igpoty winner Magdalena Wasiczek_RGB.webMagdalena claimed the 2015 International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) title with an image entitled ‘The Ballerinas’.

Magdalena said: ‘I like photographing the dry hydrangea flowers on a background of colourful autumn leaves in the beautiful sunset.

‘This photograph [was] in the winter but winter this year was very warm and snowless – a prolonged autumn.

‘The sun shone through the few remaining leaves on trees, forming a nice bokeh…’

In 2012, Magdalena secured the title with a picture of a brimstone butterfly.

Commenting on the 2015 contest, IGPOTY managing director Tyrone McGlinchey said: ‘The standard of entries has been amazing and has once again surpassed expectations, further pushing the boundaries of garden photography and evoking the kinds of positive emotions that the competition is all about.’

The winning images have gone on show at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The show runs until 5 April and will tour the UK and worldwide.

A book, called IGPOTY: Collection 8, has been published to accompany the exhibition.

IGPOTY organisers run photography workshops at Kew Gardens and elsewhere.

For details visit www.igpoty.com