Daniel O'Meley, The last seeds (ENTRIES CLOSED - December theme: Your favourite shot of '25)

This image represents a personal milestone in 2025: my first foray into dedicated macro photography with a new-to-me second-hand lens. I spent the afternoon braving the 'wilds' of my own backyard, searching for a perfect subject. After finding that local insects were far too fast or non-compliant for a beginner, I turned my attention to the humble dandelion. I struggled with the technical demands of macro focus, failing far more than I succeeded. However, I persevered with this single seed pod, capturing this frame just as the wind began to carry the seeds away. I opted for a high-contrast black and white edit to strip away the 'backyard' context and instead emphasize the mathematical symmetry and delicate structure of the subject. It’s a favourite of the year not just for the final result, but for the lesson in patience and persistence it provided

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.