Wildlife photographer Rodrigo González Pairoa faced challenges when capturing birds in Albatross Islet, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile. Now his image of a Black-browed Albatross, shot with a full-frame DSLR that was released 14 years ago, was honored as the winner of the Birds Without Borders category in the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards.
Pairoa recalls the situation, "It was almost impossible to keep the camera steady. In the remote Almirantazgo Sound, the biting cold, ever-changing light, and unpredictable wind forced me to readjust my stance and refocus after every blast of photo."
The albatross was calm and Pairoa was able to approach it slowly.
He explains, "In an almost comical moment, it tilted its head, as if observing me with the same curiosity with which I was photographing it. I filled the frame with its face, revealing the dark outline around its eye and the sculptural texture of its plumage.
"In that brief moment, the wind ceased.
"The resulting image captures a fleeting moment of silent, intimate connection with an iconic species of the Southern Seas. I hope that whoever views it feels that same sense of closeness."
Birds Without Borders Winner
Contest: Chile and Colombia
Species: Black-browed Albatross
Location: Albatross Islet, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile
Gear: Nikon D600 + Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED
Exposure: 1/1600 sec, f/11, ISO 400
Bird Lore
The Black-browed Albatross is one of the smaller and most widespread albatross species. It breeds on islands in the sub-Antarctic and southern oceans, and ranges at sea as far south as the Antarctic continent and north to offshore waters of Brazil and Australia.
While the birds might seem free to wander the seas of the world, studies show that individuals from different nesting colonies tend to migrate to different regions of the ocean outside the breeding season. Those from South Georgia Island, for example, mostly move to waters off southern Africa, while those from the Falklands favor the seas east of South America.
Judge’s Take (Claudio Contreras Koob)
"This image caught the judges’ attention because it offers an almost abstract view of the albatross.
"The skillful use of a modest background, which does not distract the viewer, allows the eye to instead follow the lines and tones that lead us to the albatross’s piercing gaze, the focal point of the composition."
The Audubon Photography Awards is a competition celebrating photographers who use their skills to highlight the beauty, challenges and threats facing birds across Chile, Colombia, Canada and the United States. You can explore all 2026 winning images here.
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