Winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 (2025)

Urban Explorer. British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 and Winner of Urban Wildlife. "For approximately three years, I had been photographing this vixen and was able to track her movements across the city. Surprisingly, she covered large distances, eventually moving over a mile away from her original parental territory. In the city, that means a lot of roads, hazards, and other fox territories to contend with. This streetwise fox was a successful mother and had a family of young mouths to feed." #

© Simon Withyman / British Wildlife Photography Awards

The Rain-Deer. Animal Behavior, Runner-up. "At the end of September and up until December, I spend 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 my 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, I 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!" #

© Paul Browning / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Guillemot Kingdom. Black & White, Winner. "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. For over an hour, I remained in one spot among the kelp at a depth of eight meters, patiently waiting for their curiosity to take hold." #

© Mark Kirkland / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Storm Light Over the Caledonian Forest. Wild Woods, Winner. "Stormy days in the Scottish Highlands often create incredible lighting conditions for photography. Venturing to a location I had never visited before, I was immediately drawn to the photographic potential of these old Scots pine trees. Braving heavy rain, I waited patiently, hoping for the right moment. 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." #

© James Roddie / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Roosting Dragons. Hidden Britain, Winner. "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." #

© Daniel Trim / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Primitive Winter. Black & White, Runner-up. "I 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. Strangely, it reminds me 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." #

© Mario Suarez Porras / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Street Cleaners. 15-17 Years, Winner. "When I found a packet of fries someone had abandoned, I 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. 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. Our carelessness removes the natural food for many species and provides for others. These birds are truly the vultures of the streets." #

© Ben Lucas / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Blue Shark. Coast & Marine, Winner. "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 U.K. 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." #

© Nicholas More / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Red Grouse Coming in to Land. Animal Portraits, Runner-up. "I spent several days photographing the red grouse that frequent the Yorkshire moors. 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." #

© Ben Hall / British Wildlife Photography Awards

The Seal Cave. Coast & Marine, Runner-up. "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." #

© Ben Porter / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Kingdom of the Hare. Habitat, Winner. "After trudging through deep snow high in the Monadhliath Mountains, Scotland, I 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. I spent some time capturing different scenes and focal lengths from a distance before moving on." #

© Drew Buckley / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Curlew O’Clock!. Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025, and 11 and Under, Winner. "It was a very early morning start and a four-hour drive to try to get the early morning light on the plains. As the sun was just coming up over the hill, I noticed how it caught the dandelion clocks and lit them up like little fuzzy lamps everywhere. I was lining up my camera out of the car window, ready to capture a photo, when I heard a curlew nearby. I scanned the area to try to find where they were and found this one wading through the dandelions just in front of me." #

© Jamie Smart / British Wildlife Photography Awards