• EMBARGOED TO 0001 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1 NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, NO CROPPING, CAN ONLY BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION MANDATORY CREDIT: Dmitry Kokh/Wildlife Photographer of the Year THE FOLLOWING MUST APPEAR CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY IN EDITORIAL COPY: Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Undated handout photo issued by Natural History Museum of Polar frame by Dmitry Kokh, which has been Highly Commended in the Animal Portraits category at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The overall winners, including the Grand Title winner, will be announced on October 11, with the exhibition of the 100 award-winning images opening at the Natural History Museum on October 14. Issue date: Thursday September 1, 2022.
    EMBARGOED TO 0001 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1 NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, NO CROPPING, CAN ONLY BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION MANDATORY CREDIT: Dmitry Kokh/Wildlife Photographer of the Year THE FOLLOWING MUST APPEAR CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY IN EDITORIAL COPY: Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Undated handout photo issued by Natural History Museum of Polar frame by Dmitry Kokh, which has been Highly Commended in the Animal Portraits category at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The overall winners, including the Grand Title winner, will be announced on October 11, with the exhibition of the 100 award-winning images opening at the Natural History Museum on October 14. Issue date: Thursday September 1, 2022.
  • Dipper Dispute. Heikki Nikki / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Dipper Dispute. Heikki Nikki / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • The Right Look. Richard Robinson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    The Right Look. Richard Robinson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • The Octopus Case: Samuel Sloss / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    The Octopus Case: Samuel Sloss / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • Burrow Mates. Morgan Heim / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Burrow Mates. Morgan Heim / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • The Snow Stag. Joshua Cox / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    The Snow Stag. Joshua Cox / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • Underwater Wonderland. Tiina Tormanen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Underwater Wonderland. Tiina Tormanen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • The Disappearing Giraffe. Jose Fragozo / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    The Disappearing Giraffe. Jose Fragozo / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • Life and Death in Fur Farming. Jo-Anne McArthur / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Life and Death in Fur Farming. Jo-Anne McArthur / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • Treefrog Pool Party. Brandon Guell / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Treefrog Pool Party. Brandon Guell / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • Sloth Dilemma. Suzi Eszterhas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Sloth Dilemma. Suzi Eszterhas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • Wanted! Britta Jaschinski / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Wanted! Britta Jaschinski / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • Just One Day's Catch. Srikanth Mannepuri / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    Just One Day's Catch. Srikanth Mannepuri / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
  • The Lost Floods. Jasper Doest / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
    The Lost Floods. Jasper Doest / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year: highly commended pictures unveiled


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

A stag in the snow in London , a vanishing giraffe and fish “flying” through cloud-like algae are among the first images released from this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

London's Natural History Museum has unveiled 14 highly commended images from this year’s competition, ahead of the winners being announced at a ceremony hosted by Chris Packham on October 11.

Tiina Tormanen’s otherworldly image of European perch swimming through a sheet of algae and seven-year-old Joshua Cox’s portrait of a stag in Richmond Park, London, are among the newly released images.

Joshua captured the image of the red deer stag after he and his father followed some deer at a safe distance and, as the snow intensified, one stopped.

“He almost looked as if he was having a snow shower,” Joshua said.

A giraffe disappearing between concrete railway pillars, highlighting the contrast between the natural world and human infrastructure in Nairobi, Kenya, was captured by Jose Fragozo.

Also among the images are shots of a polar bear leaning out of a window in an abandoned settlement, a pool party of treefrogs, a dog sniffing a sloth that has climbed down from a tree, and an eye-to-eye view of a southern right whale.

Weather Photographer of the Year 2022 Shortlist - in pictures

  • 'In Search of Water', Purulia, West Bengal, India, by Barun Rajgaria of India. All photos: Weather Photographer of the Year / the photographer
    'In Search of Water', Purulia, West Bengal, India, by Barun Rajgaria of India. All photos: Weather Photographer of the Year / the photographer
  • 'Waterlily Harvesting', Kolkata, India, by Shibasish Saha of India.
    'Waterlily Harvesting', Kolkata, India, by Shibasish Saha of India.
  • Chongqing, China, by Luo Xing of China.
    Chongqing, China, by Luo Xing of China.
  • Leeds, UK, by Andrew McCaren of England.
    Leeds, UK, by Andrew McCaren of England.
  • Toronto, Canada, by Zhenhuan Zhou of Canada.
    Toronto, Canada, by Zhenhuan Zhou of Canada.
  • Crni Kal, Slovenia, by Sara Jazbar of Italy.
    Crni Kal, Slovenia, by Sara Jazbar of Italy.
  • Woking, UK, by Thomas Chitson of England.
    Woking, UK, by Thomas Chitson of England.
  • Pila, Poland, by Krzysztof Tollas of Poland.
    Pila, Poland, by Krzysztof Tollas of Poland.
  • Llica de Vall, Spain, by Enric Navarrete Bachs of Spain.
    Llica de Vall, Spain, by Enric Navarrete Bachs of Spain.
  • Tankerton, Kent, by Brendan Conway of England.
    Tankerton, Kent, by Brendan Conway of England.
  • Grayslake, US, by Laura Hedien of the US.
    Grayslake, US, by Laura Hedien of the US.
  • Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, Spain, by Carlos Castillejo Balsera of Spain.
    Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, Spain, by Carlos Castillejo Balsera of Spain.
  • Taiwan, Province Of China, by Rossi Fang of Taiwan, Province of China.
    Taiwan, Province Of China, by Rossi Fang of Taiwan, Province of China.
  • Hpa-an, Myanmar, by Aung Chan Thar of Myanmar.
    Hpa-an, Myanmar, by Aung Chan Thar of Myanmar.
  • Midhurst, West Sussex, UK, by Christopher Ison of England.
    Midhurst, West Sussex, UK, by Christopher Ison of England.
  • Shanklin, UK, by Jamie Russell of England.
    Shanklin, UK, by Jamie Russell of England.
  • Abisko, Sweden, by Felipe Martin Menzella of Sweden.
    Abisko, Sweden, by Felipe Martin Menzella of Sweden.
  • Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia, by Tamas Kusza of Slovakia.
    Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia, by Tamas Kusza of Slovakia.
  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by Betel Tibebu of Ethiopia.
    Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by Betel Tibebu of Ethiopia.
  • Penrith, UK, by Vince Campbell of Scotland.
    Penrith, UK, by Vince Campbell of Scotland.
  • Barcelona, Spain, by Emili Vilamala Benito of Spain.
    Barcelona, Spain, by Emili Vilamala Benito of Spain.
  • Toronto, Canada, by Zhenhuan Zhou of Canada.
    Toronto, Canada, by Zhenhuan Zhou of Canada.

An exhibition of the top 100 images submitted to the competition opens at the Natural History Museum in London on October 14, before going on a UK and international tour.

“Captured by some of the best photography talent from around the world, the 100 photographs encourage curiosity, connection and wonder," said Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum.

“These inspiring images convey human impact on the natural world in a way that words cannot — from the urgency of declining biodiversity to the inspiring bounce-back of a protected species.”

Travel Photographer of the Year - in pictures

  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Denali National Park, Alaska, US. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
    Overall Winner – The Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Fortunato Gatto, Italy. Eigg, Small Isles, Scotland. Photo: Fortunato Gatto / tpoty.com
  • Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Winner – Jai Shet, US, age 18. Magnolia Ridge Park, Woodville, Texas, US. Photo: Jai Shet / tpoty.com
    Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2021. Winner – Jai Shet, US, age 18. Magnolia Ridge Park, Woodville, Texas, US. Photo: Jai Shet / tpoty.com
  • Young Travel Photographer of the Year 15-18. Winner – Tevin Kim, US, age 17. Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming, US. Photo: Tevin Kim / tpoty.com
    Young Travel Photographer of the Year 15-18. Winner – Tevin Kim, US, age 17. Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming, US. Photo: Tevin Kim / tpoty.com
  • Young Photographer of the Year 14 Years and Under. Winner – Indigo Larmour, Ireland, age 13. Al Dhaid, Sharjah, UAE. Photo: Indigo Larmour / tpoty.com
    Young Photographer of the Year 14 Years and Under. Winner – Indigo Larmour, Ireland, age 13. Al Dhaid, Sharjah, UAE. Photo: Indigo Larmour / tpoty.com
  • Best 8 Portfolio. Winner – Alessandro Bergamini, Italy. Jodhpur, India. Photo: Alessandro Bergamini / tpoty.com
    Best 8 Portfolio. Winner – Alessandro Bergamini, Italy. Jodhpur, India. Photo: Alessandro Bergamini / tpoty.com
  • Landscape & Adventure Portfolio. Winner – Jie Fischer, US. Photo: Jie Fischer / tpoty.com
    Landscape & Adventure Portfolio. Winner – Jie Fischer, US. Photo: Jie Fischer / tpoty.com
  • Living World Portfolio. Winner – Will Burrard-Lucas, UK. Laikipia County, Kenya. Photo: Will Burrard-Lucas / tpoty.com
    Living World Portfolio. Winner – Will Burrard-Lucas, UK. Laikipia County, Kenya. Photo: Will Burrard-Lucas / tpoty.com
  • People & Their Stories Portfolio. Winner – Beniamino Pisati, Italy. Alpe Caldenno, Sondrio, Lombardy, Italy. Photo: Beniamino Pisati / tpoty.com
    People & Their Stories Portfolio. Winner – Beniamino Pisati, Italy. Alpe Caldenno, Sondrio, Lombardy, Italy. Photo: Beniamino Pisati / tpoty.com
  • One Shot – As Shot. Winner – Mouneb Taim, Syria. Idlib, Syria. Photo: Mouneb Taim / tpoty.com
    One Shot – As Shot. Winner – Mouneb Taim, Syria. Idlib, Syria. Photo: Mouneb Taim / tpoty.com
  • One Shot – Green Planet. Winner – Johnny Haglund, Norway. Belem, Brazil. Photo: Johnny Haglund / tpoty.com
    One Shot – Green Planet. Winner – Johnny Haglund, Norway. Belem, Brazil. Photo: Johnny Haglund / tpoty.com
  • One Shot – Icons of Travel. Winner – Alain Schroeder, Belgium. Pyongyang, North Korea. Photo: Alain Schroeder / tpoty.com
    One Shot – Icons of Travel. Winner – Alain Schroeder, Belgium. Pyongyang, North Korea. Photo: Alain Schroeder / tpoty.com
  • iTravelled – Phone / Tablet Single Image. Winner – Viet Van Tran, Vietnam. Saigon, Vietnam. Photo: Viet Van Tran / tpoty.com
    iTravelled – Phone / Tablet Single Image. Winner – Viet Van Tran, Vietnam. Saigon, Vietnam. Photo: Viet Van Tran / tpoty.com
  • People's Choice Winner – Dani Salva, Spain. Verges, Catalonia, Spain. Photo: Dani Salva / tpoty.com
    People's Choice Winner – Dani Salva, Spain. Verges, Catalonia, Spain. Photo: Dani Salva / tpoty.com
  • Living World Portfolio. Commended – Ngar Shun Victor Wong, Hong Kong. Tsang Tsui Cemetery, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR. Photo: Ngar Shun Victor Wong / tpoty.com
    Living World Portfolio. Commended – Ngar Shun Victor Wong, Hong Kong. Tsang Tsui Cemetery, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR. Photo: Ngar Shun Victor Wong / tpoty.com
  • People & Their Stories Portfolio, Single Images. Winner – Trevor Cole, Ireland. Terekeka, South Sudan. Photo: Trevor Cole / tpoty.com
    People & Their Stories Portfolio, Single Images. Winner – Trevor Cole, Ireland. Terekeka, South Sudan. Photo: Trevor Cole / tpoty.com
  • One Shot – Icons of Travel. Commended – James Rushworth, UK. Stone Henge, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England. Photo: James Rushworth / tpoty.com
    One Shot – Icons of Travel. Commended – James Rushworth, UK. Stone Henge, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England. Photo: James Rushworth / tpoty.com
  • Living World Portfolio. Runner Up – Anil Sud, Canada. Antarctica. Photo: Anil Sud / tpoty.com
    Living World Portfolio. Runner Up – Anil Sud, Canada. Antarctica. Photo: Anil Sud / tpoty.com
  • Landscapes & Adventure Portfolio. Highly Commended – Yevhen Samuchenko, Ukraine. Kherson region, Ukraine. Photo: Yevhen Samuchenko / tpoty.com
    Landscapes & Adventure Portfolio. Highly Commended – Yevhen Samuchenko, Ukraine. Kherson region, Ukraine. Photo: Yevhen Samuchenko / tpoty.com
  • Best 8 Portfolio. Runner Up – Trevor Cole, Ireland. Afar, Ethiopia. Photo: Trevor Cole / tpoty.com
    Best 8 Portfolio. Runner Up – Trevor Cole, Ireland. Afar, Ethiopia. Photo: Trevor Cole / tpoty.com
  • People and Their Stories Portfolio. Highly Commended – Mouneb Taim, Syria. Aljiina, Syria. Photo: Mouneb Taim / tpoty.com
    People and Their Stories Portfolio. Highly Commended – Mouneb Taim, Syria. Aljiina, Syria. Photo: Mouneb Taim / tpoty.com
  • Young Travel Photographer of the Year 15-18. Runner Up – Nayana Rajesh, US, age 17. Mooringsport, Louisiana, US. Photo: Nayana Rajesh / tpoty.com
    Young Travel Photographer of the Year 15-18. Runner Up – Nayana Rajesh, US, age 17. Mooringsport, Louisiana, US. Photo: Nayana Rajesh / tpoty.com
  • Landscapes & Adventure Portfolio, Single Images. Winner – Pally Learmond, UK. Haines, Alaska, US. Photo: Pally Learmond / tpoty.com
    Landscapes & Adventure Portfolio, Single Images. Winner – Pally Learmond, UK. Haines, Alaska, US. Photo: Pally Learmond / tpoty.com
  • Best 8 Portfolio Category – Single Images. Winner – Alain Schroeder, Belgium. Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan. Photo: Alain Schroeder / tpoty.com
    Best 8 Portfolio Category – Single Images. Winner – Alain Schroeder, Belgium. Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan. Photo: Alain Schroeder / tpoty.com
  • Best 8 Portfolio Category – Single Images. Special Mention – Vladimir Karamazov, Bulgaria. Reine, Lofoten archipelago, Norway. Photo: Vladimir Karamazov / tpoty.com
    Best 8 Portfolio Category – Single Images. Special Mention – Vladimir Karamazov, Bulgaria. Reine, Lofoten archipelago, Norway. Photo: Vladimir Karamazov / tpoty.com
  • One Shot – Green Planet. Commended – Ewan Crosbie, UK. Cairngorms, Scotland. Photo: Ewan Crosbie / tpoty.com
    One Shot – Green Planet. Commended – Ewan Crosbie, UK. Cairngorms, Scotland. Photo: Ewan Crosbie / tpoty.com
  • Best 8 Portfolio. Runner Up – Trevor Cole, Ireland. Gougane Barra, County Cork, Ireland. Photo: Trevor Cole / tpoty.com
    Best 8 Portfolio. Runner Up – Trevor Cole, Ireland. Gougane Barra, County Cork, Ireland. Photo: Trevor Cole / tpoty.com
  • Living World Portfolio. Highly Commended – Jose Fragozo, Portugal. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Photo: Jose Fragozo / tpoty.com
    Living World Portfolio. Highly Commended – Jose Fragozo, Portugal. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Photo: Jose Fragozo / tpoty.com
  • Living World Portfolio, Single Images. Special Mention – Yaron Schmid, US. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya. Photo: Yaron Schmid / tpoty.com
    Living World Portfolio, Single Images. Special Mention – Yaron Schmid, US. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya. Photo: Yaron Schmid / tpoty.com
  • Best 8 Portfolio – Single Images. Special Mention – Marko Dimitrijevic, Switzerland. Ni'iinlii'njik (Fishing Branch) Territorial Park, Yukon, Canada. Photo: Marko Dimitrijevic / tpoty.com
    Best 8 Portfolio – Single Images. Special Mention – Marko Dimitrijevic, Switzerland. Ni'iinlii'njik (Fishing Branch) Territorial Park, Yukon, Canada. Photo: Marko Dimitrijevic / tpoty.com
  • Living World Portfolio. Highly Commended – Jose Fragozo, Portugal. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Photo: Jose Fragozo / tpoty.com
    Living World Portfolio. Highly Commended – Jose Fragozo, Portugal. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Photo: Jose Fragozo / tpoty.com

The judging panel chairwoman, Rox Kidman Cox, said: “What’s stayed with me is not just the extraordinary mix of subjects in this year’s collection — a vast panorama of the natural world — but the emotional strength of so many of the pictures."

Updated: September 01, 2022, 3:43 AM