Awards, features and publishes
"The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves."
-Jane Goodall.
Dagbladet features Danish nature photographer Henning Olsen — front page and full-page article
Today is a very special day for Henning Olsen. Dagbladet has published a story about his work as a nature photographer — and the feature is highlighted both on the front page and in a full-page article inside the newspaper.
The article focuses on Olsen’s photography and the subjects closest to his heart: his long-term personal project about grass snakes, his “Nature Photo of the Year” recognition, and the local nature that means so much to him. For Henning Olsen, the most powerful stories are often found close to home — in the landscapes and wildlife many people pass every day without noticing.
He hopes the article will inspire readers to look a little closer and appreciate the wild, beautiful nature right outside our door.
Link:
https://dagbladet.e-pages.pub/titles/dagbladetroskilde/1376
Sjællandske Nyheder:
Sjællandske Nyheder has also published an article about Henning Olsen and the photograph that earned him the title “Nature Photo of the Year” (Denmark, 2025).
Lokal Nyt shares the story behind Henning Olsen’s “Nature Photo of the Year 2025” award
The local newspaper Lokal Nyt has published a feature on Henning Olsen following his recognition as “Nature Photo of the Year 2025” in Denmark.
The article looks beyond the headline and gives readers a glimpse into the competition—how images are judged, what makes a photograph stand out, and the dedication behind being in the right place at the right time. It also highlights Olsen’s approach: returning to familiar places, working quietly, and letting nature set the pace.
A key theme in the story is that local nature matters. For Henning Olsen, the most meaningful photographs are often found close to home—in small wetlands, forests, fields, and coastlines that many people pass every day. These places may seem ordinary, but they are where wildlife lives, where seasons change in subtle ways, and where nature can be protected through knowledge and attention.
Olsen hopes the article—and the award—will encourage more people to notice and value the nature around them. Because when people connect with what’s nearby, they are far more likely to care for it.
Link:
https://lokalnytroskilde.dk/aarets-naturfoto-2025-er-fra-roskilde/
"Nature Photo of the Year 2025" Awarded to Henning Olsen
Roskilde, Denmark – Henning Olsen has been awarded Nature Photo of the Year 2025 for his remarkable photograph capturing a rare encounter between a grass snake and a mating pair of damselflies.
The annual Nature Photographer of the Year competition in Denmark attracted an impressive selection of images from talented Danish photographers, capturing wildlife from around the globe. Olsen’s winning image stood out for its unique perspective, technical precision, and storytelling power.
The photograph was taken in spring at a local forest pond, where Olsen spent five weeks observing the grass snake in its natural habitat, often lying in place for hours at a time. During this period, he witnessed many extraordinary moments, including the rare scene featured in the winning photograph.
In the image, the snake lies in ambush for salamanders while a pair of damselflies perch on its head mid-mating to lay their eggs in the water. Olsen was positioned just four to five meters from the scene at the water’s edge, using a 500 mm lens with a 1.4x converter (total 700 mm) on silent shooting mode. Overcast and calm weather created ideal conditions for capturing the moment.
“Suddenly, the snake turned toward me while the damselfly moved under it in search of water to lay its eggs. I shot at 20 frames per second,” Olsen said. “It was one of those rare occasions where everything came together, and all the time spent in the field was rewarded.”
The resulting series of images highlights the small yet epic moments that nature offers, showcasing Olsen’s dedication and patience as a wildlife photographer.
Final Round in Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2025)
One of Henning Olsen’s photographs has advanced to the final round of the world’s largest wildlife photography competition in 2025, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
The finalist image features the forest-edge bug Rhopalus subrufus (family Rhopalidae) and was created as a focus stack of three frames, photographed in a local woodland. By combining the three images, the photograph reveals fine details that are easy to miss—showing how much beauty can be found in the small creatures living right on our doorstep.
“Represented by Henning Olsen.”
Kant Festival 2025
Kant Festival, October 3–5
It’s almost time for Kant Festival, where Nature Photographers of Denmark (NFD) will be participating with a large exhibition of 25 works. Among them, three of my photographs will be on display:
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The Contest Nordic Nature Photo Contest 2025 (NNPC)
After a few good results in 2023 and 2024 in the Danish edition of the Nature Photographer of the Year in Denmark, it was now time to try a more international competition, here the choice fell on NNPC which is also the Nordic championship, with participants from all over the world and with a prize sum of over 200,000 NKK.
Out of 20 photos, 3 photos were selected for Judges' Assessment and 1 photo was nominatedas the Nordic Landscape
of the Year's Picture, which meant I was invited to the award ceremony in Oslo, So off to Norway, it didn't become an award, but my photo was shown on stage and I came up on stage and was presented with a diploma and handshake from the judges. A great experience and a picture among the 10 bests in such a big competition, I am very satisfied with.
You can see the photo on NNPC's website https://nnpc.no/en/
Wildlife Photography of the year 2024
Overall a 3rd. place and a 1st. place in "Sharpe and de
Total no. 3 in photo competition nature photographer in Denmark
1 place in the shape and detail category
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1 place in the shape and detail category Stag Bettle
The Competition” wildlife Photographer of the year in Denmark” 2024 is over.
Overall, I came third in the competitions, which resulted in a gift card for sponsor shop Goecker and a fine diploma.
And I got a 1 st.. place with a photo of a Stag Beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus)
It was put together of 159 photos in a Photostack.
Taken in the local forest near Roskilde.
All in all, a nice competition where I got 18 photos accepted (in the top 20%) out of 30 photos.
which was the basis for the overall 3rd place.
The judge was Anders Geidemark from Sweden.
Exhibition of my picture at the Kant photo festival 2024
Exhibition of my picture, at the Kant photo festival
The photo has been chosen to represent NFD at this year's Kant photo festival 2024.
This is my first picture that has been printed and exhibited and maybe you will see the picture on other Photo exhibitions.
Kant photo festival is a big Danish photo festival in north Jutland taking place every year.
The picture is a Fly (Tetanocera sp.)Mating, where I could get really close, the picture was taken with 3 x magnification and I quietly retreat without disturbing the mating. Picture is taken in Roskilde in Denmark.
Canon R5 – Macro Canon Mp-65 with flash
1/200 – F13 – Iso 200
3 x 2 nd and 2 x 3nd Wildlife Photographer of the year in Denmark
The competition “Wildlife Photographer of the year in Denmark” 2023 by NFD is over.
This year I got 3 2nd places and 2 3rd places, a total of 5 prizes and a total of 4 places in the wildlife photography of the year 2023 competition.
The jugde was Tom Schandy BBC Wildlife photographer of the year from 2009/2010 and author of many nature books.
3rd place in fox was taken in Little Vildmose 2023
2nd place in Landscape is taken in Iceland
2nd Place Insects were taken in Gadstrup - Roskilde
2nd place in the Night category is taken in Klelund Plantage
3rd place in the Night Milke way category is taken in one of the darkest places, Møn in Denmark
NFD magazine
The Awards from 2023 was included in NFD's magazine.
2 nd place in the category “Pepole and Nature ”
The competition “Wildlife Photographer of the year in Denmark” 2022 by NFD is over.
I got a 2nd place in the category “ People and Nature”.
Picture was taken in Lille Vildmose summer 2022
The 2nd place was included in NFD's magazine.
With comment from competition judge, Thank you for that.
Danish magazine “Dansk fotografi”
My photo of drops in the category drops, where I got 2nd place, is included in this article about the competition "Wildlife Photographer of the year in Denmark" in Dansk Fotografis magazine, even though it actually only got 2nd place.
NFD magazine
The 2nd place from the category Drops from 2021 was included in NFD's magazine
The book: 25 years with nature in focus
Then came NFD's book "25 years with nature in focus, Sponsored by the AAGE V. JENSEN FOND
A beautiful book, with many beautiful and exciting photos, I have two photos in the book, “one is "Goose on the Road"
taken in Lille Vildmose in 2018 and Landscape, Bolund near Roskilde from 2021, taken with Lee filter on, nice to be able to show off a bit of local nature.
2 nd place in the category “ Raindrops”
Annual competition for Danish Nature Photographer of the Year 2021
Then the annual competition got off the ground with 1600 photos. There were several of my photos that got points, and made it through to the final round, where there were approx. 370 pictures included.
It resulted in a fine 2nd place in the category "Dråber" for which I have now received a diploma, and as a bonus, the picture was included in NFD's Magasin.
The picture was taken early in the morning in Havdrup Mose, Canon R5 Canon 100 mm F2.8 and Flash Cannon 600 ex with a Softbox attached.
Picture in a Book By Peter Schultz Jørgensen
Byernes jord a book by Peter Schultz Jørgensen kom ud, Peter har bruget et af mine billeder fra stormen Bodil fra Roskilde Havn.
Jeg er glad for at kunne bidrage med et foto til denne bog
Byernes jord, a book by Peter Schultz Jørgensen came out, Peter has used one of my photos from the storm Bodil from Roskilde Harbour 2013.
I am happy to contribute with a photo to this book.
3 nd place in the category “ Flower”
The competition “Wildlife Photographer of the year in Denmark” 2020 by NFD is over.
I did’t enter in 2019, so I am happy to be back
I got a 3nd place in the category “ Flower”.
Many of my photos got points in the preliminary rounds, so overall I was no. 11 in the competition
The picture was taken in May 2020 in Roskilde with Canon 5d mk. 4 and with 100 mm f2,8 macro
2nd place in the category “ People and nature”
The competition “Wildlife Photographer of the year in Denmark” 2018 by NFD is over.
There were 1,600 photos submitted in 11 categories and of those 276 were selected for the final, I got 7 photos here, and in the category People and nature I got 2nd place with the picture of mother greylag goose and gosling, with a waiting car in the background.
It was the first time I enter a photo competition, I got this 2nd place, in the category “ People and nature"
There are strict requirements for motifs and image editing in this competition, So I'm really happy with the placement in this competition.
The picture was taken in May 2018 in Lille Vildmose.
News Paper - The bigist moon in 50 Year
This picture is published in the local newspaper Paperboy.
It is a fine art picture, where I have put the moon in useing photoshop, I made this picture in connection with the biggest moon in 50 years, coming that day.
I published this photo on Facebook, where the local newspaper found it and asked permission to use it.
The picture is taken In Roskilde and from 13 November 2016
