Finalist - Travel Photographer of the Year. November 2021.

Shortlisted for Best Single Image, Living World Portfolio Category

Duckweed leaves beneath the water surface in an urban pond. This species is Lemna minor, one of our planet’s smallest flowering plants. Microscopic bubbles created from photosynthesis sit on the leaves, natural aeration for freshwater habitats. Each plant measures just a few millimetres when fully grown. If you look closely at the leaves you can see tiny black dots with pale smudges around them, which are insect eggs and minuscule invertebrate life.

I captured this Abstract using a Super macro wet lens, off-camera lights and a homemade, creative backdrop. The backdrop was designed as a contrast to help highlight the tiny leaves.

Location: Urban wildlife pond, Esher, Surrey, England, UK

Photographer: Laura Storm