A herd of charging musk ox, a lone pelican in a snow storm and a gorgeous coiled snake all win prizes in this year’s Nature Photographer of the Year.

By BBC Wildlife Magazine

Published: Thursday, 07 December 2023 at 07:25 AM


The results of the Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 competition, presented by Nature Talks, are in. This year’s winner is Jacquie Matechuk from Canada, with her stunning shot entitled ‘Spectacled Bear’.

“The Spanish moss hanging from this centuries-old fig tree gives an incredible sense of three-dimensionality while the soft light filtering through the colors highlights the profound connection between species and habitat in this image,” said jury chairman Marco Gaiotti.

“Finally, the pose of this spectacled bear fits perfectly into the texture of the photograph.”

Capturing this incredible image was no small feat, revealed Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 winner Jacquie Matechuk: “Spanning more than 8,000km, the Andean Mountain range occupies more than a quarter of the land surface in Ecuador. Rich in biodiversity, it’s also home to a unique species called the Spectacled Bear.

“Until planning this trip, I knew nothing about them. But as a certified bear guide, I was excited to expand my knowledge and understanding of a new species and to compare behavior and their interactions to those of our grizzly, polar, black, and brown bears.

“As we drove from Quito to the Andean mountains, through villages and farming communities, the extraordinary conditions and fertility of this land were inescapable. Hours of winding roads and stunning landscapes later, we pulled into a small community where we were greeted by a local farmer/guide. A gentle-natured man who’s worked tirelessly for decades to observe, learn, and advocate for this endangered species. His family’s hospitality reaching far beyond opening his home, opened a door to a whole new world.

“For 11 days at roughly 8,000 feet above sea level, we hiked vertical paths up and down the canyon walls, trekking through creeks, ducking out of torrential downpours, and often clambering through mud to observe these beautiful bears. In their natural habitat and with our guide’s intimate knowledge of each bear, we were quickly accepted by them. We kept a respectful distance to ensure their comfort and it paid off in spades. They would nurse, fall asleep, cuddle, forage, and play, seemingly more oblivious to our presence with each passing encounter. 

“In this image, Tony (a large male spectacled bear), and frequent traveler through these parts had climbed into a century-old fig tree seeking refuge from the midday sun. It was draped in Spanish moss, gently swaying with each breath inhaled and exhaled by the canyon walls. He sauntered effortlessly across a burly branch and sat peacefully against the tree’s trunk. When a gentle rain began to fall across the valley, he stood and turned to look up as though embracing the cool moisture on his speckled face. And for a fleeting moment, the warmth of muted sunlight falls across his face as ‘He Looks to the Heavens’.” 

Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 winners

He Looks to the Heavens – Jacquie Matechuk (Overall Winner)

He Looks to the Heavens (winner, c2, mammals)/Credit: Jacquie Matechuk, NPOTY 2023

The Charge, David Gibbon

NPOTY photo contest 2023
The Charge (runner up – c9 – black and white)/Credit: David Gibbon, NPOTY 2023

Green Triplets, Johan de Ridder

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Green Triplets (runner up – c11 – lage landen)/Credit: Johan de Ridder, NPOTY 2023

Follow the Leader, Torie Hilley

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Follow the Leader (highly commended – c2 – mammals)/Credit: Torie Hilley, NPOTY 2023

Iceforms Around Pine Island, Magnus Reneflot

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Iceforms Around Pine Island (highly commended – c5 – landscape)/Credit: Magnus Reneflot, NPOTY 2023

Black and Green, Filippo Carugati

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Black and Green (highly commended – c7 – nature art)/Credit: Filippo Carugati, NPOTY 2023

Spider in Frame, Minghui Yuan

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Spider in Frame (runner up – c3- other animals)/Credit: Minghui Yuan, NPOTY 2023

Volcano Eruption, Litauszki Tibor

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Volcano Eruption (highly commended – c4 – plants and fungi)/Credit: Litauszki Tibor, NPOTY 2023

Wolf and Iceberg, Christophe Vasselin

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Wolf and Iceberg (highly commended – c2 – mammals)/Credit: Christophe Vasselin, NPOTY 2023

Sunset, Jens Lax

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Sunset (runner up – c5 – landscape)/Credit: Jens Lax, NPOTY 2023

Pike, Luc Rooman

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Pike (highly commended – c6 – underwater)/Credit: Luc Rooman, NPOTY 2023

Pelican Storm, Alessandro Beconi

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Pelican Storm (highly commended – c10 – animal portraits)/Credit: Alessandro Beconi, NPOTY 2023

Invisible Brookesia, Petr Bambousek

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Invisible Brookesia (highly commended – c3 – other animals)/Credit: Petr Bambousek, NPOTY 2023

Imaginary Creatures, Gabriele Mannelli

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Imaginary Creatures (highly commended – c4 – plants and fungi)/Credit: Gabriele Mannelli, NPOTY 2023

Dancing in the Moonlight, Andrea Michelutti

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Dancing in the Moonlight (highly commended – c6 – underwater)/Credit: Andrea Michelutti, NPOTY 2023

Balam, the endangered king of the Mayan jungle, Fernando Constantino Martínez Belmar

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Balam, the endangered king of the Mayan jungle (portfolio – c13)/Credit: Fernando Constantino Martínez Belmar

Heads or Tails, Jodi Frediani

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Heads or Tails (winner – c9 – black and white)/Credit: Jodi Frediani, NPOTY 2023

Inferno, Radomir Jakubowski

NPOTY photo contest 2023
Inferno (highly commended- C5 – landscape)/Credit: Radomir Jakubowski, NPOTY 2023

The Ethereal Mist of the Wicker, Juan Lucas (Pixelecta)

NPOTY photo contest 2023
The Ethereal Mist of the Wicker (runner up – c7 – nature art)/Credit: Juan Lucas (Pixelecta), NPOTY 2023

Find out more about the Nature Photographer of the Year