Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 — the successful photographs

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Northern gannets can dive into water at speeds over 50 miles per hour — quicker than an Olympic diver from a 10-meter platform. But British photographer Henley Spiers was capable of seize the second a gannet broke via the ocean’s floor in Shetland, Scotland, incomes him the title of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026.

“Even in summer, sunshine is far from guaranteed in this remote British archipelago,” Spiers advised CNN. “So, my creative engine started firing when the sun ball was visible from underwater. I envisioned the shot of the gannet diving straight through the middle of it and dedicated my entire dive to capturing that single frame.”

“The gannets were diving all around me, but I refused to be distracted and kept my camera pointed at the sun. After a long wait, a gannet finally dived through in the perfect spot and I met the bird as it careened under the sea,” he added. “The moment was over in a split second.”

Winners throughout eight completely different classes for this yr’s competitors had been additionally revealed, together with Young Bird Photographer of the Year, which went to 16-year-old Parham Pourahmad from the United States, who captured an awesome horned owl within the shadow of a full moon.

Will Nicholls, director of Bird Photographer of the Year, mentioned in an announcement: “In a world where AI-generated imagery is becoming increasingly common, this year’s winners are a powerful reminder of the value of authenticity.”

“Every image in the competition represents a real moment in the wild, earned through patience, dedication and a genuine connection with nature,” he added. “People will always value real stories told by real people, and this year’s extraordinary photographs celebrate the beauty, wonder and authenticity of our natural world.”

The competitors, returning for its eleventh yr, celebrates the very best of chicken pictures throughout the globe and in addition helps conservation efforts.

This yr, it donated greater than £5,000 ($6,700) to Birds on the Brink, a charity that gives grants to grassroots chicken conservation work throughout the globe.

Speaking to CNN, Nicholls mentioned that along with financial assist, sturdy imagery performs a significant position in defending birds by producing consciousness. “Without public support, conservation efforts often fall flat,” he mentioned.

“Our competition promotes birds through exposing people to the wide variety of bird life on this planet and providing them a real connection to the natural world.”

All awarded photographs shall be a part of a espresso desk e book, printed by Graffeg.