British Wildlife Photography Awards: 8 DSLRs Reign Supreme

We have often heard it’s not the camera but the photographer who makes a difference in creating the image. This turns out to be incredibly true as we look to celebrate the winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA), which was founded in 2009. Since then, the awards have grown, showing the evolving talent in wildlife photography from around the world. This year’s edition also has some truly spectacular images and the story behind how they shot them. But that is not all; we all look at the variety of gear used, which also includes three Canon cameras launched in 2012. Don’t believe us? Scroll down below.

The lead image is by Mario Suarez Porras, courtesy of the British Wildlife Photography Awards. All images have been used with permission.

Gear Used

This is a pretty mixed batch of cameras here, with DSLRs being used just as much as the mirrorless ones. Furthermore, the ESO 6D, 5D Mk III, and EOS-1D X make up to be the oldest cameras, launched in 2012. This proves that despite their age, these cameras, which are professional grade and classics of their time, can still be used for wildlife photography. Furthermore, there is only one action and one medium format camera this year. However, their use was to capture a distinct vision (see below).

Furthermore, Canon still seems to be a better choice for many photographers, followed by Sony and Nikon. While OM System makes the most weather-sealed cameras, they are not as popular as the top three brands. Furthermore, the weather sealing on each camera is quite great, making it easy for photographers to take them in challenging conditions.

Overall Winner – British Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Simon Withyman | Bristol, England

Simon has been photographing Vixen for approximately three years, tracking her movement across the city. However, the mammal managed to cross large distances and moved over a mile away from its original territory. “In the city,
that means a lot of roads, hazards, and other fox territories to contend with,” says Simon. “This streetwise fox was a successful mother and had a family of young mouths to feed. She would patrol the streets and the area near her den, searching for food for herself and her young family. She would opportunistically hunt rodents and birds, as well as scavenge takeaway leftovers dropped on the floor. I wanted to capture a creative environment portrait as she went about her daily routine. I was instantly drawn to the interesting perspective effect of these railings and wanted to showcase some beauty in this everyday urban scene,” he added.

This image is also the winner in the Urban Wildlife category. Simon

Gear and technical setting: Canon R5 with Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II lens. 39mm; 1/400th second; f2.8; ISO 640

Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Jamie Smart | Wiltshire, England

It was a very early morning start and a four-hour drive to get the early morning light on the plains. As the sun was just rising over the hill, Jamie noticed how it caught the dandelion clocks and lit them up like little fuzzy lamps everywhere. He was lining up my camera out of the car window, ready to capture a photo, when he heard a curlew nearby. Jamie scanned the area to find where they were and found this one wading through the dandelions just before him.

This image is also the winner of the 11 and Under category.

Gear and technical setting: Nikon Z 9 with Nikon Z 800mm f6.3 lens. 800mm; 1/1,250th second; f6.3; ISO 720.

Animal Behavior

Winner – John Waters | Bristol, England

In a small block of deciduous woodland on the outskirts of Bristol, John wanted to photograph the aerial chases of the speckled wood butterfly. In spring, males stake out a sunny patch along a woodland path and chase off any rival male that comes too close, usually spiraling up into the canopy. On this occasion, a prolonged chase occurred about 1.5m above the ground, and John was able to approach quite close to get several shots. He was extremely lucky with this image in that it shows the instant one of the butterflies spun around to face its pursuer.

Gear and technical details: Canon 5D Mark III with Laowa 24mm f14 Probe lens. 24mm; 1/4th second; ISO 320.

Runner-up – Paul Browning | Surrey, England

At the end of September and up until December, Paul spent as much time as possible with the red deer, following them through all the stages of the rut in Bushy Park and Richmond Park in South England. After one of his social meet-ups with my Instagram friends, we were just getting ready to leave the park when the heavens opened. Instead of covering my camera, Paul saw the perfect opportunity to capture the pouring rain using a slower shutter speed than usual, hoping one of the stags would put on a show with a roar—and this was that moment. “I love this photo not just for that reason but also because my dad has it as his computer screensaver—he loves it so much!” he says.

Gear and technical details: Sony a1 with Sony FE 400mm f2.8 GM lens. 400mm; 1/250th second; f2.8; ISO 500.

Animal Portraits

Winner – David Tipling | Norfolk, England

The late artist Robert Gillmor created a beautiful linocut of a running hare, depicting the different positions a hare’s legs take as they run. David thought it would be interesting to recreate this piece of art in a photograph by using a slow shutter speed of 1/10 sec as the hare ran. “It took many attempts, photographing hares as they moved up and down a field of winter wheat, but I finally achieved this image of a hare in motion.”

Gear and technical details: OM System OM-1 with OM 150-600mm f5-6.3 lens. 400mm; 1/10th second; f6.1; ISO 200.

Runner-up – Ben Hall | Yorkshire Dales National Park, England

“I spent several days photographing the red grouse that frequent the Yorkshire moors,” says Ben. “Positioned near a male grouse feeding on heather, I was focused on capturing its behavior when I noticed a second bird flying in. With just enough time to reposition myself, I managed to capture the moment it landed on the heather with its wings outstretched.”

Gear and technical details: Canon 1D X Mark II with Canon EF 500mm f4L lens. 500mm; 1/640th second; f5.6; ISO 2,000.

Botanical Britain

Winner – Jacob J. Watson-Howland | Canterbury, England

Galanthus nivalis, the snowdrop, defies winter’s chill with remarkable adaptations, including proteins that act as natural antifreeze, allowing it to withstand subfreezing temperatures. Thriving in woodlands, parks, and urban environments, this botanical wonder is one of Britain’s earliest blooms. Its elegant form and modest flower signal the changing seasons. This image, taken under a city streetlight with a slow shutter speed, highlights the snowdrop’s resilience and unique adaptations to Britain’s unpredictable and changing climate.

Gear and technical details: Canon R6 with Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 Contemporary lens. 600mm; 3.2 seconds; f/6.3; ISO 160.

Runner-up – David Maitland | St Andrews Bay, Scotland

This red seaweed, washed up after a storm, reveals a network of strengthened cells arranged in a pattern of fine branches, resembling a river delta. The intricate details are brought to life under UV light, highlighting its delicate structure and natural beauty.

Gear and technical details: Sony a7R IV with 10x Microscope Objective. 1/13th second; ISO 100; stacked image.

Black and White

Winner – Mark Kirkland | St Abbs, Scotland

Photographing guillemots underwater is a seasonal treat for divers. In early summer, they gather in vast numbers along the cliffs of the Berwickshire coast to breed. Often drawn to divers, it is believed they mistake the rising bubbles for their primary food source—shoals of tiny sand eels. “Reaching the base of these towering cliffs is only possible by boat, and on this occasion, I set out from St Abbs,” says Mark. “For over an hour, I remained in one spot among the kelp at a depth of eight metres, patiently waiting for their curiosity to take hold.”

Gear and technical details: Nikon D500 with Tokina 10-17mm f3.5-4.5 Fisheye lens. 14mm; 1/160th second; f14; ISO 160.

Runner-up – Mario Suarez Porras | Cairngorms, Scotland

Mario photographed this group of deer in the Scottish Cairngorms in the middle of winter. “By overexposing by four stops, I aimed to create a stark contrast between the deer and the snow, presenting an image with an artistic perspective,” he says. Strangely, it reminds him of the Great Hall of Polychromes in Altamira, a Spanish cave whose paintings were the first European cave artworks to be recognized and promoted as prehistoric in origin.

Gear and technical details: Canon 5D Mark IV with Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L II lens. 400mm; 1/400th second; f8; ISO 640.

Coast and Marine

Winner – Nicholas More | Penzance, Cornwall, England

This slow-shutter speed portrait of a blue shark was captured 10 to 15 miles southwest of Penzance, Cornwall. Blue sharks are summer visitors to UK waters, known for their bold and curious nature, often interacting with snorkelers. They primarily feed on small fish and squid and are easily attracted to boats using Rubby Dubby—a mixture of fish carcasses, oils, and bran. As apex predators, they are highly vulnerable to long-line fishing and, with no catch limits or quotas, are overexploited for their fins in the production of shark fin soup. These beautiful oceanic animals deserve our protection.

Gear and technical details: Nikon D850 with Nikon 8-15mm f3.5-4.5 lens. 15mm; 1/8th second; f20; ISO 80.

Runner-up – Ben Porter | Bardsey Island, Wales

A young grey seal breaks the surface in the clear turquoise waters of a coastal cave on Bardsey Island, North Wales. This cave hosts up to 30 or more seals hauling out within its depths, accessing it through a hidden seaward passage beneath the water. Sitting quietly above offers a unique opportunity to observe their movements, behaviors, and remarkable vocalizations up close. Occasionally, the perfect combination of light, tide, and seal activity aligns to create an image like this—one of Ben’s favorites from his visits to this extraordinary site.

Gear and technical details: Canon 6D with Canon EF 16-35mm f4L lens. 19mm; 1/60th second; f4.5; ISO 2,000.

Habitat

Winner – Drew Buckley | Highlands, Scotland

After trudging through deep snow high in the Monadhliath Mountains, Scotland, Drew came across a single mountain hare hunkered down in its form. Sheltered from the bitterly cold wind, it remained still, perfectly adapted to its winter landscape. He spent some time capturing different scenes and focal lengths from a distance before moving on.

Gear and technical details: Canon 1D X with Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L II lens. 47mm; 1/1,600th second; f10; ISO 1,000.

Runner-up – Sandra Stalker | Balaclava Bay, Portland, England

A sea bass hunts and patrols among the thong weed and kelp. This image was taken in a coastal area that, despite being close to shore, is only accessible by boat due to its proximity to a port. “As a result, while snorkeling there, I observed large shoals of bass thriving undisturbed,” explains Sandra. Juvenile shoals indicated the site’s importance as a nursery, while larger, solitary bass hunted in the area. “To capture this shot, I had to remain motionless in the water for about half an hour until the bass became accustomed to my presence, then move carefully,” she adds. The poor visibility made it challenging to focus through the milky water without getting too close. After three hours of snorkeling, Sandra managed to capture this single image of a head-on bass in hunting mode.

Gear and technical details: Sony A7R IVa with Sony FE 28-60mm f4-5.6 lens. 28mm; 1/100th second; f20; ISO 1,000.

Hidden Britain

Winner – Daniel Trim | Ham Wall, England

Each year in May, RSPB Ham Wall experiences a massive emergence of dragonflies, and if you arrive early enough, you can witness them roosting in the reeds in impressive groups. This particular group was climbing the reeds, preparing to warm up as the sun rose above the horizon. “To create an ethereal feel, I used an in-camera double exposure—one frame sharply focused on the subject and another with a soft focus, blending detail with a dreamlike atmosphere,” says Daniel.

Gear and technical details: Canon 5DS with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II lens. 200mm; 1/1,600th second; f/2.8; ISO 800.

Runner-up: David Maitland | Thetford Forest, Norfolk, England

Resembling goldfish or koi carp swimming in a pond, these are the wing scales of the cinnabar moth. Photographed under ultraviolet (UV) light, the scales that appear red in visible light fluoresce a vivid red under UV, while those that appear black in daylight do not fluoresce at all, remaining jet-black.

Gear and technical details: Sony A7R II with Olympus BX51 Microscope (200x Magnification). 1.3 seconds; ISO 100; stacked image.

Urban Life

Runner-up: Paul Goldstein | Mitcham, England

A small South London pond provided an unexpected yet ideal setting for a swan study. A resident pair had nested there for years, successfully raising cygnets each spring. The cob ruled the water like a medieval baron, driving away all but the ducks—geese, crows, and other intruders were swiftly evicted. At times, he would wander onto the main London road, stopping traffic as he stood watching over his family just inches from passing cars and lorries. Capturing this urban avian family required an early start and a unique approach—standing knee-deep in the pond’s thick mud before the fountain switched on, using a tripod, a long lens, a two-second delay, a slow shutter speed, and, of course, a passing bus.

Gear and technical details: Canon 1D X Mark II with Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L II lens. 300mm; 1/20th second; f5.6; ISO 100.

Wild Woods

Winner – James Roddie | Glen Strathfarrar, Scotland

Stormy days in the Scottish Highlands often create incredible lighting conditions for photography. Venturing to a location James had never visited, he was immediately drawn to the photographic potential of these old Scots pine trees. “Braving heavy rain, I waited patiently, hoping for the right moment,” he says. “My patience was rewarded when a sudden burst of light illuminated the trees perfectly, with a rainbow forming behind them—a fleeting but magical scene.”

Gear and technical details: Nikon Z 7 with Nikon Z 24-70mm f4 lens. 28mm; 1/160th second; f9; ISO 160.

Runner-up: Tim George | Cambridgeshire, England

This image was taken in ancient fen woodland, an hour after nightfall. It was set up in the last of the daylight and taken when it had become completely dark to the naked eye. The eight-minute exposure brought out the light in the sky. This was balanced with one battery-operated portable tube light placed on either side of the tree and set, after experimentation, to 5500 Kelvin color temperature and 2% light output. It was taken in winter using such subdued lighting in order to cause minimum disruption to flora and fauna.

Gear and technical details: Fujifilm GFX 100 with Fujifilm 20-35mm f4 lens. 35mm; 480 seconds; f8; ISO 100.

12-14 Years

Winner – Kiran Simpson | Bass Rock, Scotland

“It was an incredible experience to spend my 13th birthday surrounded by the thousands upon thousands of gannets that populate Bass Rock,” says Kiran. “I was fortunate enough to capture a particularly special moment: a shard of light pierced through the cliffs just as a gannet was flying off to fish. It was a magical scene that made the day unforgettable – a birthday I’ll cherish forever.”

Gear and technical details: Sony a1 with Sony FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3 G lens. 600mm; 1/3,200th second; f7.1; ISO 800.

15-17 Years

Winner – Ben Lucas | Essex, England

When Ben found a packet of fries someone had abandoned, he knew that it wouldn’t be long until it attracted opportunistic pigeons. “I set up a small GoPro camera in the back of the packet, and after some very weird looks from people passing by, the birds finally started to show up,” he recalls. “As they approached the food, I triggered the camera with voice commands so I didn’t put the birds off their meal, and I pulled off this shot,” he adds. Ben believes that our carelessness removes the natural food for many species and provides for others and that these birds are truly the vultures of the streets.

Gear and technical details: GoPro HERO 8. 3mm; 1/350th second; f2.8; ISO 100.

For more information, head to the awards’ website.