Hotshots - Our showcase of the winning entries from the Wildlife Photography of the Year Awards 2024

OVERALL WINNER & WINNER, WETLANDS: THE BIGGER PICTURE 'The Swarm of Life' Shane Gross (Canada)

Shane Gross looked under the surface layer of lily pads as a mass of western toad tadpoles swam past. He had been snorkelling in the lake for several hours, through carpets of lily pads. This prevented any disturbance of the fine layers of silt and algae covering the lake bottom, which would have reduced visibility.

Western toad tadpoles swim up from the safer depths of the lake, dodging predators and trying to reach the shallows where they can feed. The tadpoles start to become toads between four and 12 weeks after hatching.

An estimated 99 per cent will not survive to adulthood.

Location: Cedar Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Technical details: Nikon D500 and Tokina Fisheye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 lens at 11mm; 1/200 sec at f/13, ISO 640; two Sea & Sea strobes; Aquatica housing

WINNER, BEHAVIOUR: MAMMALS 'A Tranquil Moment' Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod (Sri Lanka)

Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod found this serene scene of a young toque macaque sleeping in an adult's arms. Resting in a quiet place after a morning of photographing birds and leopards, Vinod soon realised he wasn't alone: a troop of toque macaques was moving through the trees above. Vinod spotted this young monkey sleeping between feeds and used a telephoto lens to frame the peaceful moment.

Toque macaques easily adapt to human foods, and the encroachment of plantations into their habitat has seen an increase in incidents of shooting, snaring and poisoning by farmers trying to preserve their crops.

Location: Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka

Technical details: Nikon D500 and 600mm f/4 lens; 1/1,250 sec at f/4, ISO 3,200

WINNER, 10 YEARS AND UNDER 'Free as a Bird' Alberto Román Gómez (Spain)

Alberto Román Gómez contrasted a delicate stonechat bird with a hefty chain.