Think the Earth

Ants holding dandelion seeds are about to parachute to the ground using the seed fluff - the photo that captured this moment won the UK-based CIWEM's (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) prize for Environmental Photographer of the Year. This photographic competition started three years ago with the aim of raising awareness of environmental and social issues through photography. This year, the competition received photos from more than 60 countries.

This winning photograph "Talk About Stars" amateur photographer Bolucevschi Vitali Nicolai. He has been interested in the complex and dynamic life of insects since childhood. "At first I was no good as the ants moved very quickly. But gradually I was drawn to a group which was climbing up a nearby dandelion. They would each pull out one seed and then parachute to the ground", he said.

Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency and one of the competition judges, said "this is a compelling image that conveys the beauty, the fragility, and the delicacy of nature in an extraordinary way. It reminds us that the environment, in its smallest detail as well as its grandest sweep, needs care and stewardship from us all."

Winning photographs will be displayed at an international exhibition at Covent Garden in London from 7 - 18 October.