Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Cast your vote in the People's Choice Award

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Fox affection [Canon 5D Mark IV + 500mm lens; 1/1600 sec at f7.1; ISO 2000] (Image credit: © Brittany Crossman, Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is inviting the public to vote for their favorite image in the People’s Choice Award. Just 25 images have been shortlisted out of a staggering 38,575, from which just five will join the previously announced winners. 

This year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year entries captured wildlife in all of its forms, showing animals not only in their natural habitats but how humans are having an impact on them. A powerful image by Auke-Florian Hiemstra of a dead fish caught in a rubber glove is a stark reminder of how plastic use of polluting our oceans, while a photo of two red foxes cuddling up to each other speaks of nature’s beauty.

Covid litter [Pentax K1 + 28–70mm f2.8 lens; 1/200 sec at f9; ISO 250; Kaiser studio lights] (Image credit: © Auke-Florian Hiemstra, Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

Photographers from 93 countries entered this year's competition including Eduardo Blanco Mendizabal from Spain, whose photo of a cat and a gecko isn’t all that it seems, and German photographer Sascha Fonseca, who captured a majestic snow leopard with a perfectly-placed camera trap. 

Claudio Contreras Koon from Mexico impressed judges with a vibrant shot of flamingos with their chicks at breeding grounds in Yucatan. American photographer Deena Svenisson caught a snowshoe hair deep in the snow of the Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Caribbean crèch, Mexico [Canon EOS 5D Mark II + 300mm f2.8 lens + 2x teleconverter; 1/400 sec at f11; ISO 1600] (Image credit: © Claudio Contreras Koob, Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

Dr. Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum says, "voters will have a challenge to choose from this stunning range of photographs which tell vital stories and connect people to issues across the planet. We are looking forward to finding out which of these images emerges as the favorite."

To cast your vote, head to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year website and select your favorite. Voting closes on February 2, 2023, and the top five winning images will appear in an online gallery alongside winners from the main competition. 

Among the flowers, Canada [Nikon D850 + 14–24mm lens; 1/640 at f6.3; ISO 100; Aquatech housing; pocket wizard trigger] (Image credit: © Martin Gregus, Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

World of the snow leopard, India [Canon EOS 5DS + 24mm f2.8 lens; 1/200 sec at f8; ISO 400; Nikon SB28 flash; Camtraptions wireless trigger (Image credit: © Sascha Fonseca, Wildlife Photographer of the Year.jpg)

A tight grip, Bali [Nikon D500 + Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 lens; 1/320 sec at f11; ISO 100; Nauticam housing + CMC-1 Macro Converter; 2x Inon Z240 strobes] (Image credit: © Nicholas More, Wildlife Photographer of the Yea)

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Hannah Rooke
Staff Writer

Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. For the last 3 years Hannah has worked at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. With 5 years experience working with studio lighting, Hannah has run many successful workshops teaching people how to use different lighting setups.