“I was photographing seabirds on a remote island off Norway. Then a huge predator appeared from nowhere”

Josef Stefan is a wildlife photographer from Austria. His work has gained the Wildlife Photographer of the Year – People’s Choice.

How did you get into wildlife images?

I’ve been taking pictures since I used to be 16. However, 30 years in the past, my focus shifted in the direction of nature. I grew to become conscious of how fragile our wild world is, and I needed my photos not solely to seize magnificence, but in addition to encourage individuals to deal with nature extra mindfully.

Which of your pictures is most vital to you? 

A shot referred to as Flying Rodent, which gained the People’s Choice Award for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026. The picture depicts an Iberian lynx in a playful second, practising its looking abilities, but in addition symbolises the survival of this fascinating species.

The Iberian lynx was on the verge of extinction within the 2000s, however because of conservation efforts, there at the moment are greater than 2,000 in Spain.

Which species have you ever discovered most difficult to seize?

Birds of prey, which in Austria are extraordinarily shy and can react to the slightest disturbance. The imperial eagle, which breeds close to my house, is especially difficult. Getting any shot of it requires good camouflage, absolute stillness and limitless persistence. If you make the tiniest motion, it’s going to flee immediately.

Which species would you like to {photograph}, house or overseas, that continues to elude you? 

My dream is to {photograph} a polar bear in Svalbard. It can be actually particular to seize this spectacular and iconic animal in its pure habitat. 

Do you have got any epic images fails to share?

Yes. I used to be working in Spain and had been ready for ages to {photograph} a genet. As nightfall fell, the cat briefly emerged from its hiding place. I had all the things poised and prepared, however I’d forgotten to take away my lens cap. Before I knew it, the genet had vanished. That was my greatest flop, an enormous missed alternative!

What’s been your most memorable encounter with wildlife?

A visit to the fowl island of Hornøya, Norway. Around 100,000 seabirds breed there, and so they have just about no worry of people. You can get extremely near them, proper in the midst of the motion. I used to be getting some good portraits when a white-tailed eagle appeared from nowhere.

Thousands of birds took flight concurrently from the steep cliffs, filling the sky. The collective take-off, rush of wings and sheer dynamism of the occasion was merely overwhelming. I used to be so captivated that I fully forgot to take any pictures.

What’s been your costliest shoot by way of time invested?

I as soon as spent a complete day making an attempt to {photograph} courting nice bustards. I used to be in my conceal earlier than daybreak and couldn’t depart till it was darkish, to keep away from spooking them. I didn’t see a single fowl.

What’s been your most bodily difficult shoot?

I needed to {photograph} ibex at first gentle, from the highest of a mountain within the Austrian Alps. But that required me to climb it and spend the evening in a hut close to the three,100m summit.

The trek took about six hours and concerned very tough terrain, together with traversing glacier fields, in freezing situations. The altitude, the chilly and the bodily exertion have been extraordinarily robust – however all value it in the long run.

What one piece of equipment are you by no means with out?

My binoculars. They are step one to each profitable {photograph}.

What’s your one piece of recommendation to budding wildlife photographers?

Be affected person and respect the animals. You can’t power something; good pictures typically consequence from taking time. Give your topics the area to behave naturally and calmly.

See extra of Josef’s work at josefstefan.at.