Subscribe here for an ad-free experience!

The Phoblographer may receive affiliate compensation for products purchased using links in this article. For more information, please visit our Disclaimers page.

News

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award Preview: The Gear Powering the World’s Best Shots

Nilofer Khan
No Comments
Last updated on 08/25/2025
08/26/2025
4 Mins read
Two cheetahs hold a gazelle in their mouths, standing close together against a white background.
Spread the love
          

The prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award is back with its 61st edition, and this year, too, it promises to showcase nature’s splendor. Today, the award is sharing a glimpse of what is in store for the upcoming ceremony and what we can expect from the platform yet again. For those who have loved wildlife photography or the wild, this is a great moment to take in what Mother Nature offers us year after year. Without further ado, here’s a look at the photographers and their exciting gear.

The lead image is courtesy of Marina Cano and Wildlife Photographer of the Year. All images have been used with permission.

Organised by the Natural History Museum, London, this year’s awards received a staggering 60,636 entries from around the world. Experts in wildlife photography, filmmaking, science, and conservation judged the images anonymously on their creativity, originality, and technical excellence.

The Gear Talk

With a small section of participating images showcased, we took a quick look at the gear used to capture these dynamic and awe-inspiring images. The cameras include:

If we break down the cameras, we have five Nikon cameras, three from Canon, and one each from Fujifilm, Sony, and DJI. Since this is a small selection from a large pool, we will have to see which company has a better number later on.

However, interestingly, we have seen a fair number of DSLRs, with entries such as the D750, D810, D850, and EOS 5D Mark IV making it to the list. In fact, the D750 and the D810 were launched in 2014, making them the oldest cameras on the list. There are also a fair number of full frames this time, with Fujifilm and DJI perhaps being the only smaller sensor cameras. While many wildlife photographers prefer smaller sensors to get a greater reach, it seems that trend is somewhat changing.

Now, coming to lenses. Here is a look at what was used:

Yet again, we see more Nikon lenses, followed by Canon and Tamron. Surprisingly, no Sony lens made it to the list this time, despite the company having some exceptional models. There is, however, one of the oldest lenses that caught our attention, Nikonos RS 13mm f2.8, which was launched in 1963, and it continues to be a prime choice for anyone shooting in challenging environments.

In addition, it must be noted that zoom lenses outnumber prime lenses. You see a title of 8 different zooms, ranging from mid-standard to super telephoto. However, only 6 prime lenses have made it to the list. One reason is that a zoom lens gives wildlife photographers a better opportunity and flexibility to find the composition they desire, which is not possible with a prime, especially when you are on a safari.

Preview of Images

Ralph Pace, USA

Highly Commended, Underwater

A large jellyfish swims among many smaller jellyfish in vibrant green water.
Jelly Smack Summer, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Nikon D850 + 28–70mm f3.5–4.5 lens; 1/5 at f13; ISO 125; Nauticam housing; 2x Sea & Sea strobes

Marina Cano, Spain

Highly Commended, Behaviour: Mammals

Two cheetahs stand close together; one holds a captured antelope in its mouth against a white background.
Deadly Lessons, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Canon EOS R3 + 600mm f4 lens; 1/1250 at f8; ISO 6400

Amit Eshel, Israel

Highly Commended, Animal Portraits

Five white wolves walk across a snowy, white landscape under an overcast sky.
Inside the Pack, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Canon EOS R5 + 24–105mm f4 lens; 1/1250 at f11; ISO 2000

Sitaram Raul, India

Highly Commended, Urban Wildlife

Several bats fly inside a dark, stone structure, with one bat prominently lit in the foreground.
Nature Reclaims Its Space, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Nikon D750 + 24–120mm f4 lens; 1/250 at f8; ISO 800; Godox TT685 flash

Jassen Todorov, USA

Highly Commended, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture

Aerial view of salt ponds reflecting golden clouds, intersected by roads and industrial equipment.
Clouds of Gold, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Nikon D810 + 70–200mm f2.8 lens at 70mm; 1/400 at f2.8; ISO 280

Bertie Gregory, UK

Highly Commended, Animals in their Environment

A large group of penguins stands on the edge of a vast icy cliff above cracked sea ice under a cloudy sky.
Ice Edge Journey,courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: DJI Mavic 3 Pro + Hasselblad L2D-20c 24mm f2.8 lens; 1/50 at f3.5; ISO 100

Parham Pourahmad, USA

Highly Commended, 11 – 14 Years

A coyote peers over its bushy tail, which curves in front of its face against a blurred tan background.
A Tale of Two Coyotes, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Nikon Z8 + 180–600mm f5.6–6.3 lens at 600mm; 1/1250 at f6.3; ISO 800

Lakshitha Karunarathna, Sri Lanka

Highly Commended, Photojournalism

A dog stands alone amid a vast expanse of colorful plastic waste and debris.
Toxic Tip, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: DJI Mavic 3 Pro + Hasselblad L2D-20c 24mm f2.8 lens; 1/320 at f4 (0 e/v); ISO 200

Kesshav Vikram, India

Highly Commended, 11–14 Years

A bear walks by a lake with a misty mountain and a flying bird in the background, in black and white.
Essence of Kamchatka, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Nikon Z8 + 100–400mm f4.5–5.6 lens at 100mm; 1/4000 at f4.5 (+0.3 e/v); ISO 1000; beanbag

Emmanuel Tardy, France

Highly Commended, Urban Wildlife

A sloth clings to a pole beside a barbed-wire fence in a grassy, rural landscape under a partly cloudy sky.
No Place Like Home, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + Sigma 24mm f1.4 lens; 1/1600 at f7.1 (+0.33 e/v); ISO 800

If the shortlisted images have excited you, wait until you see the winners. The category victors and the winners of the Grand Title and Young Grand Title awards will be revealed on October 4, 2025, at a ceremony hosted at the Natural History Museum. You can catch the live ceremony on the Museum’s YouTube page. Following this, there will also be an exhibition of the winning images from October 17, 2025, to July 12, 2026, at the Natural History Museum, London. For more information, head to their website.

'
0