British Wildlife Photographer 2026: Die besten Aufnahmen - [GEO]

Zur Galerie British Wildlife Photographer 2026: Die besten Aufnahmen

Overall Winner - British Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Black & White A Toad Swims Across Its Woodland Pond British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and Black & White Winner Paul Hobson Toad (Bufo bufo) Sheffield, England I am lucky to have a pond close to my house that has relatively clear water, especially in late winter and early spring before the algae starts to grow. Toads use this pond to breed in and I decided I wanted to try to capture an image looking up from the bottom of the pond. To try to do this I built a glass box to house the camera and keep it dry. I had to add ballast to make sure it would sink and used old tripod legs glued to its sides to keep the box level. I worked out the depth the box would be and set the focus so that it would capture a toad, if one swam across the surface. I triggered the camera using an adapted long cable release. I had to wait quite a long time until a toad swam across the surface – most of them would usually swim below it and rest on the glass. — Sheffield, England

Und der Gewinner ist: eine Erdkröte! Die fast schon künstlerisch anmutende Aufnahme gelang Paul Hobson im Teich nahe seinem Zuhause in Sheffield. Die Jury zeichnete ihn dafür mit dem Hauptpreis des Wettbewerbs aus. Zu Recht, wie wir finden, denn Hobson hatte eine herrliche Idee: Er wollte die Kröten von unten fotografieren. Also baute er eine Glasbox für seine Kamera, klebte einen Ständer daran und musste sein Konstrukt noch mit Gewichten beschweren, damit es sank. Mit dem Auslöser am Kabel wartete er schließlich auf den richtigen Moment. Seinem Einfallsreichtum verdanken wir diese ungewöhnliche Perspektive in die Welt der Teiche.

© Paul Hobson / British Wildlife Photographer 2026

Habitat Dipper Dream Habitat | Winner Marc Humphrey Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) Derbyshire Dales, England Dippers are creatures of habit, and after spending numerous days observing these entertaining birds I was able to discover many of their favoured rocks. I wanted to capture something different, encapsulating the stunning woodland and rushing white water that these birds are so at home in. For this photo I utilised a wide-angle lens, and so as to limit disturbance, I waded into the water, framed up my shot using a tripod, manually focussed on the rock and used a remote shutter whilst sat on the riverbank. To capture the painterly effect in the water, I used a shutter speed of 1/15s.

11 and Under Cutting Edge 11 and Under | Winner Jamie Smart Leaf-cutter bee (Megachilidae) Powys, Wales I adore bees and have spent a lot of time this year studying them and finding out about what I can do to help the wild bees around our garden thrive. I designed and made a bee hotel using clay and have watched it flourish. One day, as I was walking past it, I spotted this leaf-cutter bee poking her head out of one of the clay holes and thought it would make a lovely photo, so I ran back inside to grab my camera and hoped that she would still be there when I returned – luckily, she was! Using my macro set up – the OM1 Mark II with a speed flash and Cygnustech diffuser – I managed to capture this image of her looking at me from inside the clay hole. It was quite tricky to get the light to penetrate into the hole, as she had gone a little deeper inside by the time I had returned and I didn’t want to disturb her too much by going too close, so I cropped in and adjusted the highlights and shadows in the editing phase to create this image.

Urban Wildlife Night Dweller Urban Wildlife | Runner-up Kyle Moore Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Lowestoft, England While working on a project photographing foxes in the urban environment, I was drawn to this particular security hut because of the neon lighting. The fox was used to receiving handouts from the night security workers and would frequently come up to the windows, waiting for an easy meal. I set up my camera and used a wireless remote so as not to disturb the fox. A subtle flashgun was used to illuminate the ghostly shape as the fox approached some litter left by the main door.

Animal Behaviour The Fur Flew Animal Behaviour | Runner-up Sarah Darnell Brown hare (Lepus europaeus) Bintree, Norfolk, England It was an exciting start to my early morning when I was able to witness the agility and effort of a pair of hares boxing. They were so close that I could hear the puffs and pants as they performed in front of me. As the activity became more intense, fur was lost, and I loved how it stayed on top of the hare’s head throughout this frenetic time. So intent were they to win the battle of wills they ignored my presence lying on the ground in plain sight.

Overall Winner - British Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Black & White A Toad Swims Across Its Woodland Pond British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and Black & White Winner Paul Hobson Toad (Bufo bufo) Sheffield, England I am lucky to have a pond close to my house that has relatively clear water, especially in late winter and early spring before the algae starts to grow. Toads use this pond to breed in and I decided I wanted to try to capture an image looking up from the bottom of the pond. To try to do this I built a glass box to house the camera and keep it dry. I had to add ballast to make sure it would sink and used old tripod legs glued to its sides to keep the box level. I worked out the depth the box would be and set the focus so that it would capture a toad, if one swam across the surface. I triggered the camera using an adapted long cable release. I had to wait quite a long time until a toad swam across the surface – most of them would usually swim below it and rest on the glass.

Animal Portraits Standing Tall Animal Portraits | Winner Alastair Marsh Pine marten (Martes martes) Ardnamurchan, Scotland I’ve been visiting Ardnamurchan in Scotland for 10 years now and it keeps me coming back. I visit every year in the hope of seeing pine martens. In the summer of 2024 I had one of my best visits up north with plenty of sightings, tempted by a small amount of peanuts I left out each evening. Every so often this young male would stand up to get a better view above the heather in front of him.

Overall Winner - YOUNG BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Feathery Pillow Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and 15-17 Years Winner Ben Lucas Mute swan (Cygnus olor) Hornchurch, England This was such an adorable moment to witness. A whole family of mute swans swam up to me as I was quietly sitting on the bank of a beautiful lake. They all lay down for a rest right beside me. The five newly hatched cygnets curled up together in a fluffy grey bundle and I captured this photo as one lay its little head on the back of its sibling. Nature can often be so cruel, but tender moments like this warm my heart!

Botanical Britain Slime Moulds and a Water Droplet Botanical Britain | Winner Barry Webb Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) South Buckinghamshire, England These 1mm-tall Lamproderma scintillans were found on a tiny fragment of wood, on a very wet woodchip pile. When the water droplet evaporated on the two fruiting bodies on the right, they dried out and reverted to their original blue colour. It is thought that the iridescent surface of these fruiting bodies may act as a water repellent in order to protect the spores within the sporocarp. A total of 87 shots were focus bracketed and then focus stacked to create the final image.

Animal Behaviour Nemesis Animal Behaviour | Winner Mark Parker Sparrowhawk and juvenile starling (Accipiter nisus and Sturnus vulgaris) Royston, Hertfordshire, England Because the sparrowhawk had never gone to ground before on previous visits to the garden and not knowing how long it would stay, I just wanted to get an image to record the event before then concentrating on my settings. The story I think the image portrays, is evident in the eye contact between the two subjects and the vice-like grip they have on each other, however, the eye contact and grip of the juvenile starling is out of pure fear whilst that of its nemesis is one of dominance and relief in finally catching a much needed meal.

Coast & Marine Glowing Bright Coast & Marine | Winner James Lynott Spiny squat lobster (Galathea strigosa) Inveraray, Loch Fyne, Scotland A spiny squat lobster captured fluorescing during a night dive in Loch Fyne, in November 2024. Image taken using two Sea&Sea YS01-Solis strobes with Nightsea excitation filters. A FireDiveGear gel barrier filter was used behind the 8mm fisheye lens.

Animal Portraits Through the Lavender Animal Portraits | Runner-up Felix Belloin Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Richmond, England In summer 2024, I had an unexpected visit from a neighbourhood fox who decided to come by my garden. Probably attracted by the commotion around the bird feeder, she sat on the lawn and allowed me to get close. I grabbed a medium telephoto lens with a very wide aperture and took her portrait through a gap in the lavender. Later in June, after multiple visits, and considering the prevalence of mange in my area, I decided to get a mange deterrent from the National Fox Welfare Society, which I administered to her in a small portion of cat food!

Wild Woods Beams of Brightness Wild Woods | Winner Mark Richardson Bushy Park, London, England This photograph was taken at dawn on a frosty winter’s morning in South East England, just as the sunlight broke through the canopy of the woodlands. Using a telephoto lens, I framed the scene with a reasonably close crop to give a sense of energy and atmosphere to the emerging, dramatic light, and to emphasise the golden halo created around the tree in the centre of the image.

27. Februar 2021,00:15

Newsletter

Von Gesundheit bis Fotografie Abonnieren Sie jetzt Ihren Lieblings-Newsletter von GEO

Nerven übertragen Signale über elektrische Impulse – etwa die Information, dass im Körper etwas schmerzt

Migräne bis Rückenleiden Wie Strom sanft Schmerzen lindern kann

Gezeichneter Blick auf den Innenhof einer prächtigen Moschee

Weltreich im Wandel Vom alten Persien bis heute: Den Iran verstehen in 87 Jahreszahlen

Illustration eines aufgeschnittenen Kopfes, aus dem viele Elemente purzeln

Produktivität So arbeiten Sie mit dem Kopf statt gegen ihn

Mandy Mangler in Berlin

Gynäkologin Mandy Mangler "Sex mit Orgasmus ist gesünder als ohne"

Das ländliche Schweden dient Lindgren – hier 1952 fotografiert – für viele ihrer Geschichten als Schauplatz

Biografie Astrid Lindgren: Im Herzen immer Bullerbü

Frau umarmt weissen flauschigen Hund vor schwarzem Hintergrund

Mitfühlende Wesen Kranker Mensch, kranker Hund? Wie unser Seelenleid Vierbeiner belasten kann

Foto einer Teenagerin, die mit Make-Up experimentiert

Pubertät bei Mädchen Zu früh in einem anderen Körper

Jederzeit können sich Paare heute über Kontinente hinweg sehen, sprechen und schreiben. Das führt zur "digitalen Eifersucht". Wer nicht reagiert, löst beim Partner womöglich Misstrauen aus

Partnersuche Wie kluges Online-Dating in langfristige Beziehungen führt

Treffen Sonnenteilchen auf die Erdatmosphäre, regen sie in hohen Schichten Gasmoleküle zum Leuchten an: Stickstoff strahlt blau oder violett, Sauerstoff rötlich, in niedrigen Höhen auch grün. Als im Januar 2026 Polarlichter selbst über Welzheim (Baden-Württemberg) am Nachthimmel tanzen, steckt hinter dem außergewöhnlichen Spektakel ein heftiger Sonnensturm

Sonnenstürme Polarlichter über Deutschland – schön, aber auch bedrohlich?

Resiliente Kinder erleben sich als wirksam: Wer spürt, dass er etwas kann, wächst an sich selbst

Erziehung Resilienz ist lernbar: Wie Kinder seelisch stark werden

Zwei Pferde als Gespann ziehen einen VW - Kleinbus

Ölkrise 1973 Ausgebremst im Ölrausch: Als Deutschland der Sprit ausging

Unsere Gedanken entscheiden darüber, ob wir gestresst sind oder nicht. Stressmindernde Gedanken lassen sich trainieren

Stress reduzieren Wie wir die innere Haltung verändern – und Gelassenheit finden

Detail einer Grapefruit unter Wasser

Von Muskeln bis Libido Wie Ihre Ernährung den Testosteronspiegel beeinflusst

Ein junger Mann mit blauben Augen blickt in die Kamera. Er trägt einen gelben Helm

Bergbau Unter Sardinien ruht ein Schatz. Europa braucht ihn

Willst du ein Brötchen? Lieber eine Banane? Oder doch die Knabber-Erdbeeren? Schon die Kleinsten dürfen entscheiden – auch, wenn sie ihre Meinung oft drei Sekunden später ändern

Demokratische Erziehung Was Kinder mitbestimmen sollten – und welche Entscheidungen sie überfordern

Die Versuchsanlage Wendelstein 7-X in Greifswald erschafft leistungsstarke Plasmen. Auch wegen ihr träumt die Bundesregierung von einer Weltmarktführerschaft im Bereich Kernfusion

Energie der Zukunft Kommt die Kernfusion? So realistisch ist der Traum vom Sonnenfeuer

Illustration eines Kopfes umgeben von Sonnenschein und Schmetterlingen

Psychologie Die Kraft der Manifestation: Wie positive Gedanken unser Schicksal beeinflussen

Tanzendes Paar

Hirnforschung Wie uns Tanzen klüger und gesünder macht

Mehr zum Thema

05. März 2026,09:10

Quiz

Fotowettbewerb: So wild ist Großbritannien: Die besten Tieraufnahmen von der Insel

Verhaltensforschung Tierisch schlau: Kennen Sie die Tricks der Tiere?

25. Februar 2026,11:17

36 Sek.

Australien: Forschende filmen erstmals, wie ein Seelöwen-Baby das Jagen von der Mutter lernt

Australien Forschende filmen erstmals, wie ein Seelöwen-Baby das Jagen von der Mutter lernt

23. Februar 2026,10:17

Fliegende Hummel

Flugkünstler Wie Hummeln mithilfe eines eingebauten "Ventilators" der Hitze trotzen

20. Februar 2026,16:44

Elefantenherde in der Steppe in Kenia

Evolution Die Erfindung der Familie

13. Februar 2026,09:29

Ein Elefantenrüssel über einer Wasseroberfläche

Dickhäuter mit Feingefühl Tausend Tasthaare: Forscher lüften das Rätsel des Elefantenrüssels

12. Februar 2026,17:00

45 Sek.

Je schneller, desto attraktiver: Frühlingsgefühle bei Fröschen: Paarungsrufe passen sich dem Wetter an

Je schneller, desto attraktiver Frühlingsgefühle bei Fröschen: Paarungsrufe passen sich dem Wetter an

10. Februar 2026,17:51

Wildschwein schaut aus dem Unterholz mit aufmerksamen Augen

Draußen unterwegs Wenn es im Wald nach Maggi riecht, sollten Sie vorsichtig sein

06. Februar 2026,17:36

Bonobo-Affe

Verhaltensbiologie So tun, als ob: Auch Affen haben Fantasie

29. Januar 2026,15:03

Tintenfisch-Männchen

Balzverhalten Tintenfische flirten schillernd gemustert