by Véto-pharma Véto-pharma, along with its partners across France and Europe are pleased to announce the four winners of the 2024 France and Europe edition of the free national amateur photo contest, “Let’s value the honey bee and apiculture.”
This contest aims to raise public awareness of the importance of preserving pollinating insects, including bees, and to highlight the field of beekeeping.
Congratulations to the four winners!
The 2024 contest, launched in May, offered two themes:
The 2023 edition marked a significant milestone by expanding the contest to a European level, attracting photography enthusiasts, bee lovers, and beekeepers from various countries, including France. Inspired by the success of this move, we continued this adventure, spotlighting the diversity of beekeeping practices across Europe and reminding everyone how bees and pollinators are powerful and universal symbols.
For this 2024 edition, participation was exceptional, with 18 nationalities represented, up from 14 last year, setting a new participation record with 435 photos submitted via our dedicated online platform. This user-friendly and accessible platform enables anyone to participate, whether in the adult or youth category, reflecting the growing success of this contest.
This year’s themes generated great enthusiasm, particularly the theme dedicated to Apidae, which allowed photographers to capture images of honeybees, various bumblebees, carpenter bees, and other hymenopterans in action as they forage. This broader focus on pollinators within the Apidae family likely contributed to the record-breaking participation, allowing participants to photograph these readily accessible insects in nature, gardens, parks, etc.
We warmly thank our loyal community of photographers and beekeepers, some of whom have participated since the contest’s inception in 2018. Their support and loyalty reflect a deep commitment to our initiative.
The contest’s longevity also relies on the invaluable involvement of the jury members, our partners : the towns of Chaillac (36) and Valençay (36), the Beekeepers’ Union of Central and Berry, national beekeeping unions UNAF and SNA – Abeille de France, M. P. Zootrade srl, Alveis by Chemicals Laif, M+H-Vet, the Lithuanian Beekeepers Association, Kyrka Beekeeping Cycle, and Cycon Animal Health, and many stakeholders in the beekeeping industry. We sincerely thank them for their support.
Sophie Feuillatre, a professional photographer and jury member, shares:
“Participating as a jury member in this photo contest is always a pleasure. Each year, amateur photographers present us with beautiful images that capture the magic of nature. Bees are an essential part of it, and their preservation is vital. Congratulations to all participants in this year’s edition.”
For this 2024 edition, participation was exceptional, with 18 nationalities represented, up from 14 last year, setting a new participation record with 435 photos submitted via our dedicated online platform. This user-friendly and accessible platform enables anyone to participate, whether in the adult or youth category, reflecting the growing success of this contest.
As in previous years, the contest continues with the “Favorite photo” Award. The public is invited to vote for their favorite photo among a selection of 20 entries, giving one participant the chance to win this special award by gathering the most votes. Voting is open until December 8 and can be done online via a special link: https://fr.surveymonkey.com/r/Favorite-photo-contest-24.
As in every edition, an exhibition showcasing the top 20 photos of 2024 will be available only for France for towns, communities, associations, and partners wishing to promote the importance of bee preservation and highlight the work of beekeepers.
We pay tribute to Jean-Claude Boudinot, a loyal contest participant, beekeeper, and photography enthusiast who passed away last June. His photos regularly made it to the finals and have been part of several of our exhibitions. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
“The growing popularity of this contest demonstrates the power of photography to raise public awareness of the need to preserve bees and pollinators and their vital role in our environment. We hope this event inspires others to discover the world of beekeeping, bees, and pollinators, which are essential to our food system.” – Véto-pharma
Congratulations, Kamila, on your award and your beautiful photo! This year, this competition brought together amateur photographers from 18 countries.
Thank you very much! I’m very surprised, as I didn’t expect to have the chance to be among the European winners. Of course, I’m very happy, and it’s a huge encouragement for me to keep developing my passion for photography and sharing its results.
How did you hear about the contest?
I discovered the contest through a post from Véto-pharma that I saw on Facebook.
Why did you decide to participate in our contest?
Because I think it’s always worth trying. After all, why take photos if you can’t share them with a broader audience? I love photographing bees, so it was just a matter of going through my collection of photos and picking one to submit.
What was your motivation?
I thought that, since it was an international contest, the entries might be much better than mine, but I still wanted to give it a shot. Interestingly, I kept putting off submitting the photo “until later” and nearly missed the final deadline!
Why did you choose this photo over others?
The selected photo required a lot of patience, as the entire photo session took a lot of time to find the right shots. The photo may not be spectacular or impressive, but it shows how determined bees need to be to gather food – especially during a challenging period like early spring. This photo captures the behind-the-scenes aspect of this work and its stakes, and I think it also makes us smile. I suspect my photo also stands out because of its colours. Yellow flowers are the most popular and photogenic for photographers because they attract the most pollinators. I took a long time deciding which photo to submit to the contest.
Can you explain how it was taken?
I took the photo in early spring when the first flowers bloom, and the bees leave the hives to gather pollen. The photo required me to be in a somewhat uncomfortable position—I had to lie on the ground to take photos from the right level, waiting for the bees to come to a specific spot on the flower, hoping for an interesting result. I used a mirrorless APS-C hybrid camera from a major camera brand, and I took the photo with a 50-250 mm lens.
Is photography one of your passions?
Yes, I’ve been in touch with photography since childhood – I grew up during the era of black-and-white film photography, and photos could be developed at home (my father allowed my brother and me to do this exciting activity for kids. I’m grateful to him for this, as he passed on to me the magic of photography). I’ve always loved taking photos, but my “real” journey with photography began four years ago when I bought a mirrorless camera. From that moment, I started to develop my technique. I’m a complete amateur; I’ve never taken any courses or formal training, although I’m considering it more and more often, as taking beautiful photos is one thing, but taking them with full awareness is another. I take photos for my own enjoyment and share the results with a tiny group of friends. I’m especially interested in nature, which I approach in a detailed and artistic way, paying attention to colour patches and details.
Have you ever visited a beekeeper or observed the heart of a hive?
Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance, though it does interest me. However, I’m always around bees, as we have hives nearby, and bees come to our garden to gather pollen and drink since we created a bee-friendly pond as part of our efforts to care for the ecosystem.
What do bees and beekeeping represent to you?
It’s a bit selfish, I must admit… but I love honey. It would be a real tragedy if it became unavailable. I also understand how crucial bees are to the environment and the dramatic consequences we face if they disappear. That’s why I ensure bees can always find food and water here. The edges of our pond are “taken over” by bees, and we’re happy they can rest here. I know how varroa mites affect hives and the losses they cause beekeepers. But to my delight, beekeeping is experiencing a revival in Poland, and more and more of my friends are setting up small hives. Domestic hives are becoming “trendy”!
What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the next contest?
You need to believe in yourself and give your best, as it’s a great opportunity to test your skills and share the results of your work.
by Véto-pharma Véto-pharma and its French and European partners are pleased to announce the 4 winners of France and Europe 2023 edition of the free national amateur photography competition entitled “Let’s promote
by Véto-pharma Table of Contents Véto-pharma, in collaboration with Cycon, Kyrka, Alveis, MP Zootrade, M+H-Vet, and the Lithuanian Beekeepers Association, is hosting the 6th edition of the amateur photo contest “Let’s value
by Véto-pharma The ” Favorite photo” award in the 5th “Let’s value honeybees and beekeeping” amateur photo contest was awarded to Gilles Annès, who lives in France close to Paris. The French
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