The Bird Photographer of the Year competition has announced its 2022 winners, an amazing collection of scenics, portraits, and close-ups – all featuring our gorgeous feathered friends.
The contest received thousands of entrants, all vying for the “Bird Photographer of the Year” title and its £5000 award. Ultimately, the grand prize went to Erlend Haarberg for his magnificent image, Rock Ptarmigan Flight:
Haarberg shared the story behind the shot, which was taken in Norway: “On this particular winter day, I was on my way to a mountain top by Tysfjorden to photograph landscapes. I had almost reached the summit when I spotted some ptarmigan tracks crisscrossing between the rocks, where the wind had uncovered some sparse vegetation. From behind a rock, a small head appeared, and seconds later it took to the wing with the mountains and fjord landscape in the background, setting the scene perfectly.”
Several dozen additional photographers received awards across a handful of categories, including “Best Portrait,” “Bird Behavior,” “Black and White,” and “Creative Imagery.” BPOTY also handed out a “Young Bird Photographer of the Year” award, as well as a Portfolio award, a Conservation award, and a Video award.
Winners took home a slew of prizes from competition sponsors, including Swarovski binoculars, Zenfolio websites, F-Stop Gear backpacks, and Olympus equipment. And thanks to the competition’s success, BPOTY was able to give thousands of pounds to Birds on the Brink, a charity that “function[s] as a voice for the embattled avian world and actively speak[s] out for the benefit of birds and conservation in general.”
We’ve included several of the awarded photos below, and you can see the full set of breathtaking winners on the BPOTY website. Be sure to also check out the Bird Photographer of the Year 2022 publication, a beautiful coffee-table book featuring the winning photos.
One final note: Avid bird photographers should consider taking part in next year’s competition; it’s currently open for entries, and you can register here. The cost is very affordable (10 images for £25), and under-18s can submit images to the Young Bird Photographer of the Year competition free of charge.
Do you have a favorite bird image from the competition? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
