Take a walk on the wild side with the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards
The People’s Choice Award winners of the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards have been revealed, featuring stunning images of some of the world’s most majestic creatures.
Competition for the coveted People’s Choice Award was fierce, with over 39,000 images submitted for consideration. 25 pictures were shortlisted from there, and a staggering 60,466 votes were received to crown the winner: German photographer Sascha Fonseca.
Sascha’s image, titled “World of the snow leopard”, presents a snow leopard at sunset in Ladakh in northern India, with a breathtaking snow-covered mountain range backdrop.
“Thick snow blankets the ground, but the big cat’s dense coat and furry footpads keep it warm,” the image was captioned. “Sascha captured this image during a three-year bait-free camera-trap project high up in the Indian Himalayas. He has always been fascinated by snow leopards, not only because of their incredible stealth but also because of their remote environment, making them one of the most difficult large cats to photograph in the wild.”
The winning images, selected for their “artistic composition, technical innovation, and truthful interpretation of the natural world”, boast not only a winner, but four other highly commended finalists as well.
"This year’s record number of votes illustrates how wildlife photography can engage and inspire audiences with the wonder of nature,” said Director of the Natural History Museum Douglas Gurr.
The other finalist feature a leopard with some unexpected cargo titled “Holding on” by Igor Altuna, a moment of “Fox affection” in the snow by Brittany Crossman, a polar bear basking in the sun “Among the flowers” by Martin Gregus, and a magnificent “Portrait of Olobor” the lion by Maasai Mara.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, produced by the Natural History Museum, provides amateur and professional photographers from around the world with a global platform for their work. 2022 marked the 58th year of competition, and the 59th is currently being judged, with the 2023 winners to be announced in October.
All image credits: Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards