By Jessica Stewart on March 15, 2023

“A Look to the Future…” by Charlie Page. British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and Urban Wildlife | Winner.
Animal: Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Location: Lee Valley Park, England
“I knew this area was reliable for foxes, and I wanted a shot with the industrial backdrop. One day when setting up my camera with a remote shutter release, a fox approached from my left. Hesitant about what to do, I stayed still, and surprisingly the fox stopped right in my frame. I took the shot but was confused why it had come so close. In hindsight, this encounter probably tells the story more than the photo itself. Wildlife has become used to us encroaching on them. I think the felled tree and longing look on the fox’s face portray this tragedy perfectly. I hope that all wildlife photography doesn’t look like this in years to come.”

More than 13,000 photos were submitted to this year’s competition and these are the best of the best.

Amateur and professional photographers celebrated the United Kingdom’s incredible wildlife in the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA). Over 13,000 photographs were submitted, which were then narrowed down to an impressive group of winners.

Amateur and professional photographers celebrated the United Kingdom’s incredible wildlife in the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA). Over 13,000 photographs were submitted, which were then narrowed down to an impressive group of winners.

“A Poet’s Lunch” by Matt Doogue. Botanical Britain | Winner.
Species: Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and Horsefly (Haematopota sp.)
Location: Devilla Forest, Scotland
“A 4:30 am alarm to get to Devilla Forest for some early morning butterflies resulted in me finding my first ever Sundew. It was even better that it had prey! Then, when I discovered it had actually snared a horsefly, I was extremely excited. There’s something poetic about the piece: the horsefly, known for biting us, was ‘bitten’ by the Sundew. This is a handheld, stacked image consisting of thirty images to ensure complete focus of the scene.”

In the adult competition, Charlie Page was named the overall winner after his image of a red fox juxtaposed against an industrial background was judged the best in the competition. Page’s evocative photo also won the Urban Wildlife category.

“I knew this area was frequented by foxes, and I wanted to take an image with the industrial backdrop to show the devastation caused to this local woodland that the fox calls home,” shared Page. “I hope that wildlife photographers aren’t faced with similar scenes in years to come.”

The youth competition, which has three age categories, was won by Billy Evans-Freke for his charming image of a tawny owlet resting in a tree. For his efforts, he was named RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023.

Alien Bobtail” by Kirsty Andrews. Coast & Marine | Runner-up.
Animal: Bobtail squid (Sepiola atlantica)
Location: Under Paignton Pier, Devon, England
“Taking photos underwater at night, it is possible to see a range of species not always visible during the day. Bobtail squid are out hunting at night and their stunning neon colors catch my torch and strobe lights. They often patrol over sand patches hunting for prey, such as tiny shrimp. In this case, there was a lot of sand suspended in the water, but rather than trying to remove the sand from the shot I felt it added to an otherworldly atmosphere.”

The other winners also submitted impressive work showing the rich variety of wildlife across the UK. From carnivorous plants to small insects to underwater creatures, the species represented are a testament to Britain’s natural patrimony.[…]

Source: Incredible Winners of the 2023 British Wildlife Photography Awards