Spring 2025 Competition Winner

As warmth returns to the continent and we begin the season of ice cream and trips to the beach, it’s time to look back at the Spring 2025 edition of our Alpha Instagram competition. Thousands of entries celebrated the season, from colourful flowers and emerging wildlife to the fresh energy that spring provides to the people all over Europe.

We’re thrilled to announce that Francesca Sironi (@frap.si_wildlife) has claimed first place with her captivating image of a ring-necked parakeet proudly holding a cherry blossom.

Spring pushes me to go out and photograph all of its beauty: the light, the flowers. That day, not being able to organise a trip out of town, I settled for a simple walk in the city park, and I was lucky!” says Francesca. “I knew about a colony of parakeets in that park. There were many trees in bloom during that period, so I looked for the birds on them.”

The moment came together perfectly when Francesca spotted her subject in ideal conditions. “I noticed the bird hidden behind flowers and facing the light. Just before the shot, it took a flower in its beak and stood in that perfect pose for a while. When I saw the image in the camera, the pride with which the parakeet holds the flower in its mouth and the leaves behind immediately reminded me of a majestic queen.”

Francesca captured this image using her Sony Alpha 7 IV with the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens. “I love how fast the autofocus is, even when I want to capture birds in flight,” she explains. “The camera’s resolution allows you to capture great details and crop the image, even when small animals are far from you. The colour rendering and the dynamic range are outstanding too.”

As our competition winner, Francesca will receive a Sony Alpha 7CR. With plans for future travels, she’s excited about having dual camera bodies. “Since I want to photograph both wildlife and landscapes on my travels – often in the same place – two camera bodies are pretty much essential, so I don’t miss a thing. I’m planning a trip to Japan this autumn to photograph the foliage and hope to capture some wildlife surrounded by the colourful leaves of the Japanese maples.”

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Cherry blossom was also a feature in our second-place image: a dynamic shot of a bee in flight, taken by Kristīne Zāle (@macro.viewpoint) in Riga, Latvia.

Spring always fills me with excitement. It’s my favourite season for nature photography because so much comes to life at once,” Kristine notes. “I took this photo at a cherry blossom garden. It had just warmed up, and all the blossoms opened simultaneously, creating a breathtaking scene filled with buzzing bees,” explains Kristīne. “I used my Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro lens and followed the bees as they flew between blossoms. Capturing them mid-air or deep in the flowers was a fun but challenging task, as they’re moving constantly.”

The moment of capture was gratifying for Kristīne. “I was so excited when I saw the photo. The bee was perfectly frozen in mid-air as it approached the blossom. It was sharp, and the composition felt just right. It was one of those moments where everything came together.”

As runner-up, Kristīne has won a Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM lens. “With the longer 135mm lens, I’m looking forward to photographing more cautious insects and flowers that are harder to reach. It will let me capture details from a distance without disturbing the scene.”

Arvie Tong (@arvietongphotography) secured third place with his dreamy portrait, taken during the brief flowering season at Regent’s Park, London.

Using his Sony Alpha 7 IV with the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM lens, Arvie was impressed by the results. “I couldn’t believe the colours straight out of the Alpha 7 IV paired with the 85mm f/1.4 G Master lens. It made the photo feel so dreamy.”

Winning himself a Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G lens, Arvie is excited for the new creative possibilities. “I’ve always wanted to try shooting portraits with a wide-angle lens like the 16-25mm lens, and now with my prize, I can’t wait to get even more creative.”

Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to everyone who participated in celebrating spring through photography. To be in with a chance of winning our next competition, make sure you follow @alphauniversebysony.eu on Instagram.