Hippo hippo hurray: golden shot takes big prize
In a competition celebrating the diversity of life on Earth, the top shot looks like it belongs on another planet
From 50,000 images — showing unique windows into the wildlife of 95 different countries — the winners have been selected for one of the world’s most prestigious photography competitions. French marine biologist Laurent Ballesta has been named Wildlife Photographer of the Year for a second time. The winning photo, The golden horseshoe proved to be a lucky one. He is only the second photographer in the competition’s 59-year history to win more than once.
After taking the title in 2021, Ballesta won the coveted Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for 2023 with his photo of a rare tri-spined horseshoe joined by three golden trevally.
Jury chairwoman Kathy Moran described the crab as “hauntingly beautiful,” and something few people see in its natural habitat.
“We are looking at an ancient species, highly endangered, and also critical to human health. This photo is luminescent.”
Older than the dinosaurs, and unchanged in 100 million years, the species has blue copper blood that has been used for vaccine development. The strangelooking blood has an ingredient that pharmaceutical companies use to test vaccines for contamination, and in some parts of the world this has led the crabs to be driven close to extinction.
Israeli photographer Carmel Bechler was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for her snapshot of a pair of barn owls, illuminated in a roadside building.
Judges praised the many layers captured by the image of the hard-to-spot birds.
Moran said it covered topics of “habitat destruction” and “adaptation” perfectly.
“The natural world is all around us, even in places where we least expect it to be,” said the 17-year-old Bechler. “We just need to open our eyes and our minds.”
The two grand-title winners were chosen from 19 individual category winners.
Approaching its 60th year, the annual awards competition is held by the Natural History Museum in London and is the largest open photography competition of its kind.
Museum director Dr Doug Gurr said it was important not only to show untouched nature but the human impact on the living world.
“This year’s winning images present compelling evidence of our impact on nature — both positive and negative.”
The 59th Annual Wildlife Photographer of the Yearexhibition is now open at the museum in Kensington before going on a worldwide tour, including Auckland Museum from December 9 to April 29.
Submissions open on Monday for next year’s competition.