Fifteen photos that showcase the natural beauty of Malta and Gozo are in the running for global recognition in the international edition of the annual Wiki Loves Earth competition.
The 15 winning entries to the Malta edition of the competition feature a variety of landscape, flora and fauna shots, all taken in Malta or Gozo specifically for this contest, held over the summer months.
Top picks were selected by Wikimedia Community Malta in collaboration with BirdlifeMalta from 623 entries submitted to the competition by 39 contestants.
Hummingbird hawk-moth feeding on a Lantana camara. Photo: Christian Formosa via Wikimedia Commons CC by SAThey range from a stunning aerial shot of Wied il-Kantra in Gozo to an impressive nighttime image of the Milky Way over Ġebel Ciantar and Filfla, a close-up shot of a Maltese honey bee feasting on the flowers of the Blue Stonecrop and a majestic photo of a crested honey buzzard (kuċċarda tal-orjent).
This is the third year where photos have been divided into two categories: one focused on landscapes and the other on details of local flora and fauna.
Mediterranean felimare (sea slug) Hypselodoris picta picta. Photo: David A. Agius via Wikimedia Commons CC by SAThe top five landscape shots and top ten flora/fauna shots will now be submitted to the global Wiki Loves Earth photo contest, where they will compete with similar images shortlisted across 56 countries from a total of 79,452 entries.
All the finalists are viewable on Wikimedia Commons, where they may be used freely under a Creative Commons license, with attribution to the photographers.
Newborn yellow canaries. Photo: Antonella Vella via Wikimedia Commons CC by SAThroughout September, Wikimedia Community Malta is hosting another local edition of the world’s largest photo contest, Wiki Loves Monuments, highlighting build cultural heritage and historical memorials. Details about that are available at http://www.wikimalta.org/WLM
A Crested Honey Buzzard gliding over Malta. Photo: Kevin Gambin via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
Cuttlefish floating just beneath the surface at St. Paul’s Islands. Photo: Julijana Petroskavia via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
Anax imperator in mid-air. Photo: Terry Caselli Photography via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
A Maltese honey bee. Photo: Godwin Borg via Wikimedia Commons CC by SACuttlefish floating just beneath the surface at St. Paul’s Islands. Photo: Julijana Petroskavia via Wikimedia Commons CC by SAAnax imperator in mid-air. Photo: Terry Caselli Photography via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
‘Fried-egg Jellyfish (Phacellophora) at Ċirkewwa Marine Park. Photo: David A. Agius via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
Ta’ Kalanka Sea Cave at Xrobb l-Għaġin, Malta. Photo: Marika Caruana via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
Il-Qolla l-Bajda, Gozo. Photo: Joseph Amodio via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
Mushroom rock in Gozo. Photo: Noel Portelli via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
Wied il-Kantra in Gozo. Photo: Wendy Verbraeken via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
More details Swallowtail Butterfly at Wied Għollieqa. Photo: Estifor89 via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA
Filfla and Ġebel Ciantar under Malta’s night sky. Photo: MemMinquxa via Wikimedia Commons CC by SA