy dragonfly while maintaining perfect technical execution in the challenging field of macro insect photography, ultimately earning the photographer the most votes from the c't Photography Gallery community.
