We asked for your best dragonfly snaps for 2024, and wow did you deliver!
We asked for photographs that celebrated the diversity of dragonflies and damselflies in the UK, aiming for a ‘natural’ shot avoiding filtering and editing. We were overwhelmed with the response! We received 234 entries and they were of such a high standard.
Initial judging was conducted by BDS staff, trustees and Youth Panel members, to select 12 photos for the calendar. The overall winner was then chosen from these 12 by the brilliant Megan McCubbin, zoologist, author and wildlife presenter. Photographs were judged on composition, technical standard, originality and public appeal.
The shortlisted top 12 are a fabulous mix of portraits and amazing behaviours. For the whole judging panel is was a pleasure to look through all the photos submitted this year. The winner is Lee Frost’s mesmerising Emerald Damselfly pair. This close up has such vibrant colours and brings into focus every detail of this species, with such clarity that we are able to see each little water droplet, it’s so beautiful. A well-deserved winner!
A huge congratulations to Lee Frost winning £100 prize and the photo is celebrated as this issue’s cover and will feature as the cover of our 2025 calendar.
The following 11 images are those chosen by the BDS team and will accompany the winner in our calendar.
Congratulations to our shortlisted photographers and overall winner! And a big thank you to everyone who sent in their photos; what a wonderful way to celebrate the diversity of British dragonflies!