Standing in the dark on the bank of the River Danube, Imre was covered in fluttering mayflies. ‘It was a fantastic feeling,’ he says, ‘to be in the thick of their wonderful dance’. As the swarm peaked, Imre captured their movements with a continuous flashlight and long exposure.
This is the climax of a mass swarming – when the females lay their eggs on the water’s surface at the end of their brief adult lives. These mayflies are lucky – the glittering surface they are landing on is the river – many unfortunate females get attracted to the reflection of streetlights, laying their eggs in vain on roads and bridges.
Hungary
Imre is a scientific researcher who took up photography in 2007. He has received several awards, including Hungary's Nature Photographer of the Year in both 2018 and 2020. As an environmental scientist, his work centres on popular scientific activities and attitude formation. Working for Hungary's Danube-Ipoly National Park Directorate, he also gives lectures, guided nature walks and photography tours.
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