Kutub Uddin, a photographer from Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, has received high commendation in the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for his extraordinary macro photograph titled "Slime Family Portrait." The image captures a remarkable scene of alien-like slime molds discovered on a fallen tree in Slindon Wood, West Sussex, England, showcasing nature's intricate beauty at a microscopic level.
The photograph features blueberry-like spheres that are actually the reproductive parts of Physarum album, a species of slime mold. Each sphere measures just 12 millimeters in diameter, requiring exceptional skill and specialized equipment to capture in detail. Uddin's image transforms these tiny organisms into what resembles a fantasy landscape, complete with a small yellow insect egg that adds to the surreal composition.
Uddin created this stunning image using advanced macro photography techniques with his Canon EOS R5 camera equipped with a 65mm f2.8 15x macro lens. The technical specifications reveal the complexity of the shot: an exposure of 0.6 seconds at f5.6 with ISO 200, achieved through focus stacking 78 separate images to ensure perfect clarity throughout the composition. This meticulous approach demonstrates the dedication required for high-level nature photography.
Slime molds represent one of nature's most fascinating phenomena, consisting of communities of mobile single-celled, amoeba-like organisms. These creatures live independently until environmental conditions prompt them to come together and function as a unified organism to find food and reproduce. This collaborative behavior makes them a subject of both scientific interest and artistic fascination.
The photograph was recognized in the Natural Artistry category, which celebrates images that reflect either the simple beauty or complex artistry found in nature. This category accepts both color and black-and-white photographs that remain true to nature while potentially falling outside the criteria of other competition categories. Uddin's work exemplifies the category's mission to showcase nature's inherent artistic qualities.
Kutub Uddin describes himself as a passionate photographer with a deep love for capturing moments that convey powerful messages. His artistic vision focuses on finding magic in various subjects, from tiny creatures to breathtaking natural landscapes and the intricacies of everyday life. His photography website showcases his commitment to bringing out the extraordinary in ordinary scenes.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition continues to highlight the intersection of scientific documentation and artistic expression through photography. The exhibition featuring winning and highly commended photographs aims to help visitors pause, reflect, and reconnect with the natural world through images that celebrate nature's awe-inspiring beauty while encouraging environmental protection. The competition maintains that copyright for all photographs remains with the respective photographers, ensuring proper attribution and protection of artistic work.
