Britain's stunning wildlife put on show as the British Wildlife Photography Awards announce winners

Kalum Carter
·5 min read
4
Ocean Drifter British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 and Winner of Coast & Marine Ryan Stalker Goose barnacles (Thoracica) Portland, Dorset, England Sony A7R IV with Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 lens. 29mm; 1/200th second; f/7.1; ISO 80.
Ocean Drifter British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 and Winner of Coast & Marine Ryan Stalker Goose barnacles (Thoracica) Portland, Dorset, England Sony A7R IV with Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 lens. 29mm; 1/200th second; f/7.1; ISO 80.

Winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced and feature some of Britain's most incredible creatures, with a stunning photograph of a barnacle-covered football taking the top spot.

The winning shot and the title of British Wildlife Photographer of the Year belong to Ryan Stalker, who takes home the grand prize of £5,000. The winning image titled Ocean Drifter, depicts a football floating in the sea covered in invasive goose barnacles, that has made a journey over thousands of miles to reach UK shores.

Speaking on the image Stalker says, "Above the water is just a football. But below the waterline is a colony of creatures. The football was washed up in Dorset after making a huge ocean journey across the Atlantic. More rubbish in the sea could increase the risk of more creatures making it to our shores and becoming invasive species.”

Stalker's winning image was entered into the grand prize due to winning the category Coast & Marine, one of 10 categories to produce outstanding winning images. The BWPA has included the equipment and the settings used to take these amazing shots, which gives an idea of where to start if you fancy shooting a similar subject. One thing that a lot of the winning images have in common is that the majority were taken with a Canon camera, and not just the best Canon cameras, a mixture of mirrorless and DSLR, showing older gear doesn't mean worse gear.

The other categories along with the winning photographers can be seen below:

Animal Behaviour: Ian Mason 

Three Frogs in Amplexus Animal Behaviour | Winner Ian Mason Common frog (Rana temporaria) Perthshire, Scotland Canon EOS 1D X with Canon 300mm f/4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter. 420mm; 1/160th second; f/10; ISO 800.
Three Frogs in Amplexus Animal Behaviour | Winner Ian Mason Common frog (Rana temporaria) Perthshire, Scotland Canon EOS 1D X with Canon 300mm f/4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter. 420mm; 1/160th second; f/10; ISO 800.

Animal portraits: Mark Williams 

Starling at Night Animal Portraits | Winner Mark Williams Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Garden, Solihull, West Midlands, England Canon 5D III with Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens. 200mm; 1/15th second; f/16; ISO 200.
Starling at Night Animal Portraits | Winner Mark Williams Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Garden, Solihull, West Midlands, England Canon 5D III with Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens. 200mm; 1/15th second; f/16; ISO 200.

Botanical Britain: Jason McCombe

Tiny Forest Balloons Botanical Britain | Winner Jason McCombe Slime mould (Comatricha nigra) Essex, England Canon EOS R7 with Canon 100mm f/2.8 lens & Kenko extension tubes.
Tiny Forest Balloons Botanical Britain | Winner Jason McCombe Slime mould (Comatricha nigra) Essex, England Canon EOS R7 with Canon 100mm f/2.8 lens & Kenko extension tubes.

Black & White: Robin Dodd

Raven Above Arran Black & White | Winner Robin Dodd Raven (Corvus corax) Isle of Arran, Scotland Canon EOS R with Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens. 105mm; 1/320th second; f/14; ISO 400.
Raven Above Arran Black & White | Winner Robin Dodd Raven (Corvus corax) Isle of Arran, Scotland Canon EOS R with Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 lens. 105mm; 1/320th second; f/14; ISO 400.

Coast & Marine: Ryan Stalker 

Ocean Drifter British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 and Winner of Coast & Marine Ryan Stalker Goose barnacles (Thoracica) Portland, Dorset, England Sony A7R IV with Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 lens. 29mm; 1/200th second; f/7.1; ISO 80.
Ocean Drifter British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 and Winner of Coast & Marine Ryan Stalker Goose barnacles (Thoracica) Portland, Dorset, England Sony A7R IV with Sony 28-60mm f/4-5.6 lens. 29mm; 1/200th second; f/7.1; ISO 80.

Habitat: Daniel Valverde Fernandez 

The Tightrope Walker Habitat | Winner Daniel Valverde Fernandez Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
 Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nottinghamshire, England Canon EOS R3 with Canon 300mm f/2.8 II lens. 300mm; 1/5,000th second; f/2.8; ISO 3,200.
The Tightrope Walker Habitat | Winner Daniel Valverde Fernandez Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nottinghamshire, England Canon EOS R3 with Canon 300mm f/2.8 II lens. 300mm; 1/5,000th second; f/2.8; ISO 3,200.

Hidden Britain: Ross Hoddinott

Three’s a Crowd Hidden Britain | Winner Ross Hoddinott Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) Vealand Farm, Devon, England Nikon D850 and Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro lens. 200mm; 1/100th second; f/16; ISO 640.
Three’s a Crowd Hidden Britain | Winner Ross Hoddinott Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) Vealand Farm, Devon, England Nikon D850 and Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro lens. 200mm; 1/100th second; f/16; ISO 640.

Urban Wildlife: Simon Withyman 

Day Walker Urban Wildlife | Winner Simon Withyman Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Bristol, England Canon EOS R5 with Canon 24-80mm f/2.8 II lens. 41mm; 1/1,000th second; f/2.8; ISO 100.
Day Walker Urban Wildlife | Winner Simon Withyman Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Bristol, England Canon EOS R5 with Canon 24-80mm f/2.8 II lens. 41mm; 1/1,000th second; f/2.8; ISO 100.

Wild Woods: Graham Niven 

Beech for the Sky Wild Woods | Winner Graham Niven Beech (Fagus sylvatica) East Lothian, Scotland Nikon D850 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4 lens. 16mm; 1/50th second; f/9; ISO 100.
Beech for the Sky Wild Woods | Winner Graham Niven Beech (Fagus sylvatica) East Lothian, Scotland Nikon D850 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4 lens. 16mm; 1/50th second; f/9; ISO 100.

RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Max Wood

Running on Water RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and 15-17 Years Winner Max Wood Coot (Fulica atra)
 Frensham Little Pond, Surrey, England Canon EOS 6D with Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 II lens & 2x teleconverter. 400mm; 1/1,250th second; f/5.6; ISO 400.
Running on Water RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and 15-17 Years Winner Max Wood Coot (Fulica atra) Frensham Little Pond, Surrey, England Canon EOS 6D with Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 II lens & 2x teleconverter. 400mm; 1/1,250th second; f/5.6; ISO 400.

RSPB Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year was awarded to Max Wood for his image titled Running on Water, which depicts a beautifully backlit Coot fleeing a fight, running across the water to take flight and flee. Wood was selected after winning the 15-17 years group and faced competition from 12-14 years group winner Felix Walker-Nix and under 11 group winner Jamie Smart.

The British Wildlife Photography Awards is a prestigious showcase of nature in Britain but also acts as a reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands, and other ecosystems still hold.

Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA says, "The British Wildlife Photography Awards brings to light the spectacular tapestry of Britain’s natural heritage. This collection is more than just a gallery of images; it is a celebration, a reminder of the enduring beauty of British wildlife, and a call to preserve the natural spaces that we are so fortunate to have in Britain.”

All awarded images will be published in a hardback coffee table book published by Bird Eye Books, with a foreword from Steve Backshall. Entries for the BWPA 2025 are now open and more information can be found on the official website.

You may also be interested in our guides to the best camera for wildlife, the best lenses for bird photography, and the best waterproof camera.