See winning image for Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

A jaw-dropping photo of a lion has won a prestigious award – but it’s the small detail in the animal’s eye that really stunned judges.

This jaw-dropping photo of a lion roaring as a fly buzzes into his eye has won the Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021.

The stunning entry was selected from 25,023 photographs which aimed to offer a new perspective on the continent.

The Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021 was Hannes Lochner.

A lion cub tries to nudge dad, but the male is grumpy. At the click of the shutter, a fly passes through the focus point and the pupil of the eye. Picture: Hannes Lochner Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

The judges said: “With one snap of the shutter, this image succeeds with so many of the criteria that make an excellent photograph. It is technically brilliant from the perspective of timing, anticipation and setting the camera perfectly for the predicted behaviour.”

There were also runners up and those winning the commended accolade.

The publication’s editor-in-chief James Hendry said: “It has been a great joy and privilege to receive your entries each week, to see the vastly different perspectives of Africa.

“We judge images on their ability to tell a story, evoke emotion and capture the essence of Africa.

“We are but human, and therefore the judging cannot be entirely objective – many entries may well succeed in other competitions.”

Here are some of the other incredible shots:

British photographer James Gifford captured a mother rhino and her calf silhouetted against the setting sun in Botswana. Picture: James Gifford Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

Kenyan photographer Aditya Nair photographed the bloody face of a cheetah in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Picture: Aditya Nair Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

Brazilian photographer Ana Zinger captured the moment a giraffe mother tended to her calf grooming and cleaning her baby in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Picture: Ana Zinger Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

South African photographer Eleanor Hattingh captured one of the continent’s smaller inhabitants in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa. Picture: Eleanor Hattingh Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

The photo was captured in Yzerfontein, South Africa, from Geo Cloete’s back garden at home. Picture: Geo Cloete Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

Kenyan photographer James Nampaso’s image ‘Attack’ was taken in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya. Picture: James Nampaso Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

A precious fennec fox in the heart of the Tunisian desert by Marcello Galleano. Picture: Marcello Galleano Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

A small amphibian sits on a rain tree leaf. Kruger National Park, South Africa – Mattheuns Pretorius. Picture: Mattheuns Pretorius Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

This photo was taken in a Mursi village in southern Ethiopia. Many people believe that photography in Africa is all about animals and landscapes. Picture: Bob Chiu Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

Hartlaub’s gull, Kommetjie, Cape Town by Philip Jackson. Picture: Philip Jackson Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

Mozambican long-fingered bat emerging from the Codzo Cave. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique by Piotr Naskrecki. Picture: Piotr Naskrecki Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

Italian photographer Valentino Morgante’s image called ‘Hands’ was taken in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Picture: Valentino Morgante Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

In ‘Natal Tree Frog Hiding in a Ligularia Leaf,’ Zimbabwean Shirley Gillitt wondered across the shy creature one morning in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Picture: Shirley Gillitt Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2021

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission