Friendly lions get people's vote in Wildlife Photographer of the Year

David Lloyd’s image, Bond of Brothers, has won the 2018 LUMIX People's Choice Award

A heart-warming image that shows a moment between a pair of male lions is the winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year LUMIX People's Choice Award.

16,000 nature fans may have voted, but London-based photographer David Lloyd emerged as the favourite. His image was chosen from a shortlist of 25, selected by the Natural History Museum from over 45,000 photographs submitted for the 2018 competition. The overall winner of the the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year was Marsel van Oosten.

Who are the subjects in David's winning shot?

The two adult males, likely to be brothers, greeted and rubbed faces for around 30 seconds before settling down. It is unusual for lions to nuzzle for so long, and David was honoured to have experienced and captured such a moment.

"I’m so pleased that this image did well because it illustrates the emotion and feeling of animals and emphasises that this is not limited to humans," he says. "It is something I think more people need to be aware of for the sake of all animals."

Highly commended

The LUMIX People's Choice award is sponsored by Panasonic. "It is a great honour to be involved in the LUMIX People’s Choice awards and to be able to champion the image that resonates most with the public," says Mike Owen, the Professional Imaging Marketing Manager from Panasonic UK. 

Four Highly Commended images also won over the hearts of the public. These include Matthew Maran’s timely shot of a fox walking towards graffiti art in London, and Justin Hofman’s heart-breaking image of a famished polar bear in the Canadian Arctic. 

Matthew Maran’s timely shot of a fox walking towards graffiti art in London

Matthew Maran’s timely shot of a fox walking towards graffiti art in London (Image credit: Matthew Maran)

About Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the Natural History Museum’s annual showcase of the world's best nature photography and photojournalism. 

Seen by millions of people all over the world, the images celebrate the astonishing diversity of life on earth, whilst challenging us to address the big questions facing our planet.

The People's Choice photographs will be showcased in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum until it closes on 30 June.

For more information, head to www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/wpy

Read more:
10 ultimate locations for wildlife photographers

How to prepare for a safari or wildlife photography trip

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Lauren Scott
Managing Editor

Lauren is the Managing Editor of Digital Camera World, having previously served as Editor of Digital Photographer magazine, a practical-focused publication that inspires hobbyists and seasoned pros alike to take truly phenomenal shots and get the best results from their kit. 


An experienced photography journalist who has been covering the industry for over eight years, she has also served as technique editor for both PhotoPlus: The Canon MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine and DCW's sister publication, Digital Camera Magazine


In addition to techniques and tutorials that enable you to achieve great results from your cameras, lenses, tripods and other photography equipment, Lauren can regularly be found interviewing some of the biggest names in the industry, sharing tips and guides on subjects like landscape and wildlife photography, and raising awareness for subjects such as mental health and women in photography.