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The British Wildlife Photography Awards 2017

A Celebration of British Wildlife

The British Wildlife Photography Awards proudly announce the winners for 2017. The awards celebrate both the work of amateur and professional photographers and the beauty and diversity of British wildlife. Winning images are chosen from thousands of entries in fifteen separate categories including a category for film and two junior categories to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.

The Overall Winning Image, 'Heathrow Roostings' of a Pied Wagtail at Heathrow airport, is by Daniel Trim.

Heathrow Roostings Daniel Trim Wildlife Photography Awards.jpg

Daniel Trim

In winter, pied wagtails roost communally in urban areas, both for protection and for the additional warmth given off by buildings and lights. This extra degree or two can make a difference in harsh weather. Here, a single individual out of hundreds is silhouetted by the lights of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport.

“Living near London I'm always amazed by how nature can benefit from urban areas. There are many urban pied wagtail roosts across the UK during winter and they are incredibly important for the birds survival during these harder times, both for the additional warmth our buildings generate but also because there's safety in numbers. I waited for a cold night when their numbers swell. After about 30 minutes I hadn't seen a single wagtail, however, it wasn't long until hundreds were dropping in to the trees next to the terminal building, all calling away. It's an impressive site to see and once the initial excitement was over I spent time looking for birds I could isolate against interesting background lighting. The birds soon tuck their heads under their wing to sleep which doesn't make the silhouette as pleasing, you have to get lucky with one waking up briefly to have a look around.”
Daniel Trim.

It's a great reminder that wildlife can be found in the most ordinary places

“This stunning photograph perfectly captures how magical wild experiences can be, even when they’re right on your doorstep. It’s a great reminder that wildlife can be found in the most ordinary places, every single day. We love
that a pied wagtail has as much power to inspire someone as a rare animal or dramatic landscape.”
Lucy McRobert, Communications Manager, The Wildlife Trusts.

Tanya Steele, Chief Executive, WWF-UK comments “This latest collection of stunning photographs from the British Wildlife Photography Awards is a fabulous celebration of the wealth of biodiversity our small and densely populated island still possesses. As well as, of course, great testament to the talent, artistry, determination and commitment of the photographers who created them. WWF is therefore delighted to continue its support of this inspiring competition, raising awareness of the natural beauty and variety of life we have within and around our shores, and the on-going battle to protect it”. 

View all the winning Images, including the video winner and a selection of highly commended entries here: http://www.bwpawards.org

The Prizes

First prize: £5,000

Category winners will receive prizes with a value of around £1,000. The prize fund includes Canon’s flagship mirrorless camera, the EOS M5 with EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens.

Wildlife in HD Video category winner will receive a Canon XA-30 Professional Camcorder

The British Seasons Portfolio prize is a Páramo Voucher for £1,000.

The Young winner (under 12) will receive: £300
The Young winner (12 -18) will receive: £500

The Exhibition Tour - Over 100 images including the winning and commended entries launches at the Mall Galleries, London, commencing Tuesday 7th November and is open until 1pm Sunday 12th November. Visit the website for more information about the venues.

The Book - British Wildlife Photography Awards 8 showcases the very best entries from the British Wildlife Photography Awards in 2017. This stunning coffee table book is a celebration of British wildlife as captured on camera by today’s best amateur and professional photographers.