Shane Gross' photograph is the first tadpole photo to have placed as overall winner of Wildlife Photographer of the Year in its 60 year history. Shane shares his process for taking his winning photograph for Wildlife Photographer of the Year, "The Swarm of Life". "Every day during the late spring and early summer, millions of paperclip-size Western Toad tadpoles migrate from the deep, safe region of the Vancouver Island Lake into the sunlit shallows. They make their way through a gauntlet of predators like water bugs, leeches, and snakes to their feeding grounds among the lily pads where they gorge themselves on algae and detritus. The tadpoles travel in large groups called clouds, often with their brothers and sisters.
To make this image I had to time it for when the tadpoles were at their biggest and the lily pads had grown tall enough to reach the surface of the lake. I spent several hours snorkeling that day, tracking the largest groups and staking out the best backgrounds. I had to make sure to not touch the lakebed or lily pads as that would stir things up and ruin any chance for a clean shot. It wasn't easy, but it sure was a lot of fun! If I floated still, the tadpoles would swim up to me and nibble on my camera and any exposed skin. It tickled quite a lot and I laughed hard enough to make my mask leak.
It was refreshing to see so much life as I am all too aware of the plight of amphibians all over the world due to the chytrid fungus, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. I hope my image instills a love for the animals in those who see it. Maybe if the right people fall in love, they will join me in trying to save them and, importantly, their habitats."

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