Commended
British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP)
'Focus on Behaviour' Competition, June 2026

A female Smooth newt piggyback rides a pair of mating frogs. She's waiting for the spawning moment and an opportunity to feast on freshly laid eggs. It's survival of the fittest. Early Spring capture.

“This was the only freshwater entry in this month’s competition and although the execution is hampered by the murky water I felt it deserved a mention as the behaviour intrigued me and when I read the caption about the newt awaiting the frog spawn to feast on this was something I didn’t know and wanted to learn more about. Photographically I wished all of the frogs bodies were in the shot but I get the challenges faced by the photographer and it’s a great documentary shot with an interesting narrative.”

Judged by Sandra Stalker

Location: Wildlife Pond, Esher, Surrey, England

Photographer: Laura Storm