Zeke Rowe, a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands, was on a break while doing research in Panama’s Coiba National Park when he noticed a crocodile lurking in a tidal marsh off the beach.
“I got as close and low as I dared, waiting for that direct eye contact,” Rowe said in a statement. Capturing the crocodile’s fixed gaze, Rowe snapped a stunning photograph of the reptile’s golden eyes staring intensely ahead while a group of blood-sucking horseflies fed on its snout.
The image, titled “Wouldn’t Hurt a Fly,” is this year’s overall winner of the British Ecological Society’s Capturing Ecology competition. “I’ve been a photographer for a couple of years but only gained the confidence to submit my photos to competitions recently, fearing my work wasn’t good enough,” Rowe said. “Winning my first competition has shown me that sometimes all it takes is some belief, and I am proud of myself for doing so.”
The annual competition showcases the intricate lives of different ecosystems, with plants and fungi closely interacting with their surroundings. Below are some of the incredible photos by other category winners.
Animals: Wallace’s flying frog
Capturing Ecology 2025 Animals Winner: ‘Wallace’s Flying Frog’ by Jamal Kabir
Wallace’s flying frog, also known as the parachute frog, is nature’s paraglider. Discovered by biologist Alfred Russel Wallace, it extends all four legs, spreading its fingers and toes so that its enlarged webbing forms a parachute when escaping an enemy attack.
The above photograph was captured near the capital of Malaysia, where the frog had descended from the rainforest canopy to breed in a temporary rain-filled puddle.
Plants and fungi: Miniature encounter
Capturing Ecology 2025 Plants and Fungi Winner: ‘Miniature encounter’ by Francisco Gamboa
The Plants and Fungi category celebrates their unique habitats and vibrancy, showcasing tiny worlds that might otherwise go unnoticed.
In this winning photograph by Francisco Gamboa, a fly—known for its constant buzzing motion—is seen in a rare state: resting on the calm of a mushroom. The miniature encounter is a reminder of the little moments often ignored.
Interactions: Lioness one eye behind birds
Capturing Ecology 2025 Interactions Winner: ‘Lioness one eye behind birds’ by Willem Kruger
Deep in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in southeast Botswana, flocks of birds gathered at a waterhole to drink during an extremely dry season. From behind them, a pride of lions also approached to quench its thirst.
In this winning photograph for the Interactions category, a lioness is seen keeping an eye on the birds while drinking from the waterhole. The image highlights the close interactions between species, often predator and prey, and how much the birds are willing to risk for water.
Ecologists in action: Ready for everything
Capturing Ecology 2025 Ecologists in Action Winner: ‘Ready for Everything’ by Roberto García Roa
This category celebrates the work of ecologists, whether in the lab or out in the field, and their contributions to protecting the natural world.
The daunting image was taken at Sanaga-Yong Sanctuary in Cameroon as a team of technicians and veterinarians examine a chimpanzee undergoing long-term rehabilitation after being rescued from trafficking.
People and nature: An unusual backdrop
Capturing Ecology 2025 People and Nature Winner: ‘An unusual backdrop’ by Guido Villani
In this image, crates of bottles rest on the ocean floor, covered in multi-colored organisms and surrounded by marine life.
The category explores the complex relationship between humans and their ecosystem—and how we choose to shape our surroundings.
Nature, food, and farming: Jute Processing
Capturing Ecology 2025 Nature, Food and Farming Winner: ‘Jute Processing’ by Joy Saha
In this photograph by Joy Saha, thousands of sticks of jute are seen floating in the water to create a striking pattern as seen from above. Farmers soak the sticks in water to separate the jute fiber from the plant stem, and the fiber is then sold for use in textiles such as yarn, twisted yarn, sacks, carpet backing, and curtain fabric.
Winning photographs of this category highlight thoughtful management of land to produce food while preserving biodiversity.
Mobile ecology: Amanita nothofagi
Capturing Ecology 2025 Mobile Ecology Winner: ‘Amanita nothofagi’ by Hui Syn Chan
Unlike the other categories in this competition, this one showcases photographs captured on the go with mobile phones, celebrating fleeting moments in nature during everyday life.
The winning photograph shows Amanita nothofagi, a species of fungus native to New Zealand that forms a unique relationship with plant roots. This type of symbiotic relationship is known as mycorrhiza; myco means “fungus,” and rhiza means “root” in Greek.
Up close: Emerging life
Capturing Ecology 2025 Up Close Winner: ‘Emerging Life’ by Sritam Kumar Sethy
This winning photograph by Kumar Sethy provides a rare, zoomed-in view of tiny life that is often unseen by the naked eye.
Captured beneath leaf foliage, newly hatched nymphs of the leaf-footed bug Acanthocoris scaber gather beside their amber egg casing. Grouping them so closely together helps them retain moisture and reduces predation risk, an early survival strategy as they transition from eggs to new life.
