The competition is run by the Wheen Bee Foundation to raise awareness of the importance of Australia’s insect pollinators.

Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers said the competition, which is in its fourth year, is gaining momentum, with 430 stunning images entered this year from photographers across the country.

“It was amazing to see so many delightful photographs which clearly show the rich diversity of Australian pollinators,” Ms Chambers said.

“Over the past four years we have had more than 2,000 entries from many talented photographers, whose attention to colour and minute detail makes the photographs exceptional.

“This year’s judges certainly had a tough time selecting the winners.”

Mr Loechel, who was also a runner up in last year’s Pollinator Photography Competition, has been photographing pollinators for the past three years.

This year, Mr Loechel was in his backyard one evening when he spotted a few Nomia aurantifer and decided to wait until the next morning when the bees were waking up to capture his winning shot.

“It’s important to get up early when it’s still cold and the bees are calm,” Mr Loechel said.

Using his Olympus e-m1 mark ii and Olympus OM System 90mm Macro lens, Mr Loechel took about 90 shots to capture the winning shot.

As well as using the cold mornings, Mr Loechel says overcast conditions are also great for capturing pollinators.

“It’s good to use the clouds as a light diffuser so the sun isn’t harsh,” he said.

The photography competition judges were impressed with Mr Loechel’s ability to capture all three bees together and said the interaction shown in the image was a testament to his patience.

The 2025 runner-up was won by Casey Forster from NSW, who entered a beautiful photograph of three teddy bear bees. Third place was awarded to Erica Siegel QLD with an action shot of a mosquito and an assassin bug.

A special mention award was given to Marianne Brough from SA for a Blue Banded Bee photograph. The people’s choice award was won by Connie Rac from QLD, whose entry captured a group of Nomia aurantifer.

The competition was sponsored by Flow, Hornsby Beekeeping Supplies, House of Honey, Wild and Centre for Bee Education – a collaboration between the Wheen Bee Foundation and Bee School by Beechworth Honey.

First place won $1,500, the runner-up received $750, third place received $500 and the people’s choice received $750. Every winner also received a 12-month subscription to Wild Magazine.

In the primary student photography category, Annabella Moxey from NSW won first prize, and in the secondary category, Ellie Wright from the ACT took out the category.

For the first time this year, the Wheen Bee Foundation held an art competition. The primary winner was Elias Rider, and the secondary winner was Breeana Trewavis.

To see all of this year’s winners, visit www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au