"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.

I made my first video on Youtube, it's a Nature Dokumentation video about wolves in Denmark, after my trip on 17 May 2024Where I had 10 minuts with these 4 wolves, amazing night, See more on youtube

Borris shooting range 21 april 2024

After a weekend where I was in Klelund Plantage without seeing wolves on Friday, I went to Borris Shooting Range where I spent 13 hours without success, but on Sunday I was lucky, after a tip if it had been seen on the heath, I quickly went out on the heath and got a few shots of it, it disappeared into the woods, and again later where it crossed the road.

It was the 9th time I saw a wolf in Denmark.

Se more in Portfolie "Wolf of Denmark"

Crane on Vibe territory.

Borris Shooting Range

Then it was time for the first wolf trip to Jutland.

The first day was in the Borris Shooting Range due to the heavy rain, the next day the trip went to Klelund Plantation, and Day 3 was again at Borris Shooting Range.

Unfortunately I didn't see any wolves, but they were there.

The first day I saw traces of 2 wolves (I assume, since I haven't seen dogs in the area and the size of the gates and the strong marked claws, I assume are wolf tracks) Credit cards are 8.5 cm.

Approx. 20 meters away I found excrement from wolve and the same day a women report seeing 2 wolf about 200 meter from the place I found trace.

I went back 2 days later and the trace was nearly gone.

There was quite a bit of talk with div. photographers and wolves/birds interested as told, 2 red deer had been put down by the wolf in the present time, I found one of carcass of a red deer. Where golden eagles and other birds also benefited from the carcass.

A good trip even though I didn't see wolves, but I did get a few photos of the local golden eagle.