RSB name Photographer and Young Photographer 2017

Announcing the winners of their Photographic Competition 2017 during Biology Week, the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) judges faced a huge task of narrowing down over 600 entries to a shortlist for the two categories. During the RSB Annual Awards Ceremony at The Hatton London, Duncan McNaught was presented with the prestigious title of RSB Photographer of the Year for his picture taken of the often overlooked world of fungi and insects “Welcome to my humble abode.”

“I’m highly delighted and honoured my image was selected, the competition was high and I appreciate the difficulty the judges must have had in choosing the winner,” said Duncan at the presentation event. “I feel proud to have been part of this year’s competition and look forward to sharing my amazing news with my family and friends in Scotland.”

17 year old Dheeraj Nanda received the RSB Young Photographer of the Year Prize for his submission “Coleman on Fire,” which captured the symbiotic relationship between the Coleman Shrimp and the Fire Urchin in Indonesia.

“It’s a great honour to win the Young Photographer of the Year award said Dheeraj on receiving the title. Being an underwater photographer, I have always loved shooting tiny critters of the sea. Hence, this year’s theme – “Hidden World” – made this competition more exciting to me.

“There are plenty of macroscopic critters beneath the sea surface and they never cease to impress us. I’ve always felt that these (tiny) creatures should not be unnoticed and showcasing their images in these events would do justice for their beauty.

“I would like to thank the RSB for this opportunity and this is for sure a lot of encouragement for my work.”

The entries featured a wide variety of species from countries and habitats as far as Indonesia and Madagascar, ranging from microscopic insights into the development of frogspawn, to the incredible emerald hues of an Indian Lake photographed from 30,000 ft.

An annual event, the Photographer of the Year Competition is open to amateur photographers aged 18 and over, with a top prize of £1000. The Young Photographer of the Year Competition is open to amateur photographers and carries a top prize of £500.

More information from www.rsb.org.uk