Wildlife Photographer of the Year has launched its sixty-second competition, calling for entries from photographers across the globe of all nationalities, backgrounds and experience levels.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year has launched its sixty-second competition, calling for entries from photographers across the globe of all nationalities, backgrounds and experience levels. The esteemed, international expert judging panel for this year’s competition is also announced today, including two-time Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand Title winner, Laurent Ballesta.
Rules and Access
This year, the competition has updated its rule on baiting, owing to its enduring commitment to ethical wildlife practice above all else. From this competition onwards, any form of baiting will be prohibited, except where the photograph is the result of legitimate scientific research, which must be clearly stated in the image caption when submitted.
Previously, the competition’s rules stated that the jury would strongly favour non-baited photographs, with live baiting or any means of baiting that may put an animal in danger, or adversely affect its behaviour, having been banned for many years. The change to a complete ban reflects the competition’s continued focus on championing images that celebrate the natural world with respect and integrity.
Additionally, in line with Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s commitment to increasing accessibility, entrants 26 years old and under will continue to receive free entry to the competition. Last year’s introduction of a fee waiver for those aged 18-26 resulted in an 83.6% increase in the number of entrants in this age range compared to the previous year.
The competition will also continue its waived fee for photographers from 114 countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and Southern America that have historically been underrepresented in the competition.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is also committed to increasing female and non-binary representation and actively connects with female and non-binary photographers to encourage entry to its competitions. This includes an offer of a discounted entry fee to organisations that support diversity in wildlife photography.
For the world’s oldest and most prestigious wildlife photography competition, this year’s esteemed international jury comprises seven experts across a range of wildlife and conservation topics. They will select the top 100 images, including the competition's 16 winners in categories ranging from mammal behaviour and urban wildlife to underwater and photojournalism. There are also three categories in the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for photographers aged 17 years old and under.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year will also continue its Impact Award, launched for its sixtieth anniversary, to highlight the power of photography to promote wildlife conservation successes and positive action for the natural world.
Kathy Moran, Chair of the Jury, says: “One of the great honours of serving on the Wildlife Photographer of the Year jury is the trust the photographic community shares with us - trust that we respect their work, that we value their commitment to the natural world and that we endeavour to hold the competition to the highest standards. We believe in the community and once again we can’t wait to be amazed by their photography.”
Gemma Ward, Competition Manager, says: “We’re so excited to unveil this year’s jury, who together will choose the 100 winning images that capture the beauty of the natural world. Their selection will spotlight the power of wildlife photography to spark global conversations and inspire change.
“Wildlife photographers face the challenge of capturing powerful images with the responsibility of adhering to the highest ethical standards in their practice. This balance lies at the heart of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and we are proud to introduce our updated rule on baiting to further call for the protection of wild animals and their environments.”
The Jury
Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s reputation is reinforced by the expertise of its jury and the rigour of its judging process. Please find details below on this year’s jury.
Kathy Moran (USA) is Chair of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Jury and the former Deputy Director of Photography at National Geographic. As the magazine’s first Senior Editor for Natural History Projects, Kathy has been producing projects about terrestrial and underwater ecosystems since 1990. Kathy has edited and produced numerous books, as well as curated exhibitions. She was named Picture Editor of the Year for her winning portfolios in both the 2017 and 2006 Picture of the Year international competitions. She is a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
Laurent Ballesta (France) is a biologist by training and, for more than 30 years, Laurent’s passion for exploration has driven him to develop innovative diving techniques, enabling him to capture images that lie at the intersection of science and art. He’s the only person in the 40-year history of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition to have received the top prize twice. Named a Knight of the Order of Maritime Merit, his work spans more than 100 pages in National Geographic magazine and 250 pages in Paris Match, and includes 13 photographic books dedicated to marine life.
Jasper Doest (The Netherlands) creates visual stories that explore the relationship between humankind and nature, and is a contributing photographer to National Geographic magazine. As a true believer in the power of photography to initiate change, Jasper is an International League of Conservation Photographers Senior Fellow and a World Wildlife Fund Ambassador. His accolades include four World Press Photo awards and 11 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, and in 2020 he was named European Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Florence Goupil (Peru) is a French-Peruvian documentary photographer based in Peru. A National Geographic Explorer and contributor, Florence was recently awarded with the Sony Latin America World Photography Prize. Florence’s work has also been published in The New York Times magazine, Polka Magazine, The British Journal of Photography, Fisheye and Atmos, among others. She’s also co-directed short films, including Cumbia’s Day and Cuidantsiqmi, which were recognised at Shorts México, Chile’s Felina Festival and the Festival International du Film de Nancy in 2023.
Blanca Huertas (UK/Colombia) is an entomologist, with expertise on the taxonomy and conservation of butterflies. For 20 years, she’s been the curator responsible for the direct care and development of one of the world’s largest collections of butterflies, housed at London’s Natural History Museum. Blanca’s research focuses on tropical faunas and habitats, addressing issues such climate change, endemism, species discovery, conservation and more lately using genomics, where she’s currently leading a large across-the-Americas project. Driven by a deep commitment to nature and science, Blanca is passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion in her field of work.
Clement Kiragu (Kenya) is an award-winning wildlife photographer, cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer. Renowned for his extensive knowledge of wildlife and remarkable resilience in some of the world’s most remote environments, Clement has made significant contributions to natural history productions for PBS Nature, National Geographic, BBC ONE and the BBC’s Natural History Unit. Clement leads private photography expeditions throughout Kenya and other locations across Africa through his Kenya-based wildlife production and expeditions company.
Sudhir Shivaram (India) is one of India’s most celebrated wildlife photographers, renowned for his ability to combine technical mastery with powerful storytelling. A Sony India Brand Ambassador, he was named Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2012 and received the National Geographic Yellow Border Award in 2013 for the best National Geographic Traveller cover across 14 international editions. Sudhir has featured in Asian Photography Magazine’s top ten most influential people in the Indian photography industry for four consecutive years. A sought-after mentor, Sudhir has built one of the largest online photography learning communities in Asia through his Sudhir Shivaram Photography Academy.
For full details about the jury, rules, prizes and dates, visit: nhm.ac.uk/wpy/competition
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Media Contact
To discuss coverage or to arrange interviews with the jury, please contact Laura Gosney, Communications Manager for Wildlife Photographer of the Year via email: wildpress@nhm.ac.uk
The Sixty-Second Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition
The Sixty-First Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition and Winners
The winners of the sixty-first competition were recently revealed at a ceremony hosted by Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin at the Natural History Museum, London. The competition attracted over 60,000 entries from 113 countries. Please contact wildpress@nhm.ac.uk for further information.
About Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Now in its sixty-first year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the Natural History Museum, London’s, global platform for the world’s best nature photography and wildlife photojournalism. Our annual competition, receiving over 60,000 entries, is open to photographers of all ages, nationalities and experience levels. With our touring exhibition and outreach activities engaging millions around the globe every year, we invite ever more people to celebrate and advocate for the natural world.
About the Natural History Museum, London
The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and one of the world’s most visited museums. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet – people who act for nature.
Our 400 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency - from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy.
We are seeking an additional £150 million to transform our South Kensington building: placing our groundbreaking research at its heart, revitalising four existing galleries, opening two new magnificent galleries and delighting 1 million more visitors a year with the wonders of the natural world.
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