Two images awarded in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Awards
‘The Final Twist’ by David Lloyd: Awarded in the Animal Portrait category of The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards 2023
Today I have some exciting news to share. I’m delighted to finally be able to reveal that, for the first time, I’ve been awarded in two categories in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Awards - the most prestigious wildlife photography awards in the world.
Last night, at the prize-giving ceremony of these annual awards, held at The Natural History Museum in London, my images were awarded in both the ‘Animal Portraits’ and ‘Mammal Behaviour’ categories.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023
If you’ve followed my work for a while, you may already know that I’ve previously achieved titles at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards; in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2018. It is very exciting to now be able to add 2023 to that list, and particularly to have been awarded twice in 2023.
It goes without saying that since The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award is the ultimate accolade for any photographer in this genre, it’s hugely humbling to be shortlisted and to be awarded in two categories.
This year is the 59th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. It is a competition that has been recognising the world's best nature photography every year since 1965.
‘Getting A Head Start’ by David Lloyd: Awarded in the Mammal Behaviour category of The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Awards
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023: Portfolio 33
My two images will now be featured in the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Book (Portfolio 33), which is the annual portfolio book created to coincide with the announcement of the award winners and finalists.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 33 will feature just 100 images from the almost 50,000 entries that were entered into the competition by wildlife photographers from around the world. You can purchase a copy online from the usual book retailers.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition 2023
Coinciding with the publication of this annual portfolio book is a touring exhibition, now run and owned by the Natural History Museum, London.
So, as well as being featured in the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year book, my images will also feature in this exhibition. You can purchase Wildlife Photographer of the Year tickets via the official website and visit it for yourself.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards
‘Animal Portraits’ category winner
So which of my Wildlife Photographer of the Year entries were the awarded images, you might wonder?
Well, it was this image, ‘The Final Twist’, shown above, that won the title within the Animal Portraits category.
Here’s an extract from the book, Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2023 (Portfolio 33), about this image:
“Death came quickly for the luckless wildebeest in the unrelenting jaws of a spotted hyena. The prey went down, and in an instant, the rest of the hyena clan were on the spot.
Death happened within a minute. Though spotted hyaenas are most often observed scavenging, they are accomplished clan hunters, killing a large proportion of the food they consume and capable of chasing prey over long distances.
Not expecting the action to come so close to his vehicle, stationary in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, David had a long lens on his camera. As the animals thrashed about, he struggled to keep them both in frame and to create a composition, using black and white to accentuate the shapes of the two animals and to add texture to the drama.
The wildebeest’s eyes seemed to express horror,’ says David, ‘though I think it was more in shock than in pain and awareness of its certain demise.’
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards
‘Mammal Behaviour’ category winner
It was this image, ‘Getting A Head’, shown below, that won the title within the Mammal Behaviour category.
Again, here’s an extract from the book, Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Portfolio 33:
“Bearing its prize like a gruesome mask, a spotted hyena breaks away from its clan’s feeding frenzy on a plains zebra. David was ready – camera on an inverted monopod, held low in the grass out of the window of his vehicle – anticipating which way the hyena would canter with its trophy. Proficient hunters, as well as scavengers, a scrum of spotted hyenas can devour a zebra in less than half an hour. Their jaws are powerful, and their stomachs can digest bones, even large skulls. Their droppings are so mineral-rich that they are chalky white. David’s challenge was to create a memorable image of a familiar species in a much-photographed location – Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The low angle helped separate out his subject, while using black and white highlighted the striking combination of shapes, spots and stripes. The steely eye contact seemed to say to him ‘mind your own business’.”
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Competition
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards is the most highly regarded international wildlife photography competition in the world.
It’s an absolute joy to have had success in the 2023 awards again this year and to be recognised among the very best in the wildlife photography industry.
Related: Wildlife photography awards
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Prints
Fine art wildlife photography prints are available to purchase from my online store.
David
