Nature nominee

The macro lens is a wonderful tool that reveals treasures at our feet that we could easily pass by, unnoticed. Our bogs and wetlands are full of these treasures.
This elegant but deadly carnivore in the marshy pools of Clara bog in Ireland's midlands, is the Great Sundew.
Poised delicately,like a cobra, its sweet but sticky tentacles are irresistible to tiny insects.
Once they land and are stuck, their fate is doomed. The tentacles close over the victim, and the insect is absorbed for its nitrogen.

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.