Gergő Kártyás (Hungary) reveals a single insect alongside the lights on the nearby bridge.
Gergő had been so impressed by the annual mass swarming of mayflies over Hungary’s River Rába that he’d bought a new wide-angle lens especially to photograph the event. But when he arrived, hardly any mayflies had emerged from the river. Though disappointed, Gergő quickly decided to follow individual mayflies instead.
By combining a slow shutter speed with flash, he revealed the delicacy of a single insect. Capturing the trace of its lonely final wing beats alongside the bold, blurred illumination of four sets of lights on the bridge beyond.
Mayflies spend most of their lives as underwater larvae. Emerging from the water in summer, some species only fly for a few hours to mate and lay eggs, then they die.
Unfortunately, many lay their eggs on roads, mistaking the reflection of streetlights for moonlight on water. But light pollution isn’t the only issue. Changing weather and warming water caused by climate change, as well as water pollution, are also impacting their numbers.
Hungary
Gergő takes most of his photographs within two to three kilometres of his family’s weekend house. He’s passionate about showing the biodiversity and the behaviour of his local species in a different and unique way. Gergő doesn’t have a favourite species, for him it’s all about photographing interesting animal behaviour and intimate natural moments.
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