20 Wildlife Photos From The Finalists Of The 2024 European Photography Contest

We reached out to Jaime Rojo, whose captivating photograph earned him a winning spot in the GDT’s prestigious awards. Our conversation centered on the awe-inspiring natural phenomenon of monarch butterfly migration, and the photographer graciously agreed to answer our questions.

To start, Rojo shared his observations from the time he spent in the forest, watching the butterflies: “I’ve been working with monarchs for 20 years, but each visit teaches me something new.” The photographer continued: “On one of my recent trips for this assignment, I witnessed firsthand the different strategies birds use to prey on monarchs during hibernation—something that is rare to see and even harder to photograph. Monarchs are toxic because, as caterpillars, they feed on milkweed and store the plant’s toxins as their first line of defense. These toxins are stored in the scales that cover their wings and bodies. However, some birds have learned to cope with the effects of the toxins. Grosbeaks are gluttonous and eat the abdomen whole, including the toxic scales, but after feeding for a while, they must stop because they start feeling sick. Tanagers and orioles, on the other hand, are like surgeons—they use precise incisions in the abdomen to extract the nutritious fat while avoiding the toxic scales, allowing them to feed for longer periods.”

When asked about the biggest challenges he faced while shooting in the forest—especially given the delicate ecosystem and the vulnerability of the butterflies' habitat—Jaime responded: “Working in such a sensitive environment requires great care and respect for both the habitat and the butterflies. The oyamel fir ecosystem is fragile, and monarchs are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, light, and human presence. The local communities play a crucial role in regulating visitor access to the sanctuaries, ensuring the protection of this unique space. For this project, I had to obtain several special permits, which made me even more aware of the privilege it is to work in these sanctuaries. I always prioritize minimizing my impact, often working under challenging conditions to ensure the environment remains undisturbed. I am deeply grateful for the support I’ve received from the keepers of the land and the managers of the protected area, who have made this work possible.”

The GDT’s winner also shared with us which particular moments stood out to him while photographing the monarchs and the forest: “One unforgettable moment was the exact time I captured The Forest of the Monarch, the photo that went on to win the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year award.” Jaime then continued: “That afternoon, I noticed something different about the quality of the light and knew there was an incredible opportunity for a photo. I had requested a special permit to stay after hours in the sanctuary, and as the light turned golden, I suddenly heard a loud cracking noise in the forest. My local guide went to investigate and discovered that a branch, loaded with millions of monarchs, had broken and fallen—a sight I had never seen before. At that moment, I was torn. I had a rare chance to capture the stunning sunset in the forest of the monarchs, but I also wanted to document the fallen branch. I managed to grab a few frames of the sunset before running downhill to find the branch. It was an incredible and surreal experience.”

Our final question focused on the photographer's future plans to expand on this project or explore similar environmental themes in his work. Here’s what we learned: “The monarch butterfly migration has been a central theme in my work, and it will continue to be. I am currently partnering with Vital Impacts to sell fine art prints of my monarch butterfly work, with 60% of the proceeds supporting two organizations that carry out critical Monarch conservation efforts. In the fall of 2025, I will begin a speaking tour as part of the National Geographic Live series to share the story of the monarchs with even more people because I believe storytelling is a fundamental part of our work as conservationists. I’m also developing a coffee-table book about the monarchs—something I’ve always wanted to do. And, of course, there is life beyond Monarchs. I’m currently working on a project, supported by the National Geographic Society, focused on rewilding efforts in the borderlands between the U.S. and Mexico, where the border wall has significantly impacted animal movements. My goal is to continue exploring issues at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, wilderness, climate change, and human impact. I’m particularly interested in the role of protected areas worldwide and how this powerful concept can help us achieve even greater conservation goals.

As mentioned earlier, we reached out to Kjell Vikestad, the photographer behind the “Angry Bird” shot, which was the Runner-Up in the Birds category of the 2024 European Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest. The Norwegian photographer shared with us that although his work is not specifically focused on wildlife, he enjoys capturing photos of birds as part of his broader interest in nature. He explained: “I mostly take landscape and nature photos, and have always appreciated hiking in nature. My interest in animal photography has grown in the past years. Some days I have my own little safari in our garden taking photos of insects with a macro lens.”

The “Angry Bird” photo conveys a lot of personality in the captured great tit. We were curious if this was the photographer's intention or simply a happy accident. Vikestad responded: “I’m used to seeing birds begging for food when I’m waiting for the ferry at Hella. On this particular day, the birds were very wet and hungry. I noticed that this made them less afraid, allowing me to take several close-up photos. However, it was a bit of luck that one of the birds ended up in this particular pose.”

Lastly, we were curious about how Kjell sees the role of humor in photography as part of storytelling. He told us: “Humor is an important part of being a human. Humorous photos of animals will perhaps make more people relate to wild animals.”