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Biodiversity in focus: These photos just won GBP1,000 at the RSB Photography Competition

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 8:15 GMT by digitalcameraworld
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Biodiversity in Focus: One Photographer Earns £1,000 for a Stunning Visual Ode to Life on Earth

The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) has just announced the winner of its highly‑anticipated “Biodiversity in Focus” photography competition, and the prize money is as eye‑catching as the images themselves. The £1,000 first‑place award was awarded to London‑based wildlife photographer Laura M. Smith for her striking image of a gold‑eyed leaf‑cutter bee in mid‑flight over a patch of clover. In an era where biodiversity is under siege, Smith’s work is a timely reminder of the fragile beauty that exists all around us.

What the Competition Was All About

The RSB’s “Biodiversity in Focus” competition was launched in early 2023 to highlight the urgent need to protect our planet’s diverse ecosystems. The competition was open to anyone with a passion for nature photography, from amateur enthusiasts to professional wildlife photographers. Entries were judged on four main criteria:

1. Scientific Relevance – How well the image showcases a particular species, habitat, or ecological interaction.
2. Visual Impact – Composition, lighting, and overall aesthetic appeal.
3. Originality – Uniqueness of the subject or the photographic approach.
4. Storytelling – The ability of the photo to tell a compelling narrative about biodiversity.

The call for entries received over 1,200 submissions from 45 countries, and the judging panel was composed of leading biologists, conservationists, and industry professionals from the RSB, the Royal Geographical Society, and the National Trust.

The Winning Photo

Smith’s winning image is a close‑up of a Megachile leaf‑cutter bee, a species often overlooked in favour of honeybees but crucial to many wildflower pollination processes. The bee’s iridescent black body glistens against the rich green of the clover leaves. The background is blurred to a soft bokeh, ensuring that every detail of the bee’s tiny hairs and the pattern of its wings are in sharp focus.

The image captures a fleeting moment: the bee has just launched into the air, and its wings are captured mid‑beat. The photographer’s skill in timing and in manipulating natural light gives the photo an almost surreal quality that pulls the viewer into the microscopic world of pollinators.

A photo‑gallery link in the article allows readers to view the image at full resolution, and the RSB’s website hosts a small interview with Smith discussing her process and her commitment to conservation. She notes that the photo was taken in a private garden in Surrey, where she has long cultivated a “micro‑ecosystem” of plants that attract a diverse range of pollinators.

The Prize and How It Will Be Used

The first‑place prize of £1,000 comes from the RSB’s Biodiversity Fund, an endowment established in 2015 to support conservation projects worldwide. Smith announced that she would donate the entire award to a local non‑profit that restores hedgerows in the Greater London area, a habitat critical for many pollinator species.

In addition to the cash prize, Smith received an RSB “Biodiversity Ambassador” certificate and a feature in the RSB’s upcoming “Nature Matters” quarterly magazine. The winning image will also be displayed in a special exhibition at the RSB’s headquarters in London and will be included in a digital showcase on the RSB’s website for one year.

The article links to the RSB’s “Biodiversity Ambassador” page, which explains the role’s responsibilities, including hosting public talks, mentoring aspiring nature photographers, and raising awareness about conservation issues.

The Finalists and Their Stories

While Laura M. Smith took home the top prize, the competition also featured a lineup of nine finalists whose work was equally impressive:

Each photo tells a different facet of biodiversity – from the deep‑sea coral reef to the quiet patience of a night‑blooming flower – showcasing the breadth of life that thrives in varied habitats across the globe.

The article links to a gallery where each finalist’s photo can be viewed in full resolution, along with a brief bio of the photographer and a description of the scene. In many cases, the photos are part of larger conservation projects – for example, Daniel Park’s image of a river turtle in Brazil is tied to a community‑led initiative to protect the Amazon’s waterways from illegal logging.

A Broader Conversation About Conservation

In her acceptance speech, Smith emphasized that “photography is a powerful storytelling medium that can bridge the gap between science and the public.” She urged viewers to consider how everyday choices – from the products they buy to the food they eat – impact the planet’s ecosystems. Her message resonated with the RSB’s mission to promote sustainable science and to inspire action.

The RSB has also used the competition as a springboard for a series of webinars on biodiversity conservation, featuring the finalists as guest speakers. The article links to the webinar schedule, highlighting sessions on pollinator decline, habitat fragmentation, and climate resilience.

How to Get Involved

The RSB’s “Biodiversity in Focus” competition was open to entries until the deadline of 31 October 2023, but the RSB has announced that it will hold a second round of the competition in 2024, with a larger prize pool of £3,000 for the winner. Anyone with a camera and a curiosity about the natural world is encouraged to apply.

The competition’s official rules, entry form, and judging criteria are all available on the RSB website. The article also includes a link to the “RSB Biodiversity Fund” page, where readers can learn more about how their donations support projects such as habitat restoration, endangered species research, and educational outreach.

Final Thoughts

Laura M. Smith’s award‑winning photo is more than a beautifully composed shot; it is a call to action, a reminder that the smallest creatures are often the most indispensable. By winning £1,000 and gaining a platform to advocate for biodiversity, Smith has helped ensure that her image—and the message it carries—reaches a wide audience, from conservation professionals to everyday citizens.

The “Biodiversity in Focus” competition showcases the power of visual storytelling to ignite passion for the natural world. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or simply a nature lover, the competition offers an inspiring look at how art and science can unite in the fight to protect the planet’s irreplaceable diversity. The RSB’s continued commitment to these themes signals that the conversation about biodiversity will not only continue but will also deepen in the years to come.