The winners of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 have been awarded. This year, it’s the Spanish photographer Javier Aznar who won the contest.
The competition European Wildlife Photographer of the Year is one of the most renowned contests in the field of nature photography. Each year, the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) selects a grand winner as well as laureates in each category of the contest. This year, Spanish photographer Javier Aznar González de Rueda impressed the jury with a photo showing the brood of a stink bug. Javier Aznar González de Rueda received the title of « European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 » during a ceremony held on the evening of October 27.
Nearly 18,000 images were submitted by amateur and professional photographers from 42 countries. The international five-member jury selected 107 winning images in 10 categories. The European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 (EWPY 2023) took place on the evening of October 27, 2023, during the GDT International Nature Photography Festival.
Maternal care – an exceptional image of an insect convinces the jury
The grand winner of 2023 is the Spanish photographer Javier Aznar González de Rueda. For over two weeks, the biologist observed the maternal care behavior of a bug species Antiteuchus tripterus in Ecuador’s largest protected area, the Yasuní National Park. To Javier’s surprise, the female guarded not only her eggs but also the newly hatched larvae until their first molt.
Sabine Riewenherm, president of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and patron of the contest, explains: « Stink bugs, along with many other insect groups, are particularly species-rich in the extensive agricultural habitats of our structured cultivated landscapes. There are more than 900 species of stink bugs in Germany, over 1,100 in Central Europe, and more than 42,000 worldwide. Protecting these species and, especially, their habitats is an immense responsibility for each of us! Since insects are often closely associated with certain habitat types and environmental conditions, their presence or absence provides vital information about the habitat’s condition. »
As a nature photographer, Javier focuses on natural history research, wildlife conservation, and the relationship between humans and nature. Drawing on his biology knowledge, Javier’s photographs offer a personal vision of nature and the fascination it exerts. He is convinced that the power of photography can help preserve the planet as well as its flora and fauna.
Mark Littlejohn, jury member, gives insights into the decision-making process concerning the winning photograph: « Do we humans really believe that insects form an attachment to their offspring? That they are capable of expressing parental feelings? And are humans capable of forming an emotional bond with insects? From a young age, the fate of dolphins, elephants, and other large charismatic animals touches us deeply. Yet, all life deserves to be cherished and protected. Javier’s magnificent photograph speaks exactly to this: unconditional love. In all its forms and manifestations. This aspect was decisive in the jury’s decision« .
Furthermore: « From a photographic perspective, the image is full of vibrancy. It draws the eye and holds the viewer’s attention. This aspect, combined with a fascinating story, made this photo the grand winner of this year’s competition. Choosing a grand winner is never an easy task. The jurors faced another dilemma: is the story important? Or should an image be judged solely on aesthetics? They say an image is worth a thousand words. But this is the « European Wildlife Photographer of the Year » contest.
Recent studies have revealed that the extinction rate of insect species is eight times higher than that of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Yet, the world as we know it wouldn’t exist without insects. In this context, the long and arduous task of selecting a winner among the 18,000 participants was surprisingly easy.
To see the full list of awards visit the competition website. Discover the winners of each category as well as all the photos in the underwater category:
Plants and fungi
Lichen dinner – Roberto Bueno – Spain
« I found this unusual situation on an abandoned farm near Sintra, Portugal. A full set had been left on a stone table. I was very surprised to see the whole set was covered in lichens. The table was under a huge tree, which probably provided the shade and moisture needed for the lichens to grow over decades. »
Landscape
Volcanic whirls – Joël Delmas – France
« This photo was taken on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland during the Geldingadalur eruption in 2021. I was conducting a photo workshop there, and the participants were thrilled to be able to photograph a volcanic eruption. The spiral structures in the image were born from the lava pushing up from a fissure in an ancient lava field, far from the main crater. The most challenging part was avoiding overexposing the center of the spirals and preventing the drone from overheating and crashing onto the burning lava. Despite all precautions taken, several small plastic components melted when the drone got close enough to capture this risky shot.«
Mammals
Last dance? – Jens Cullmann, GDT – Germany
« It was the peak of the dry season in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. The days were hot and dusty, and water was scarce in the southern part of the park. One of the last remaining waterholes was Chitake Springs. However, the springs are located in a gorge and are part of the territory of a large pride of lions specialized in preying on the buffalo herds that come to quench their thirst. In the dust raised by the buffaloes fleeing the gorge after drinking, the lion took its chance…«
Man and nature
Lost at sea – Angel Fitor – Spain
« Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) spend their lives tirelessly roaming the open ocean – the planet’s largest habitat – searching for edible morsels drifting with the marine currents. As omnivores, sea turtles feed on a wide variety of foods, including jellyfish, salps, pieces of algae, and carrion. Due to their varied diet, these animals are inevitably attracted to brightly colored plastic pieces that catch the eye and drift in oceans worldwide. Many loggerhead turtles die in agony due to intestinal blockages, which are just one of the many health issues related to plastic ingestion.«
Birds
Bird in the forest – Csaba Daróczi – Hungary
« During the winter of 2022-23, I regularly visited a nearby forest to take photos. Almost every week, I would choose a new subject to perfect over several days. This is how I found this hollowed stump surrounded by tall trees. The opening is about half a meter in diameter. I placed my GoPro camera inside, and the results were astounding. After a few days, I realized something was missing from the composition: an animal. I placed sunflower seeds in the hole, and very soon, the first birds appeared, including this great tit (Parus major).«
Underwater environment
1st Prize – Nocturnal squadron – Catherine Holmes – United Kingdom
« This image was taken in a quiet, shallow bay off Espirito Santo Island (Mexico). It shows a squadron of juvenile Munk’s devil rays (Mobula munkiana) feeding on plankton attracted by a green light suspended at the back of our boat, in the pitch-black night. I used a slow shutter speed to capture the graceful and synchronized movements of the rays, which seem to fly in the darkness.«
2nd Prize – Flamenco pose – Magnus Lundgren – Sweden
« This female common blanket octopus (Tremoctopus violaceus) appeared during a night dive in Balayan Bay (Philippines) and literally performed a flamenco dance in front of the camera. These octopuses exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism: females can be 40,000 times heavier than males. The tiny males are barely the size of an adult female’s pupil. Male and juvenile female octopuses use segments detached from highly toxic Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) tentacles to defend themselves against predators. The octopuses themselves are unaffected by the venom. »
Honorable mentions
Other animals
Aquatic ballet – Marjan Artnak – Slovenia
« The beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) is a species of damselfly found only in habitats with clean, flowing water. The male marks suitable nesting spots on his territory, usually on pieces of wood and vegetation partially submerged. After mating, the female partially submerges herself to lay her eggs while her mate chases away approaching males. The territorial male tolerates only the presence of females he has mated with, which is a considerable effort for such a small creature.«
« Nature Studio »
The secret of the Mediterranean – Bruno D’Amicis, GDT – Italy
« A Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) glides effortlessly in the shallows near the entrance of its haul-out cave in Greece. To take this photo without disturbing the animal, I waited motionless for hours on a cliff overlooking the cave entrance, hoping to capture the seal with the colorful seabed in the background. With only 600 to 700 individuals, the Mediterranean monk seal is one of the world’s most endangered mammal species.«
Young photographer (14 years and under)
Tightrope artist – Alberto Román Gómez – Spain
« One spring afternoon, my father and I went out to photograph birds. We drove to an agricultural area where many bird species can be found. We decided to park the car and walk along a path through the fields. Almost immediately, I spotted a yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava) cautiously moving from one stem to another, sometimes almost losing its balance and resembling more a tightrope walker than a bird.«
Young photographer (15 – 17 years)
Wave – Luca Lorenz, GDT – Germany
« With my family, we were visiting my grandmother, who lives by the Main. At dusk, my sister and I went to the riverbank searching for animals. We found a Canada goose (Branta canadensis) sitting on a dam. To attempt this photo, I played with long exposures for almost two hours. My sister patiently kept me company, the goose patiently stayed still, and at one point, I was able to create the image as I had envisioned it. »
