The Wildlife Photographer of the Year: the wildlife photography contest

Also known as one of the most prestigious wildlife photography competitions in the world, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year rewards the most talented photographers each year. This is a competition that brings together the main players in wildlife photography. The latest edition dedicated the work of French photographer, diver and biologist, Laurent Ballesta , to France's first victory in more than 60 years.

What is Wildlife Photographer of the Year?

This competition brings together many wildlife photographers from all over the world with the aim of choosing the most beautiful nature photos. Organized by the Natural History Museum of London and BBC Wildlife and relayed on almost all media, including National Geographic , this competition is a beautiful tribute to flora and fauna. It is open to everyone, from the amateur photographer to the professional photographer specializing in wildlife photos. It's up to everyone to adapt the shots according to the story they want to tell.

The first competition was held in 1964 and had nearly 600 entries. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year has gone viral and currently attracts photographers from over 95 countries and has over 50,000 entries. The wildlife photo contest is divided into several categories which allow the selection of a winner according to the skills and age groups of the participants.

Why did the Natural History Museum in London set up this competition?

At first, the main objective of the competition was to share the beauty of the wild world. With the observation of the degradation of the environment and above all, of the primary fauna and flora, photographing nature as it is today has above all made it possible to highlight the disastrous situation in which wild animals find themselves.

It was then that participation in the competition multiplied. Several professional photographers embark on a safari in the depths of Africa or a photographic road in the middle of the mountains in order to show the impact of the consumer industry on wildlife. Others improve their shooting and their camouflage in order to blend in with the crowd while investing in more professional cameras to make more meaningful and naturalistic photos.

Over the years, it is no longer just a competition for the most beautiful nature photo, it is also a way of capturing and immortalizing the moment in order to tell the life of these animals. This is when photos turn into beautiful images with more depth. A transcription of the fauna and flora through the eyes of the one who stands behind the lens. This, in order to honor the beauty, the complexity and the value of the animal world in our current life.

Advice sessions for amateurs and professionals of animal photography

As part of improving the level of the photographers selected for the competition, the London Museum of Natural History has set up awareness sessions and photo internships. The best photographers are invited to share their know-how in immortalizing animals in their natural environment.

The interventions are a mixture of advice on the photo equipment to have: camera, reflex, tripod, telephoto lens, viewfinder, stabilizer, etc. and techniques to take the best shot possible: framing, focal length, macro, wide-angle, background blur, sharpness, depth of field, shutter speed, exposure time, tracking, autofocus, brightness...

Other presentations are also taking place at the Natural History Museum in London to better explain the complexity of the methods used for nature photography. Indeed, there are different ways to take pictures of animals depending on their environment and species. Capturing a picture of a lion, for example, is not the same as taking a picture of a deer. The methods used to illustrate mammals in images on dry land are not the same as for shooting deep in the sea.

The winners of the 57th edition of the best wildlife photographer of the year

For the 2021 edition, a Frenchman is crowned winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. It is indeed the first time since the launch of the competition that the grand prize goes to a representative of France. This is the biologist, diver and photographer Laurent Ballesta with the photograph of the fertilization of grouper eggs. The scene takes place in French Polynesia, around July. What makes this photo unique is that fertilization only occurs once a year in the depths of a channel connecting the lagoon to the sea. The image tells of the males dancing through a milky cloud of eggs similar to a graceful ballet.

This shot is the result of the hard work of Laurent Ballesta and his team who dived night and day so as not to miss any of the grouper spawning. At the same time, this adventure also allowed them to take some pictures of hunting sharks that prowl around the fish during the fertilization period.

In the under 10 category, it was the young Indian Vidyun R. Hebbar who received the distinction thanks to the capture of a photo of a spider taken in its web. At the back of the stage, you can see a yellow tuk-tuk passing by, leaving a rainbow effect that immediately pleased the juries.

Recently, it was the turn of Italian photographer Cristiano Vendramin to receive the People's Choice Award with a photo of the frozen lake of Santa Croce in Veneto, in the northern part of Italy. A beautiful image of nature that reminds us of the importance of the environment around us. Indeed, wild nature is not always that which is thousands of kilometers from your home, it is also present in the spaces near your home.

To try your luck, you can also participate in the next edition. Applications are open from October 18 until December 9, 2022.