Photo Contest

2nd Place – Cave Biology

Photographer: Ethan Perrine (The United States of America)

Photo Title: At Attention

Location: Poor Cave, San Antonio, Texas, USA

As a karst biologist, Ethan aims to portray overlooked organisms with the care typically reserved for portraiture. He photographed this troglobitic harvestman perched on a tiny, broken soda straw to highlight the fragile ecosystem cavers often crawl over. "I found the spectacle of such a delicate animal on an already broken formation quite moving."

Jury's Note:

A flawless photograph where the dark background beautifully enhances the subject. The translucency of the organism is perfectly captured with excellent lighting, conveying a wonderful sense of movement and a deep fascination for these delicate creatures.

3rd Place – Cave Biology

Photographer: Adrià Miralles Nuñez (Spain)

Title of Photo: The Scale of Biodiversity

Location: Cambra cave, Tarragona, Spain
Adrià wants to reveal the hidden beauty of subterranean life and advocate for its protection. This tiny springtail (Pygmarrhopalites pygmaeus) measures less than one millimeter. By portraying it within its vast natural setting, he reminds us that these seemingly empty spaces are complex ecosystems teeming with life.

Jury's Note:

A photograph of unique beauty and poetry. The impressive contrast and use of negative space draw the viewer into the minute scale of subterranean life. It carries an artistic value just as significant as its urgent conservation message.

Honorable Mention - Cave Biology

Photographer: Andy Lewington (The United Kingdom)

Title of Photo: Dark winged fungus gnat (Sciaridae) on a Cellar Glass Snail (Oxychilus cellarius)

Location: Porth yr Ogof, South Wales, UK

While taking photographs for a cave life website, Andy captured a highly rare interaction in situ: a Sciarid fly landing briefly on a troglophilic snail. He captured this fleeting, dynamic moment handheld, using a macro lens, before the fly took off.

Jury's Note:

An outstanding photograph capturing a wonderful and fleeting interaction. The image stands out for its almost perfect composition, remarkable sharpness, and the extreme technical precision required with these tiny, elusive subjects.

Honorable Mention - Cave Biology

Photographer: Laura Sanna (Italy)

Title of Photo: Primordial underground life

Location: Perdeballa cave, Sardinia, Italy

During a field trip studying water percolation, Laura, a geoscientist, spotted this tiny fungus growing on salamander droppings. Using only the light from her helmet, she captured the unexpected yellow color of the spores. These microorganisms play a crucial role in recycling greenhouse gases deep within the Earth's critical zone.

Jury's Note:

A beautifully balanced composition. Capturing these primordial life forms while preserving their peculiar nature is the work of an experienced observer, making this image uniquely valuable for its rare documentation of cave fungi.

1st Place – Cave protection and conservation

Photographer: Stefan M. Eberhard (Australia)

Title of Photo: Sacred River

Location: Weebubbie Cave, Nullarbor Plain, Australia

Beneath the Nullarbor lies a vast aquifer draining into the Southern Ocean. Weebubbie Cave is home to rare blind species and extraordinary microbial communities. Stefan uses his photography to warn against a proposed mega-scale energy hub that urgently threatens to contaminate this World Heritage-quality groundwater system.

Jury's Note:

A technically excellent photograph with masterful lighting. It beautifully captures the pristine nature of this vulnerable ecosystem, serving as a powerful reminder of how essential it is to protect these unique underground environments.

2nd Place – Cave protection and conservation

Photographer: Alfredo F. Lainez Concepción (Spain)

Title of Photo: Opposition to using the significant Cueva del Viento volcanic tube for sanitary sewer systems

Location: Cueva del Viento, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

 Alfredo, a pioneer of volcanic speleology in the Canary Islands, uses his lens as a weapon for conservation. This photograph exposes a grave threat: the use of a significant part of this magnificent volcanic complex as a makeshift sewer system. His goal is to raise global awareness to protect this irreplaceable geological marvel.

Jury's Note:

A well-lit and impactful image that sheds light on a critical issue. The geological processes that give rise to these volcanic tubes are extremely rare, making this photographic effort to advocate for their protection a work of immense significance.

3rd Place – Cave Conservation

Photographer: Erik Claes (Belgium)

Title of Photo: The Meduse

Location: Grotte Flandin, Ardeche, France

Erik has been caving and photographing since he was 16. Frequently joining international expeditions, he aims to document caves while strictly adhering to the principles of photography, where composition, lighting, and the respectful framing of delicate formations like "The Meduse" are crucial.

Jury's Note:

A technically well-executed and perfectly exposed photograph. We can hardly imagine the immense time required for this majestic formation to develop, and this image allows us to witness the delicate passage of geological time.

1st Place – Speleological Aesthetics and creative perspectives

Photographer: Stefan M. Eberhard (Australia)

Title of Photo: Heart of the Nullarbor

Location: Old Homestead Cave, Nullarbor Plain, Australia

Stefan, a scientist and conservationist, highlights that there is more to the Nullarbor than meets the eye. This cave, a place of staggering beauty and profound stillness, is currently inside the footprint of a proposed colossal wind and solar hub. This image is a call to protect a magnificent, threatened ecosystem.

Jury's Note:

An absolutely flawless photograph that masterfully combines astrophotography with the cave landscape. The contrast between the vast darkness of the confined space and the infinite illuminated sky adds tremendous depth, creating a spectacular and impactful image.

2nd Place – Speleological Aesthetics and creative perspectives

Photographer: Stefan M. Eberhard (Australia)

Title of Photo: 40,000 years

Location: Wombat Cave, Nullarbor Plain, Australia

These ochre hand stencils convey a powerful story of the Mirning People's co-existence with the Nullarbor karst spanning at least 40,000 years. Stefan captures this living cultural landscape to raise awareness about the hundreds of heritage sites currently threatened by industrial development proposals.

Jury's Note:

More than a photograph, this is a window into a moment in human history. Sharing the same space with beings that inhabited the world in the past leaves a powerful, almost intimate impression. The composition brilliantly highlights the ancient stencils.

3rd Place – Speleological Aesthetics and creative perspectives

Photographer: Alexandre Socci (Brazil)

Title of Photo: 70 Shots, 70 Minutes, One Photo: Revealing Cone’s Salloon

Location: Gruta do Mimoso Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

This image documents a 70-minute dive where four divers carried lights through a massive submerged chamber. Alexandre captured 70 photographs, combining 30 of them to accurately reveal the extraordinary scale and geological complexity of the cave. "It reflects both the challenges of underwater exploration and the potential of photography as a documentation tool."

Jury's Note:

An incredible image that tells a compelling story of exploration. The sheer challenge of underwater cave light painting is richly rewarded here by stunning scenery and vibrant colors, demonstrating a strong mastery of technique.

1st Place – General Speleology

Photographer: Stefan M. Eberhard (Australia)

Title of Photo: Sunless Sea

Location: Weebubbie Cave, Nullarbor Plain, Australia

This image captures the "sunless sea" of the Nullarbor, a vast, salty limestone aquifer with crystal-clear groundwater. For over 50 years, divers have explored these internationally famous underwater caves. Stefan highlights their staggering beauty to protect them from looming industrialization.

Jury's Note:

A remarkable underwater photograph that brilliantly conveys the sheer immensity of these submerged spaces. The divers appear almost weightless, moving silently through the darkness to avoid disturbing this breathtaking environment.

2nd Place – General Speleology

Photographer: Satria Bintang Triatmaja Ridlo Ilahi Pamungkas (Indonesia)

Title of Photo: The Entrance

Location: Pulejajar Cave, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

For Satria, every cave exploration begins with an entrance, a threshold between what is visible and what remains unknown. "Whether vertical or horizontal, narrow or vast, each entrance represents uncertainty. I wanted to capture not only a physical entrance, but also the feeling of curiosity and possibility that accompanies every exploration."

Jury's Note:

To reach the most remote places, we must first pass the threshold. This image perfectly captures that profound moment of uncertainty -the instant just before entering the unknown- which often remains deeply etched in every caver's memory.