After two decades of patient pursuit, photographer Konrad Wothe has soared to victory, claiming the prestigious GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 title.
His breathtaking image, according to mymodernmet.com, captures the sheer audacity of a white-throated dipper fearlessly diving through a cascading waterfall, a moment of wild abandon that captivated the judges of the German Society for Nature Photography competition. Wothe’s winning shot triumphed over 8,000 stunning entries.
Wothe’s fascination with the dipper’s aquatic acrobatics began 20 years ago, but it wasn’t until he discovered a nesting site behind a waterfall two years prior that he felt equipped to capture the elusive behaviour. Armed with modern digital gear and lightning-fast cameras, he embarked on numerous trips, battling unpredictable timing and tricky focus to immortalise the bird’s watery flight. His perseverance paid off with a perfectly frozen frame, showcasing the small bird’s determined journey through the powerful curtain of water.
The competition, open to members of the German Society for Nature Photography, also celebrated a diverse range of natural wonders. Levi Fitze’s “Patterns in the snow” earned the Jury Prize, while category winners included Paul Kornacker’s striking quiver trees under a Namibian night sky, Radomir Jakubowski’s intimate portrait of a chamois, and Hanneke Van Camp’s poignant image of deforestation.
The contest highlighted both the beauty and the fragility of our natural world, as seen through the discerning eyes of talented photographers.
- Featured image: “Dipper flying through waterfall” by Konrad Wothe/GDT Nature Photographer of the Year
