Jan Leßmann (Germany) shows a barn swallow flying low over lily pads, with the sun and clouds reflected in the water.
Jan was standing on a bridge over a canal near Greifswald in north-east Germany, enjoying the sunshine.
He has been photographing swallows for years and had researched the location so that he’d know exactly when the sun would be in the right position.
The number of swallows returning to Europe from African wintering sites is dropping. This is mainly because of decreasing numbers of insects and nesting spaces in Europe.
People can help by avoiding the use of pesticides and installing nesting boxes, cups or platforms near the eaves or rafters of buildings.
Germany
Jan is a professional photographer and author who creates abstract images that highlight individual elements from the great chaos. The desire to place images in a larger context and to use his vision for a changing society drives him in his photography. He gained theoretical knowledge while studying landscape ecology and nature conservation, and now he transports his knowledge into images and stories in order to contribute to social change with an emotional visual language.
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.