"I've never seen anything like it": photographer captures haunting contrast between life and death as Northern Gannet hangs from fishing line beneath nesting cliffs – the image now wins prestigious conservation award

White seabirds nesting on rocky ledges with tangled fishing nets, one bird trapped and hanging on the cliffside — The award-winning wildlife image highlights the danger facing a species already under pressure from climate change, disease and human impact (Image credit: Joshua Galicki)

"I was on a boat passing under cliffs where Northern Gannets nest and spotted this dead bird hanging from fishing line as others went about their lives around it," says award-winning photographer Joshua Galicki. The striking image, comprised mainly of black and white tones, captures a haunting contrast and the bird's harsh reality.

"I've never seen anything like it. I wanted to show this contrast between life and death. This species already faces many challenges, including climate change and disease; only the year before my visit, avian flu had decimated the colony. I took this image as a reminder of one more obstacle we put in the way of this charismatic species," he explains.

The photograph was taken at the Isle of Noss in the Shetland Islands, where Northern Gannets gather to nest on dramatic sea cliffs. Galicki's image has now been named Conservation category winner in the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards, a competition that celebrates photographers whose work showcases birds and the challenges they face. You can explore all 2026 winning images here.

Conservation Winner

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM — Review insight: "The Canon RF 100-500mm combines Canon's legendary L-series build quality with premium optical performance that's up there with the very best Canon zoom lenses we've tested. The only real drawback (apart from the hefty price tag" (Image credit: Future)

Contest: United States and Canada
Species: Northern Gannet
Location: Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom
Camera: Canon EOS R3 + Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Exposure: 1/2500 sec, f/5, ISO 4000

Bird Lore
Huge, long-winged Northern Gannets hunt their prey with spectacular plunge-dives, arrowing into the sea to grab fish below the surface. They sometimes run afoul of commercial fishing operations, become entangled in fishing nets, and drown.

Ironically, while gathering material to build their nests on island cliffs, they may pick up fragments of discarded fishing gear from the water or shorelines, working these bits in with grass, seaweed, and other items. Either adult or young gannets may become caught in the unbreakable synthetic fibers.

Judge’s Take (Sabine Meyer)
"This scene encapsulates the hopes and stresses of conservation.

"The nesting gannets telegraph the promise of the next generation, whereas the gruesome scene of the entangled bird shows the cost of human impact. The monochromatic color palette heightens the scene’s drama, akin to a painterly tableau where life and death coexist."

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Kim is a photographer, editor and writer with work published internationally. She holds a Master's degree in Photography and Media and was formerly Technique Editor at Digital Photographer, focusing on the art and science of photography. Kim covers everything from breaking industry news and camera gear to the stories shaping photography today. Blending technical expertise with visual insight, she explores photography's time-honored yet ever-evolving role in culture.