Yi Cao, The Final Flutter (ANIMALS 2026)

The Bee-eater tosses its prey—a large dragonfly—into the air before consuming it. Set against a deep, obsidian background, the bird and its prize are illuminated with clarity. The image I captured undoubtedly depicted the brutal beauty of the natural world, highlighting the split-second coordination required for such a hunt.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.