Nature nominee

Ireland's ancient boglands are steeped in mystery and mythology, and are host to otherworldly flora and fauna. When explored with my macro lens, I am transported to another world.
Light reflects and penetrates, revealing mysterious and undiscovered life within the bog pools . Their dark still waters, and perceived bottomless depths entice me to their edges.
The floating sphagnum mosses deep down and on the water’s surface weave and meander almost hypnotisingly. Otherworldly lichen goblets surely fit for a mythological king at the water's edge, while wondrous caterpillars snooze on ancient mosses. Emerging carnivorous plants lure me in, while blooming Catsear resembles a portal to a parallel mythological world.
Moods change in the passage of the seasons, the twilight hours, and onset of natural weather elements within the variety of bogland habitats,often blurring reality and fantasy. A different angle of the sun, plants appear, flourish and die, and in each stage there is beauty.

Tina Claffey is an award-winning Irish nature photographer and author of 'Tapestry of Light' 2017, and ‘Portal-Otherworldly Wonders of Ireland’s bogs, wetlands and eskers’ 2022.

For almost 10 years, she lived in pristine wilderness areas in the safari industry in Botswana. This experience awakened an appreciation of the natural world of her home country of Ireland, in particular its bogs and wetlands.

Her observations and unique perspective through her macro lens of the flora and fauna of the raised bogs and wet woodlands of the Irish midlands are celebrated in her work.
She has exhibited in group shows in the US, Botswana, Zambia and has had solo exhibitions throughout Ireland.
Her work is part of many art collections, permanent exhibitions, including the permanent collection at Áras an Uachtaráin, home of the Irish President.

She has been honored with awards from highly prestigious world competitions including the International Photography Awards, Fine Art Photography, BigPicture, Close-Up Photographer of the Year and IGPOTY Macro competition.
She has presented her work on many worldwide online platforms including the Wildlife Habitat Council Online Conference in the US and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to promote the importance of the Irish bog wilderness.