Step into a world where flowers unfold with the elegance of art, and nature takes center stage. The International Garden Photographer of the Year once again presents a stunning display in “The Beauty of Plants” category, 24 images that look more like works of art than simple photographs. Supported by Mirror Plate Media Ltd. and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this globally recognized competition continues to set new standards for botanical storytelling.
Alison Tinson’s “Game, Set and Match” took the top prize with its pure magic. Photographed in the South of France, her October dahlias shine with a quiet brilliance, carefully lit, arranged in a custom black box, and gently illuminated for the perfect effect. The result is bold, elegant, and truly memorable.
Close behind, Warrena Barnerd’s “Dewy Rose” stands out as a macro masterpiece. This photograph captures the morning dew on rose petals, each droplet sparkling like a tiny jewel and blending shades from rich purples to bright oranges. It’s the kind of image that invites you to stop and appreciate the incredible details found in nature.
From exhibitions at Kew to tours around the world, this competition proves time and again that plant photography is much more than a niche; it’s a true form of art.
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1. 1st Place Winner: "Game, Set and Match" by Alison Tinson
"Here, in the South of France, ordinarily, we see dahlias uniquely in late spring, so I was extremely surprised to see these beautiful specimens for sale at the flower market in October – so of course they came home with me! I captured this Dahlia with my Lensbaby Velvet 85mm lens, using manual focus and a narrow aperture, having placed the flower in my bespoke black box, I then guided the light with a handheld reflector, and directed the light to strike the jewelled centre which glistened so magically. The colours reminded me of a famous tennis tournament, hence the title."
2. 2nd Place Winner: "Dewy Rose" by Warrena Barnerd
"Recently, I captured something truly special one morning in my yard – the way the dew clung to each petal, paired with that stunning gradient of colours, gave the rose an almost surreal glow. The macro lens really brought out the intricate textures and subtle transitions, from deep purples to fiery oranges and soft yellows. It’s like nature decided to paint with many colours from the palette that morning."
3. 3rd Place Winner: "Like a Dr. Seuss Garden" by Marianne Weingroff
"In this garden, the shapes and colours, particularly of the purple Allium, reminded me of what a Dr. Seuss garden might look like. This shot is comprised of three images focus stacked together."
4. Finalist: "Moonlight Serenade" by Claire Carter
"I photographed the leaves and tightly rolled calla lily flowers in the studio, to represent a romantic connection of two under a harvest moon – that mirrored the colours of the flowers. The moon backdrop was created and printed by myself."
5. Finalist: "Growing Up" by Łukasz Kiełtyka
"The photo shows bluebells growing in one of the most beautiful bluebell woods in Wales – Graig Fawr. I took the shot at sunset, photographing against the light, which allowed me to capture a colourful background with a hint of orange. The scene was captured in early spring, right at the beginning of the flower’s season, which made it possible to show several stages of their growth in a single frame."
6. Finalist: "Dahlia Dance" by Molly Hollman
"I photographed this graceful, waterlily type Dahlia flower, which I added a digital overlay to, that was taken myself at the time I captured the flower. It’s an out of focus image of the same flower, to give a blur of colour, at about 60% opacity. Then, I created a layer mask and painted over it to reveal the flower, changing to smaller brushes as I neared the edges."
7. Finalist: "Bingdi Lotus (Twin)" by Janice Kum
"I arrived at a local lotus garden, and by chance saw these twin lotus flowers on one stalk, which is known as a Bingdi lotus – and is seen as an auspicious sign. I was so pleased to find it, and by using the ‘shooting through’ technique, I revealed its gorgeous beauty with rain drop bokeh behind, making a soft, out of focus background."
8. Highly Commended: "Fiery Rudbeckia" by Claire Carter
"A flower of Rudbeckia, commonly known as a coneflower, which I photographed in my studio in low, natural light. I then added a vibrant (blurred) layer of the same coloured petals in post-processing – to give a sense of motion."
9. Highly Commended: "Ethereal Field" by Amy Duffy
"An Agastache aurantiaca (orange hummingbird mint) plant is surrounded by faint impressions of flowers in shades of orange and pink. The composition was set against a background of blue and green tones, lending to an ethereal stillness."
10. Highly Commended: "Anemone" by Jolanta Jóźków
"This beautiful photo of a delicate purple anemone flower was taken indoors using natural light. Anemones are definitely one of my favourite flowers. This shot is a combination of two images; one sharp, and the other blurred."
11. Highly Commended: "Paeonia × suffruticosa" by Wolfgang Wiesen
"An intricate portrait of a flower head of Paeonia × suffruticosa – showing the numerous stamen and fruit revealed in the centre. I photographed the specimen in a light tent, to reveal the details."
12. Highly Commended: "Blue in Red" by Łukasz Kiełtyka
"This is undoubtedly one of the greatest moments in my backyard garden, that I await with anticipation. When the autumn weather proves suitably kind, the last blooms of the blue Hydrangea manage to persist, until the leaves of the nearby blueberry changes colour. That was exactly the case this time – vivid blue spheres amongst blood-red leaves, all illuminated by the gentle rays of the autumn afternoon sun."
13. Commended: "Floaty Lotus" by Janice Kum
"A haze of mist formed under intense sunlight, and shined to illuminate the beauty of this lotus flower. By using a low angled ‘shooting through’ technique, with complementary foreground and golden bokeh – I created a dreamy effect."
14. Commended: "Curl Time" by Kathleen Clemons
"At times, I find the under side of my dahlias more interesting than the front side, so I was excited to find these curls underneath one of the cultivars in my garden named Dahlia ‘Otto’s Thrill’. I chose to fill the frame with my subject, to simplify the composition and draw more attention to the curvy petals."
15. Commended: "On the Wings of the Winds" by Norbert Kaszás
"I took this picture of the generative and vegetative shoots of horsetail, which appeared simultaneously during sporulation at night. Despite being viewed as a weed by gardeners, it has an unusual beauty and is classed as a ‘living fossil’."
PMC Plants & Planet
16. 1st Place Winner: "Mangrove Restoration" by Stephen Studd
"Mangroves are vital in the fight against climate change as well as being important habitats for wildlife. When floods and storms hit, they provide a natural barrier for coastal communities."
17. 2nd Place Winner: "Exposed" by Catherine Bullen
"A living tree rises behind its skeletal counterpart, both sculpted by Sossusvlei’s relentless sun and towering dunes. Sand frequently blows from the dune tops, steadily reshaping the surrounding landscape."
18. 3rd Place Winner: "Joshua Tree at Dusk" by Uwe Beutnagel-Buchner
"You might think that things couldn’t get much worse for the Joshua tree, here in the dry and hot Death Valley. But it is estimated that due to climate change the population of this species will be heavily impacted, hence the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act (WJTCA), passed by the state of California in 2023 to help safeguard its future."
19. Finalist: "Kakadu Designs" by Stuart Chape
"Photographed from a helicopter, this aerial view shows part of the complex wetland ecosystems that cover a large part of the vast Kakadu landscape – in the Northern Territory, Australia."
20. Finalist: "Punakaiki Sunrise" by Stuart Chape
"Sunrise off the cliffs and rock stack of the Punakaiki coast on the South Island of New Zealand; the rock stack is an important seabird rookery. In the foreground are tall native Cordyline (tī kōuka) and bush flax (kakaha) species."
21. Finalist: "Tree Roots On Temple" by Stephen Studd
"At Ta Prohm temple, part of the Angkor Wat temple complex – a UNESCO World Heritage site in Cambodia, trees play a crucial role in the sites preservation, acting as a protective buffer against environmental damage and helping to stabilise the structures themselves."
22. Finalist: "Thundercrop" by Ridhima Singh
"I captured this massive lightning fork, as it arced through the sky over a golden wheat field. Fierce, yet beautiful clouds framed the bolt, showcasing raw power and wild beauty. In recent years, storms like this have become more frequent and intense – a striking reminder of how climate change is altering weather patterns."
23. Finalist: "Light Show in the Mangroves" by Leena Roy
"I love diving and snorkelling in mangrove forests. They can seem dark and foreboding but when dived in the right conditions, they provide a light show second to none. We timed our dive for early in the morning as the sun came over the horizon and the angled light filtered through, which created wonderful beams. The tide was high, clearing the roots and removing much of the sediment. I hovered just above the sand and angled my camera upwards, to capture the leaves above the waterline as well as the sunbeams as they lit the incredible roots."
24. Finalist: "The Lone Battle" by Ridhima Singh
"I captured an aerial view of a lone tree in an Alpe di Siusi meadow as the morning fog began to fade with the rising sun. The sunlight cast a long shadow across the meadow, emphasising the tree’s solitary presence. Beyond its visual beauty, this photo also highlights the ecological role of plants in the landscape, how even a single tree, or a small cluster of trees, helps anchor the soil, reduce erosion, and maintain the meadow’s health."
What 121clicks Editor Thinks
At 121clicks, we’re truly impressed by this year’s winners. These photographs go beyond documenting plants; they turn them into striking visual stories. Alison Tinson and Warrena Barnerd show us that with creativity, patience, and skill, even ordinary subjects can become remarkable works of art. What really stands out is the emotion behind each shot; every photo encourages you to pause and appreciate the beauty of nature. Contests like this are vital; they motivate photographers everywhere to try new things, push boundaries, and find inspiration in the smallest moments. This collection not only inspires, but it also reminds us why photography is so important.
