Gold Shot Photography Awards Winner Nature / Wildlife Category 2026

Yesterday I received the wonderful and unexpected news that I had been awarded the Gold Award and named the overall Nature/Wildlife Category Winner in the 2026 Golden Shot Photography Awards. I also won the Silver second-place award in the minimalist category.

This was my very first time entering these awards, so to receive this recognition is both incredibly humbling and deeply gratifying. I’m truly grateful to the judges for selecting my photograph from so many outstanding entries from photographers around the world. Awards are never the reason I head into the field, but they are a wonderful affirmation of the patience, persistence, and passion that go into creating meaningful wildlife photographs. I’m honoured that this image resonated so strongly with the judging panel, as it’s a photograph I have vivid memories of capturing only earlier this year.