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  • Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

    Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

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    “Survival Purse” by Ralph Pace (USA): Winner, Underwater (Nikon D850, Nikon 28–70mm f/3.5–4.5 lens, Nauticam housing, 2x Sea&Sea strobes, f/14, 1/125s, ISO 640)

     

    The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition has announced the 2025 winning images at an awards ceremony in London. The winners were selected from over 60,000 entries from 113 countries and territories. While underwater photographers claimed the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2023 (Laurent Ballesta) and 2024 (Shane Gross), this year’s overall winner, photographed by Wim van den Heever from South Africa, was an atmospheric image of a brown hyena on the prowl in an abandoned diamond mining town on the desert coast of Namibia.

    This year’s winner in the Underwater category was American conservation photographer Ralph Pace for his unique shot of a swell shark egg case attached to a giant kelp in Monterey Bay, California. Ralph lit the egg case—aka “mermaid’s purse”—from behind to reveal the swell shark embryo within, its gill slits and yolk sac clearly visible among the dark kelp forest. Researchers estimate that kelp forests in Monterey Bay have declined by more than 95 percent over the past three decades. Swell sharks depend on kelp to lay their eggs, making them especially vulnerable to such losses.

    It would be remiss of us if we didn’t also mention last year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Shane Gross, taking home an award again this year. Shane’s winning shot in the “Animals in their Environment” category shows fascinating, rarely photographed behavior—a peppered moray eel scavenging for dead fish at low tide. Well adapted to the intertidal zone, peppered morays can hunt both above and below the water’s surface using their keen senses of smell and sight—staying out of water for as long as half a minute.

    Congratulations to Wim, Ralph and Shane, and all the other winners! Check them out below and here.

     


    PRESS RELEASE

    Ghostly shot of rare hyena in abandoned mining town wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

    Selected from a record-breaking 60,636 entries from 113 countries and territories, the category and overall winners of the world’s leading wildlife photography competition, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, run by the Natural History Museum, London, were revealed at an awards ceremony this evening.

    Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

    South African wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever has been announced as Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 for his powerful image, ‘Ghost Town Visitor’.

    Highlighting how nature interacts with urban spaces in often unusual ways, Wim’s photograph is a haunting yet mesmerising view of a brown hyena visiting the skeletal remains of a long-abandoned diamond mining town in Kolmanskop, Namibia. Testament to the photographer’s determination and patience, using camera trap technology, it took Wim a decade to get this single shot of a brown hyena after first noticing their tracks at the site.

    The rarest hyena species in the world, brown hyenas are nocturnal and mostly solitary. They are known to pass through Kolmanskop on their way to hunt Cape fur seal pups or scavenge for carrion washed ashore along the Namib Desert coast. Brown hyenas are rarely seen, so camera trap technology is an effective way for scientists to monitor behaviour and better understand the species.

    Kathy Moran, Chair of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Jury, says: “How fitting that this photograph was made in a ghost town. You get a prickly feeling just looking at this image and you know that you’re in this hyena’s realm. I also love the twist on this interpretation of ‘urban’ – it was once but is no longer a human-dominated environment. Abandoned by miners, wildlife has taken over. Repopulated, if you will. Is it still a town – it would seem that way to me – just no longer ours.”

    Akanksha Sood Singh, Jury Member for the sixty-first Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, says: “This image is an eerie juxtaposition of the wild reclaiming human civilisation. The image is haunting yet mesmerising because the solitary hyena takes centre stage as a symbol of resilience amid the decay. This picture is a multi-layered story of loss, resilience and the natural world’s silent triumph, making it an unforgettable piece of wildlife and conservation photography.”

     

    “Ghost Town Visitor” by Wim van den Heever (South Africa): Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 and Winner, Urban Wildlife (Nikon D810, Nikon 17–35mm f/2.8 lens at 17mm, 2x Nikon SB-800 Speedlight flashes, Camtraptions motion sensor, f/2.8, 15s, ISO 3200)

     

    Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

    The competition’s Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 was announced as Andrea Dominizi, the first ever Italian to land the prestigious award for wildlife photographers aged 17 and under.

    Andrea won for his image ‘After the Destruction’ which tells a poignant tale of habitat loss. Framed against abandoned machinery, the image spotlights a longhorn beetle in the Lepini Mountains of central Italy, an area once logged for old beech trees.

    As longhorn beetles tunnel into dead wood, fungi make their way inside, helping to break it down and recycle nutrients. If the beetles’ habitat is disturbed or destroyed, the effects ripple across the entire ecosystem.

    Andy Parkinson, Jury Member for the sixty-first Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, says: “An image filled with as much narrative and importance as it is with detail. A compelling, but harrowing photograph, it’s one that encourages the viewer to contemplate the nature of this fraught relationship. This image, so beautifully and compositionally crafted will, I hope, stimulate conversation, discussion and an acceptance that we must deviate from our current path because it’s not just our own futures that we’re jeopardising.”

     

    “After the Destruction” by Andrea Dominizi (Italy): Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Winner, 15–17 Years (Nikon D7100, Tokina 10–17mm f/3.5–4.5 fisheye lens at 17mm, Godox TT350 off-camera flash and diffuser, f/8, 1/80s, ISO 400)

     

    Impact Award 2025

    Now in its second year, the competition’s Impact Award recognises a conservation success, a story of hope or positive change. This year, the award was given to Brazilian photographer, Fernando Faciole, for his image ‘Orphan of the Road’.

    Spotlighting an orphaned giant anteater pup following its caregiver after an evening feed at a rehabilitation centre, Fernando’s photograph highlights the consequences of road collisions, a leading cause of the decline in giant anteater numbers in Brazil. The pup’s mother was killed by a vehicle, and the hope is that it will be released back into the wild after being encouraged to develop crucial survival skills by its caregiver.

    Alongside rehabilitation centres, the Anteaters and Highways project of the Wild Animal Conservation Institute is developing strategies to reduce anteater deaths on Brazil’s roads. These include erecting fences and building underground tunnels to allow the anteaters to cross safely.

    Hans Cosmas Ngoteya, Jury Member for the sixty-first Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, says: “The anteater depicted in this image symbolises many endangered animals that require our assistance. These animals, without the ability to express themselves verbally, rely on us to ensure their protection and care. This image conveys that message effectively.”

     

    “Orphan of the Road” by Fernando Faciole (Brazil): Impact Award Winner 2025 (Nikon D850, Nikon 24–70mm f/2.8 lens at 28mm, Nikon Speedlight flash with Greica CT-16 transmitter/receiver, f/22, 0.8s, ISO 31)

     

    Category Winners and the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition

    The winning photographs will be showcased in an exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, from Friday 17 October 2025, including 19 category winners across topics ranging from underwater to urban wildlife, and photojournalism to mammal behaviour.

    The exhibition will also help visitors understand how our planet’s habitats are changing. Alongside the award-winning photographs, the sixty-first exhibition will provide insight into some of the habitats pictured by including the Natural History Museum’s groundbreaking metric, the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII). BII measures how much of a region’s natural biodiversity remains on a scale of 0 to 100%. Adopted as an official Global Biodiversity Framework indicator for decision-making, it is an essential tool for understanding, monitoring and communicating biodiversity changes on a global scale and tracking international progress towards conservation goals.

    Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, says: “Now in its sixty-first year, we are thrilled to continue Wildlife Photographer of the Year as a powerful platform for visual storytelling, showing the diversity, beauty and complexity of the natural world and humanity’s relationship to it. With the inclusion of our Biodiversity Intactness Index, this year’s exhibition will be our best combination of great artistry and groundbreaking science yet, helping visitors to become inspired to be advocates for our planet.”

    The category winners, as well as the full 100 images selected for the competition’s sixty- first portfolio, were selected anonymously by an international panel of experts across the disciplines of wildlife photography, filmmaking, conservation and science. The images were selected for their originality, technical excellence, and creativity.

    The 19 category winners across young and adult categories are:

    • 10 Years and Under: Jamie Smart (UK)

    • 11–14 Years: Lubin Godin (France)

    • 15–17 Years: Andrea Dominizi (Italy)

    • Animals in their Environment: Shane Gross (Canada)

    • Animal Portraits: Philipp Egger (Italy)

    • Behaviour: Birds – Qingrong Yang (China)

    • Behaviour: Mammals – Dennis Stogsdill (USA)

    • Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles – Quentin Martinez (France)

    • Behaviour: Invertebrates – Georgina Steytler (Australia)

    • Oceans: The Bigger Picture – Audun Rickardsen (Norway)

    • Plants and Fungi – Chien Lee (Malaysia)

    • Natural Artistry – Simone Baumeister (Germany)

    • Underwater – Ralph Pace (USA)

    • Urban Wildlife – Wim van den Heever (South Africa)

    • Wetlands: The Bigger Picture – Sebastian Frölich (Germany)

    • Photojournalism – Jon A Juárez (Spain)

    • Photojournalist Story Award – Javier Aznar González de Rueda (Spain)

    • Rising Star Award – Luca Lorenz (Germany)

    • Portfolio Award – Alexey Kharitonov (Israel/ Russia)

    The sixty-first Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, will open on Friday 17 October 2025 until Sunday 12 July 2026. The exhibition will also embark on a UK and international tour to inspire millions to appreciate and conserve the natural world.

    Our Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is supported by Lead Corporate Sponsor, Nuveen.

    Tickets are available here.

     

    “Like an Eel Out of Water” by Shane Gross (Canada): Winner, Animals in Their Environment (Nikon Z6, Nikon Z 24–70mm lens at 24mm, Godox AD400 Pro flash with 24-inch diffuser, f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 2500)

     

    “The Feast” by Audun Rikardsen (Norway): Winner, Oceans: The Bigger Picture (Canon EOS R5, Canon 15–35mm f/2.8 lens at 15mm, Canon Speedlite 600EX II flash, LED torch, f/4.5, 1/200s, ISO 10000)

     

    “Synchronised Fishing” by Qingrong Yang (China): Winner, Behaviour: Birds (Nikon Z9, Nikon 400mm f/2.8 lens, f/5, 1/2500s, ISO 110)



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  • Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners Unveiled

    Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners Unveiled

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    The Ocean Photographer of the Year Overall Winner, Yury Ivanov

     

    Oceanographic Magazine has announced the winners of the 2025 edition of the Ocean Photographer of the Year competition—and it’s another stunning collection of images showcasing the beauty beneath (and above) the waves. This year’s overall winner—the “Ocean Photographer of the Year”—is Yury Ivanov. His beautiful shot of a pair of amphipods hanging out on some coral isn’t only technically very challenging, but also rather unusual—these “ladybugs of the sea,” measuring just 3mm in length, are not photo subjects that typically attract awards.

    The winners of the other nine awards were equally deserving. They included Marcia Riederer, who was crowned “Fine Art Photographer of the Year” for the same elegant dwarf minke that recently took Gold in the Australian category of the Underwater Awards Australasia; and Takumi Oyama, who earned the title “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” for his fantastic behavior shot of a yellow pygmy goby releasing newly hatched larvae into the water column from her mouth. We were particularly excited to see DPG’s own Matt Sullivan clinch the “Ocean Portfolio Award” for a breathtaking collection of 10 images—some of which you may well recognize from Matt’s recent articles.

    Head over to the winners gallery on the Oceangeographic Magazine website to see all the recognized photos. Congratulations to all the worthy winners and runners-up!

     

    Fine Art Photographer of the Year, Winner, Marcia Riederer

     

    Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Winner, Takumi Oyama

     

    Adventure Photographer of the Year, 3rd place, Alex Dawson

     

    Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year, 2nd place, Daniel Flormann

     

    Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year, 2nd place, László Földi

     

    Human Connection Award: People and Planet Ocean, Winner, Craig Parry

     

    Young Photographer of the Year, Winner, Aaron Sanders

     

    Ocean Portfolio Award, Winner, Matthew Sullivan

     

    Female Fifty Fathoms Award, Winner, Jialing Cai



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  • Photographer Scam Alert – A Photo Editor

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    The project specs and budget seems legit, and has a very credible and detailed shot list that seems like it came from an agency.

    I decided to play along and the weirdest part was the professional and responsive two-way communication. We talked details, negotiated the contract, compromised on certain concessions, etc. They were ready to move forward, schedule the date and pay me half upfront asap.

    From what I understand of these scams, they “accidentally” over pay you with a fraudulent check. Then ask for a refund before the check has been flagged by the bank. You have transferred real funds to them by the time the forgery is discovered.

    This is a long running scam but since it’s popping up again it’s worth putting the information out there again.

    One variation I’ve heard is they overpay you but ask you to pay an advance to the stylist or some member of the crew who works for them.

    Here’s the emails:

    First Name: William  
    Last Name: Morris
    Phone: 208-480-5114
    Email: Will.Morris.E@proton.me

    Message:
    Hello,

    My name is William Morris, Creative Director contracted by The Residence 1502, Austin, TX to conceptualize a two-concept lifestyle interior photoshoot to promote one of their luxury condominium residences.

    Concept 1 captures the quiet elegance of everyday moments with a couple subtly engaging with the space to convey aspirational living.

    Concept 2 features a young family of four, highlighting the warmth, versatility, and family-friendly appeal of the same luxury setting.

    We aim to create 50+ final images that blend high-end architectural photography with natural, authentic lifestyle moments. We’re seeking the right photographer who can balance clean, well-composed interiors with an unobtrusive, candid approach to people within the space.

    You can view the full project scope and creative direction here: https://app.milanote.com/1UMTsd1qNQYG4C?p=wEijF185S97.

    If this aligns with your style, please feel free to get in touch with any questions.

    Warmly,
    William Morris
    Creative Director

    — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

    Hello,

    My name is Merlin Gauvin, Creative Director contracted by The Broadway Building, San Antonio, TX to conceptualize a lifestyle interior photoshoot to promote one of their luxury condominium residences.

    We aim to create 26+ final images that blend high-end architectural photography with natural, authentic lifestyle moments. We’re seeking the right photographer who can balance clean, well-composed interiors with an unobtrusive, candid approach to people within the space.

    You can view the full project scope and creative direction here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSwdS_mHLfUtOUwksBwmaTNUJZEfElN3EyX0bkp5d0NBkYvmJQHS_NSPpyFZmZiOsaN3CFQDH1w0Ddy/pub.

    If this aligns with your style, please feel free to get in touch with any questions.

    Warmly,
    Merlin Gauvin
    Creative Director



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  • Ocean Geographic and The Underwater Club Announce Underwater Photographer Recognition Program

    Ocean Geographic and The Underwater Club Announce Underwater Photographer Recognition Program

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    Ocean Geographic and The Underwater Club Announce Underwater Photographer Recognition Program


    Ocean Geographic (OG) and The Underwater Club have unveiled a novel “Underwater Photographer Recognition Program” that aims to celebrate and elevate underwater shooters who are “shaping the future of ocean conservation through imagery.”

    Photographers’ 10 best pictures captured over the past five years will be evaluated by the Ocean Geographic Advisory Editorial Board, and successful applicants will be recognized with one of two designations: Ocean Geographic Photographer (OGP) or Associate Ocean Geographic Photographer (AOGP). The former are considered “the epitome for excellence and impact” while the latter show “outstanding promise and potential.” Recognized photographers receive various benefits, such as being announced in Ocean Geographic magazine and priority invitations to OG expeditions.

    Applicants must be current members of The Underwater Club and must have passed the Club’s “seven core photography knowledge quizzes.” The standard application fee is $250, while the first 50 applicants pay a discounted fee of $200. The deadline for applications is October 31st, 2025. For more information, check out the press release below.

     


    PRESS RELEASE

    Announcing the Ocean Geographic Photographer Recognition Program

    A new horizon awaits for underwater photographers ready to be seen, celebrated, and supported

    Ocean Geographic and The Underwater Club are proud to announce the launch of a prestigious new initiative—a biannual Underwater Photographer Recognition Program that honours the world’s most compelling ocean storytellers.

    This is not just a photo contest. It’s a curated journey and an international platform designed to:

    • Elevate emerging and established talent

    • Foster professional growth and opportunities

    • Spotlight photographers shaping the future of ocean conservation through imagery


    Application Requirements

    You are invited to submit a portfolio of your 10 best pictures captured in the past 5 years (from 01 November 2020), each accompanied by:

    • A caption (20–100 words) providing context and story

    • A short personal introduction (min. 100 words)

    This is your opportunity to share not just your pictures—but your voice, vision, and purpose.

    All submissions will be reviewed by the Ocean Geographic Advisory Editorial Board.

    Successful applicants will be recognised with one of two designations:

    • Ocean Geographic Photographer (OGP) – the epitome for excellence and impact

    • Associate Ocean Geographic Photographer (AOGP) – honouring outstanding promise and potential


    International Recognition

    Achieving OGP or AOGP status comes with visibility, distinction, and meaningful benefits:












    Benefit OG Photographer Associate

    OG Photographer
    Announcement in Ocean Geographic Magazine (70,000 readers) ✔

    Name + 2 featured images    		 ✔

    Name only
    Recognition listed on Ocean Geographic website ✔ ✔
    Right to use awarded status in bios, email signatures, and social media ✔ ✔
    Priority invitations to Ocean Geographic expeditions ✔ ✔
    Priority consideration for magazine submissions ✔ –
    Exclusive OG Photographer Pin ✔ –
    OG Photographer Alumni T-shirt (year of induction) ✔ –
    Free 3-year digital subscription to Ocean Geographic Magazine ✔ ✔

     

    Symbols of Distinction

    • The OG Photographer Pin

      An exclusive enamel pin, designed to be worn at exhibitions, dive events, and recognition ceremonies—a discreet symbol of excellence in underwater imagery.

    • The OG Alumni T-Shirt

      Reserved for OGPs, featuring the title and your year of induction (e.g., Ocean Geographic Photographer – Alumni 2025).


    Who Can Apply?

    • Must be a current member of The Underwater Club

    • Must pass the Seven core photography knowledge quizzes with 80%+ (no need to rewatch course content if you already have the skills — simply validate your knowledge)

    You don’t need to be a public figure or influencer to succeed.

    Portfolios are judged solely on merit: technical excellence, artistic vision, originality, and storytelling power.

    As a benchmark, successful applications typically reflect the standard of pictures used in features published in Ocean Geographic or awarded in major underwater photography competitions.


    Application Fee

    The fee supports the dedicated review process by Ocean Geographic editors and board members.

    • Early Bird: USD 200 (first 50 applicants)

    • Standard Fee: USD 250


    Timeline

    • Applications open now

    • Deadline: 31 October 2025

    This is your chance to have your portfolio reviewed by world-leading editors in underwater photography—and to take a meaningful step forward in your creative journey.

    Apply today and join the ranks of Ocean Geographic’s recognised photographers.

    Apply at www.theunderwaterclub.com/ocean-geographic-photographer-recognition-program



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  • The Evolving Photographer

    The Evolving Photographer

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    I am not the photographer I once was—and neither are you. Change is inevitable (and desirable), and as you look at your work, I hope you see that change reflected in the photographs you have made. As the months and years roll by, the camera becomes a little more familiar, a little less intimidating. At some point, it just feels like a part of you: your fingers moving to buttons without conscious thought, your hands moving the whole rig left and right to frame compositions you aren’t aware you’ve envisioned. Slowly, ever so slowly, you become the photographer you are. Some of that is intentional, and some of it feels like it just…happens. And some of it is hard-earned, a matter of trial and error and (finally!) figuring out that one technical problem that’s been dogging you for years. The pictures become better when you experience this kind of growth.

    Some of that growth forward is personal rather than technical, an evolution that is tied to the way you think and feel and see the world. It’s often this progress that is the most noticeable. A moment of courage to try something different, like the way (for example) so many people experiment with intentional camera movement, and it becomes their new thing. A moment of curiosity when you think, “I just want to try something,” and that something is so fascinating to you that it becomes one of those threads that unravels the sweater the more you pull it, only in reverse, because in this metaphor, the sweater becomes more complete, not less. Over time, this kind of growth leads to images that are not just good, but truly your own.

    One could argue (here I go!) that the first kind of growth is a movement forward in craft, and that the second represents an onward journey in vision. The former satisfies the technician in us, the latter satisfies the artist. Both are necessary, perhaps not in the same measure, but I’ve found that they feed each other, even require each other. Learning some new technique, even just playing with some new piece of gear, gives me glimpses of creative possibilities I had never considered, and the technician nudges the artist forward. The artist, ever curious and disinclined to sit still, tries to do something, imagines something they don’t know quite how to do, and the technician is called in to figure it out, to find new ways or new tools. And the artist moves into new territory, makes something different than they’ve ever made or even imagined before.

    The technician pushes the artist in us forward; the artist pulls the technician into places they’ve never been needed before. Iron sharpens iron, as they say.

    I have long felt that this tension is one of the keys to growth. Most of us naturally fall more to one side than the other (artist or technician), but that’s not a liability; it’s an opportunity. It’s the way forward for the photographer who wants to evolve and keep up with the human being they are becoming. That tension is a gap—a space into which we can move—and it’s key to our evolution.

    The question of growth or evolution is often phrased in the negative: how do I get unstuck? How do I escape my rut? Sometimes (often?) it just feels like boredom, a deep sense of dissatisfaction or ennui, but the need to escape from it remains. Everything hinges on opening the gap, or finding where it already exists, and exploring it. The tools of that exploration are curiosity, challenge, and change.

    Learn New Things

    Curiosity is the exploration of a knowledge gap. You realize you don’t know something, and a fissure opens. You can either shrug it off, accept a posture of “don’t know, don’t care,” or you can give yourself over to curiosity and peek inside. Sometimes that peek reveals something new that doesn’t particularly draw you in; other times, your eyes blink a little in the darkness, and what you see is a cave of wonders that invites you deeper. To accept that invitation, you move forward. Perhaps it’s the moment you look through the macro lens and see an entirely new world of colour and shape. Maybe it’s a first experience with a subject that so intrigues you that it pulls you down one of those rabbit holes from which you never really emerge.

    Want to evolve as a photographer and get out of your rut? Nurture your curiosity, ask questions, follow the gaps in your knowledge, and you will open yourself to new directions in your work.

    Do Hard Things

    Challenge, often seen as an obstacle to our best work, is instead the way forward into it. I’ve said it so often it’s beginning to sound like a mantra: your creativity needs something to push against. It needs a problem to solve. Challenge leads to flow, but it also sets the stage for the kinds of microfailures that lead to learning, and learning pulls us forward. Learning is the engine of evolution and growth. If you want to continue growing as an artist, you must continually find new challenges, even create new challenges for yourself.

    When people ask me how they get out of their rut, what they’re telling me is they’re bored.

    Boredom comes when we lack challenge. Like curiosity, which is willfully stepping into a knowledge gap, taking up challenge is stepping into a gap created by what we can and can’t do (yet) or what we believe we can or can’t do. Bite off more than you think you can chew and see where it leads.

    Do Different Things (In Different Ways)

    Change is hard. But no growth happens without it. When you evolve into a new person doing new things in new ways, you must leave the old things behind. Scary. Hard. But that’s the cost. If the idea of pursuing your curiosity or creating challenge for yourself is a little too abstract, this one is concrete: do something differently. Change what you do. Change how you do it. Photograph new things. Photograph in new ways.

    The rusting hull of an abandoned ship off Vancouver Island’s west coast drew my eye in a way I can’t explain. I was there to photograph wildlife and could have, instead spent hours exploring this wreck. Does it signal a change in direction for me, away from wildlife, probably not, but it made me aware of something inside that is drawn by the texture and colour, an itch that my current work doesn’t scratch.

    I’m more drawn to the first two images. I like the abstraction, the un-identifiable-ness of them. I like that there’s no scale, no real frame of reference. But this one has its own magic. It’s different from what I normally photograph and in order to grow forward you need to explore the detours that interest you. They might not lead anywhere, but you have to follow them to find out.

    Most of us resist change, choosing to avoid it rather than chase it down. But it’s the price demanded by life if we’re to grow. We don’t love to be in a rut, but it’s so much more comfortable than change. Change is unpredictable. It’s the devil you don’t know. It’s scary. Change threatens the labels we apply to ourselves, and by which others recognize us. Change can alter the story we tell about ourselves: I was a travel/humanitarian photographer, now I seem to be a wildlife photographer. It’s difficult to know what to do with that, but unless we’re willing to explore it, we’ll never move forward into it.

    All of this can be said about our passage through life. You don’t grow into the new without letting go of the old. For some, the struggle is to accept that; for others, the struggle is to accelerate it. If you’re among the latter and you long to move forward in your art, consider being more proactive about nurturing your curiosity, accepting and even chasing challenge, and re-evaluating your relationship with change. 

    Learn new things, do hard things, and do different things (differently), and you’ll move forward. Life, and your art, will also be so much more interesting. 😉

    For the Love of the Photograph,
    David

    The biggest challenges for most photographers are not technical but creative.  They are not so much what goes on in the camera but what goes on in the mind of the person wielding it.  Light, Space & Time is a book about thinking and feeling your way through making photographs that are not only good, but truly your own. It would make an amazing gift for the photographer in your life, especially if that’s you. Find out more on Amazon. 



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  • Shark Photographer of the Year Announces 2025 Winners

    Shark Photographer of the Year Announces 2025 Winners

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    Young Shark Photographer of the Year 2025 – Panitbhand Paribatra Na Ayudhya

     

    Today, July 14th, is Shark Awarenews Day, and what better way to celebrate the planet’s charismatic elasmobranchs than revealing the winners of the 2025 Shark Photographer of the Year photo competition? UK-based charity Shark Trust bestowed the honor upon Julian Hebestreit for a lovely shot of a leopard shark cruising the waters of Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Panitbhand Paribatra Na Ayudhya was named Young Shark Photographer of the Year for a beautifully executed image of a whale shark feeding at the surface in the Maldives.

    Other winners included “British Isles” winner Hector Clarke and “Overseas” winner Martin Broen. In addition, a number of categories were aligned with various conservation programs and projects that the Shark Trust is currently undertaking. These included “Mediterranean Programme” winner Linda Mazza, “Living with Sharks” winner Gillian Marsh, and “Oceanics Programme” winner Byron Conroy. The final category, the “Great Eggcase Hunt”—which is also the name of the Shark Trust’s flagship citizen-science project—was won by Grant Evans.

    If you love photographing sharks, don’t forget that this year’s Underwater Awards Australasia competition includes a “Sharks” category. Get your entries in now, as the deadline (July 20th) is fast approaching! Happy Shark Awarenews Day!

     

    Shark Photographer of the Year 2025 – Julian Hebenstreit

     

    Overseas Winner – Martin Broen

     

    British Isles Winner – Hector Clarke

     

    Mediterranean Programme Winner – Linda Mazza

     

    Living with Sharks Winner – Gillian Marsh

     

    Oceanics Programme Winner – Byron Conroy

    Great Eggcase Hunt – Grant Evans



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  • This Photographer Just Choked Out a Camera Thief!

    This Photographer Just Choked Out a Camera Thief!

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    When photographers travel abroad, one of the most crucial matters they need to be aware and take care of is safety for their gear and themselves. There are many incidents of thieves snatching cameras from photographers all around the world and a very few are usually able to get their equipment back.

    Photo by Filtergrade

    In Barcelona, Spain, a Chinese photographer, Jia Daming, was able to choke down the thief who snatched his camera and this news has gone viral for his heroic act. Footage of the incident can be found here on X. The photographer was not harmed and was able to get his equipment back.

    The photographer who travels the world to shoot for fashion, celebrity brands and wedding photography, was filming a newlywed couple in a famous landmark in Barcelona, Spain, when a group of three men tried to steal the camera. The photographer got hold of one of the thieves while the other two fled the scene.

    Witnesses in that area, besides capturing this incident, quickly called the local police to report the incident. The thief was choked by the photographer in an act of self-defence and to restrain him till the police arrived. The police handcuffed the thief and according to other reports, the police are investigating this matter.

    The footage from the scene have been shared on social media and has attracted millions of views. Onlookers and social media users applauded the photographer for his brave act. While it can be very dangerous to restrain a thief, it looks like the photographer used martial arts to neck choke hold the thief and this can sometimes even cause death because of the restricted air and blood flow to the brain.

    We have more news for you to read if you are interested at this link here.



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  • Hugues Oyarzabal, Pioneering Surf Photographer, Dies at 39

    Hugues Oyarzabal, Pioneering Surf Photographer, Dies at 39

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    Hugues Oyarzabal, a surfing legend who pioneered photography from inside the barbell of the wave, died on February 21st. He was 39 years old. The New York Times reports that Oyarzabal took his own life after a lifelong battle with bipolar disorder.

    “His physical and psychological suffering took its toll,” his parents told The New York Times. “He has chosen to leave us, to rediscover the peace and serenity he has been unable to find over the last few years.”

    In an era before the ubiquity of GoPro and other “action” cameras, Oyarzabal led the innovative charge on bringing the viewer as close as possible to the action. As early as 2001, the French-born surfer captured images from inside the tubes of waves by strapping a mini-DV camcorder in a jury-rigged waterproof housing to the front of his surfboard.

    Other notable highlights from Oyarzabal’s career include becoming one of the first to take on the big, dangerous waves of Teahupo’o, Tahiti and Western Africa. The Times has a great profile honoring his life.

     



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  • Kenya Adventure Elopement Photographer :: Africa Safari Wedding

    Kenya Adventure Elopement Photographer :: Africa Safari Wedding

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    Kenya Adventure Elopement Photographer :: Africa Safari Wedding

    You know it’s going to be a great engagement sitting when the couple is on time, in the right location, wearing coordinated clothing, and brings along with them a file folder full of ideas-including an ampersand that Sindura custom-created and made by hand to execute a shot she had in mind. What more can your photographers ask for? It was a beautiful evening in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and created these incredible images. That’s what we consider FUN! We hope you enjoy these romantic images that capture Sindura and Chris’ personalities along with the surroundings of one of their favorite places to hang out.

    We loved exploring every nook and cranny of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, it is the perfect Wild Bush wedding destination that brings together the natural beauty of the Landscape Valley with the elegance and service one would want for a perfect engagement, proposal, or wedding.  We love working at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy because there is so much variety in the environment and so many fabulous locations to capture the romance and beauty of weddings held here and take advantage of the amazing light at the end of the day, with a sunset that made us feel like we had gone on vacation…  Thank you again for allowing us to use our creativity for you!

    From the amazing day we spent at Sirikoi Lodge Camp Lewa Wildlife Conservancy for Sindhura and Christopher’s surprise secret proposal engagement session and dinner through their storybook, we have had so much fun with this enthusiastic, appreciative couple.  Their excitement was contagious and we were proud to share the day with so many vendor friends.   Thank you so much you guys—it was even more perfect than we ever imagined.”

    Kenya Adventure Elopement Photographer :: Africa Safari Wedding



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  • Destination Wedding Elopements Photographer :: Indian Weddings

    Destination Wedding Elopements Photographer :: Indian Weddings

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    Destination Wedding Elopements Photographer :: Indian Weddings

    Kenyan Indian Asian Hindu Wedding Ceremony Gurdwara Nanaksar Kabete, Brookside Dr, Nairobi

    Destination Wedding Elopements Photographer :: Indian Weddings

    Specialists in Indian Wedding Photography over the years. We started with one Indian Wedding several years back and from there we were referred to another. From there, the effect snowballed, and now the majority of our weddings are for Indian couples. The journey has been amazing and we feel so blessed to be a part of the Indian Community, capturing some of the most elaborate, grand, and beautiful weddings in the world.

    Though Indian Wedding Ceremonies are spiritual and religious, they are also full of emotion and candid moments. Our style is to get a unique combination of wide-angle photos and close-up photos from a variety of angles, anticipating smiles and emotional moments during the Indian Wedding Ceremony. For example, we know that if a bride is being blessed by the married women in her life, there are going to be great emotional moments; and we know to get in position to capture them. In another example, we also know that after the couples walk around the fire, there is a good opportunity for some amazing laughs as they race to sit first!

    Beyond photographing the most important wedding moments, we emphasize capturing them with creativity. We’re always in search of reflections, interesting foregrounds and backgrounds, and the perfect light in our photography. Our unique combination of lighting techniques along with our creative post-production allows us to create amazing, creative imagery for your Indian Wedding.



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