Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023

[Maximilian]

Yesterday, October 10th, the Natural History Museum, London, announced the "Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023".

Grand title winner: Laurent Ballesta, France

The Golden Horseshoe | Wildlife Photographer of the Year | Natural History Museum

Laurent Ballesta (France) goes looking for horseshoe crabs in the protected waters of Pangatalan Island, the Philippines.

www.nhm.ac.uk

Equipment:
Nikon D5, 13mm f2.8 lens, 1/25 at f22, ISO 800, Seacam housing, 2x Seacam strobes

Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Grand title winner: Carmel Bechler, Israel

Owls’ Road House | Wildlife Photographer of the Year | Natural History Museum

Carmel Bechler (Israel) discovered several barn owls in an abandoned, concrete building near a busy road.

www.nhm.ac.uk

Equipment:
Nikon D7500, Tamron 18–200mm f3.5–6.3 lens, 1.3 sec at f4.8, ISO 4000


Explore the gallery. Once again, a lot of great pictures there, no matter what gear was used.

Gallery | Wildlife Photographer of the Year | Natural History Museum

Browse the WPY winning images in our immersive gallery. Use the filter tab to customise your search

www.nhm.ac.uk

 

[AlanF]

Some excellent shots and some that are a little unusual. On the whole, the winners were not limited by their gear.

 

[Click]

Great shots. Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

 

[EricN]

Great shots in there. a few I thought were not traditionally academic photos for usual contest's recognition, so I was glad to see they could be judged well!

 

[AlanF]

Great shots in there. a few I thought were not traditionally academic photos for usual contest's recognition, so I was glad to see they could be judged well!

There was one competition a year or two ago where some of the winners had a miniscule bird like a small dot that could have been photoshopped into a landscape. My own preferences for a wild-life photograph is that the wild life is the main point and not there as a small decoration - it could still win a competition but in a different category. But, who am I against a panel of experts.

 

[EricN]

I agree with you, if the subject is too small, it's more about the environment. I do think it's good for the judges to challenge our thinking, though.

 

[Maximilian]

... But, who am I against a panel of experts.

Define "expert" when it is about art and taste

 

[AlanF]

Define "expert" when it is about art and taste

Chacun à son goût. But, in practice I try to learn from those who have experience.

 

[Maximilian]

Chacun à son goût. But, in practice I try to learn from those who have experience.

Since my French is abysmal, I'll stick with Latin:
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.