Like the bioluminescent mushroom, the frog's blue glow is a type of luminescence, where a chemical surface absorbs light and re-emits it at another wavelength. (Image: Toby Schrapel)

A breathtaking photograph of a glowing frog has won the People's Choice award at the Beaker Street Science Photography Competition in Tasmania. This enchanting image features a biofluorescent brown tree frog perched on a luminescent ghost mushroom.

Captured by photographer Toby Schrapel, the stunning photo shows blue light reflecting off the frog's eyes and skin. The tree frog, known scientifically as Litoria ewingii, sits on the funnel-shaped ghost fungus, Omphalotus nidiformis. This mushroom is named for its eerie, glowing appearance at night.

Like the bioluminescent mushroom, the frog's blue glow is a type of luminescence, where a chemical surface absorbs light and re-emits it at another wavelength. (Image: Toby Schrapel)

After weeks of searching for this rare fungus, Schrapel received a tip about a nearby pine plantation. "When I first saw them together, I knew this was special," he shared with Live Science. The ghost fungus, native to Australia and Tasmania, has gills that glow green at night. This glow results from bioluminescence, a chemical reaction that produces light.

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The photo opportunity arose when Schrapel realised the frog's skin would shine under ultraviolet light. This exposure revealed a brilliant blue glow, showcasing both the mushroom's bioluminescence and the frog's biofluorescence. Biofluorescence happens when an organism absorbs light at one wavelength and re-emits it at another.

The Art of Biofluorescence and Bioluminescence

The award for the People's Choice winner was announced on September 8. Other notable entries included photographs of endangered red handfish embryos, microscopic algae, and tiny red mites.
The Judges Choice winner was an image of red handfish embryos taken by photographer Andrea Williamson at the University of Tasmania.

The successful breeding of red handfish embryos, a species known for "walking" with oversized fins instead of swimming, marks a major breakthrough in conservation efforts. (Image: Andrea Williamson)

Photographer Luke Brokensha captured a striking image of coccolithophores, single-celled organisms that produce oxygen. Another image by Ben Travaglini depicted a tiny mite climbing through dry undergrowth in northern Tasmania.

Calcidiscus leptoporus, a coccolithophore, drifts through the Southern Ocean. These single-celled organisms create energy through photosynthesis, generating the oxygen we breathe. (Image: Luke Brokensha)

Mites come in a dazzling variety of forms. However, few macro enthusiasts take the time to photograph them, probably because many species move incredibly fast and are very small. (Image: Ben Travaglini)

This year's Beaker Street competition showcased stunning examples of nature's beauty. The winning images highlighted the wonders of biofluorescence, bioluminescence, and unique wildlife.