Today, the Natural History Museum in South Kensington revealed the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPOTY) award recipients. This year’s contest was remarkable, with nearly 50,000 submissions from 95 countries. The top honor went to Laurent Ballesta for the second time, impressing the judges with his stunning photograph titled The golden horseshoe, depicting an ancient crab and three golden trevallies.
The 59th edition of this prestigious contest, managed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London, drew a record-breaking 49,957 entries, presenting the jury with the challenging task of selecting the best among them.
LAURENT BALLESTA
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Laurent Ballesta’s winning image, The golden horseshoe, captures a tri-spine horseshoe crab in its natural environment. This species, surviving for over 100 million years, is now endangered due to habitat destruction and overfishing. However, the crab’s thriving presence in the protected waters of Pangatalan Island, Philippines, offers a glimmer of hope.
Jury chair and editor Kathy Moran remarked, “The photo of the horseshoe crab, so vividly alive and in its natural setting, was striking. It’s a glimpse into an ancient, endangered species that is also vital for human health. The image is captivatingly luminous.”
YOUNG WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
CARMEL BECHLER 17-year-old Carmel Bechler from Israel won the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 with his photo Owls’ road house, showing owls in an old building against the backdrop of car lights. Bechler, who started photography at age 11, expressed his desire to showcase the natural world’s beauty in unexpected places.
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Starting October 13, 2023, the Natural History Museum in London will display the winning photographs. The exhibition, featuring a fresh design, includes videos and insights from jury members, photographers, and museum scientists, aiming to inspire visitors to advocate for nature.
The exhibition will tour the UK and internationally, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, and more. Online events promoting positive actions for the planet are also planned.
Looking ahead, the 60th WPOTY contest opens for entries on October 16, 2023. The upcoming edition will introduce new judges, offer free entry for participants from over 100 countries, and include a special award for inspiring nature stories.
CATEGORY WINNERS
The Grand Title winners were chosen from 19 exceptional category winners, each highlighting Earth’s diverse wildlife. For more of these breathtaking images and information, be sure to check out the 2023 WPOTY contest website.
