With nearly 60,000 breathtaking images submitted to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, only 100 could be selected as official winners by the judges. However, each year, an additional 25 standout photographs are chosen, allowing the public to have their say in the prestigious People’s Choice Award.
After thousands of votes, the winner has finally been revealed, capturing the hearts of nature lovers worldwide. Alongside the winning image, four other stunning photographs made it to the top five, showcasing the beauty, drama, and diversity of wildlife. This year’s People’s Choice Award highlights not only the incredible talent of wildlife photographers but also the deep connection between humans and the natural world.
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#1. Winner: "No Access" by Ian Wood
"An ambling Eurasian badger appears to glance up at badger graffiti on a quiet road in St Leonards-on-Sea, England, UK. Residents had been leaving food scraps on the pavement for foxes. But Ian noticed that badgers from a nearby sett were also coming to forage. After seeing a badger walking along the pavement by this wall late one night, he decided to photograph it. He set up a small hide on the edge of the road to take his picture. Only the light from a lamppost illuminated the creature as it ambled along, seemingly glancing up at the badger graffiti just in front of it."
#2. Highly Commended: "Spiked" by David Northall
"A bloodied yet determined honey badger returns to finish off a Cape porcupine, which earlier had tried to defend itself. Found throughout Botswana, honey badgers are famously ferocious. They often chase animals many times their own size. This honey badger got an unpleasant surprise when it attacked the normally nocturnal Cape porcupine."
#3. Highly Commended: "Earth and Sky" by Francisco Negroni
"A double lenticular cloud is illuminated at nightfall by the lava emitted from the Villarrica volcano, Chile. Villarrica is in the town of Pucón in the south of Chile. It’s one of the country’s most active volcanoes and last erupted in 2015. Francisco takes regular trips to Villarrica to monitor its activity. On this visit, he stayed nearby for 10 nights."
#4. Highly Commended: "Whiteout" by Michel d’Oultremont
"A stoat sits up and observes its territory as it blends perfectly into a snowy landscape in Belgium. Michel had been looking for stoats in the snow for many years. The magic of snowfall fascinates Michel every winter. He wanted to take a photograph that showed how the stoats blend in with the whiteness of the landscape."
#5. Highly Commended: "Edge of Night" by Jess Findlay
"A ghostly barn owl exits the hayloft window of a derelict barn to hunt in fields outside Vancouver, Canada. Jess quietly watched the owl for several nights to understand its habits. He set up an invisible beam that would trigger a flash when the owl flew out of the barn. Simultaneously, a slow shutter speed gathered ambient light cast on the clouds and barn. On the tenth night, all the moving parts came together as the owl left to begin its hunt."
