International talent and Costa Rica’s natural wealth unite once again in global recognition. The image that captivated the jury and earned an honorable mention in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition was captured in Sierpe, Puntarenas, by French twin brothers Andrea and Maceo Grammatico.

This achievement highlights not only the stunning biodiversity of Costa Rica’s southern mangroves and tropical forests, but also the artistic vision of international photographers who find the country to be a unique setting for immortalizing wildlife.

• Emblematic Location: The photograph was taken in Sierpe, a corner of Puntarenas province renowned for its rich biological diversity and extensive wetlands.
• International Authors: The work is the result of the talent of French twins Andrea and Maceo Grammatico, who succeeded in capturing the essence of Costa Rican nature for the world to see.
• Global Exposure: Awards of this caliber in the competition organized by the Natural History Museum in London reaffirm Costa Rica’s appeal as a must-visit destination for conservation and nature photography.

Title: Counterattack

Photographer: Andrea & Maceo Grammatico (France)

Category: Honorable Mention, Animal Portraits

Location: Sierpe, Southern Puntarenas, Costa Rica

A photograph taken in Sierpe, Puntarenas, received an honorable mention.

The image, titled “Biting Back,” was captured by French photographers and twin brothers Andrea and Maceo Grammatico and received the “Highly Commended” distinction in the Animal Portraits category.

The photograph shows the face of a velvet viper (Bothrops asper), one of Central America’s most dangerous venomous snakes, with a small mosquito perched on its head.

But the detail that makes the image particularly striking came as a surprise even to its creators.

The Grammatico brothers didn’t realize they had photographed the mosquito while conducting the shoot. They realized it when they reviewed the images and discovered the tiny insect on the snake’s head.

The photographers described the shot as “one of the most complex focusing sequences we’ve ever created,” due to the level of precision required to capture the image.

The photograph was taken using a focus-stacking technique, which combines images taken at different focus points to achieve greater depth of field.

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