Competition 2026

Hanneke Van Camp is a Belgian nature photographer whose life and work are shaped by her connection with the natural world. With a background in biology and science communication, she approaches photography with curiosity, respect, and a sense of place. Drawn to northern landscapes, she spends as much time outdoors as possible, being inspired by light, weather, and seasonal changes. Her work invites viewers to slow down, connect with the landscape, and develop a greater appreciation for the natural world we are part of - and responsible for protecting.

Isabel lebt im Baskenland und ist Meeresbiologin und leidenschaftliche Fotografin, die sich auf Landschaften und Naturdetails spezialisiert hat. Die Kreativität ihrer Vision verwischt die Grenze zwischen der dokumentarischen und der abstrakten Darstellung der Natur. Dadurch sind ihre Bilder von einer gewissen Mystik durchdrungen, die beim Betrachter Fragen aufwirft. Ihr unverwechselbarer Stil verbindet Zartheit und Energie.
Isabel ist eine vielfach ausgezeichnete Fotografin, Dozentin, Workshopleiterin und Autorin von zwei Fotobüchern: Between Tides (2021) und At the edge of the tides (2009). Sie nahm am Projekt Objetivo Pura Vida der spanischen Botschaft in Costa Rica teil, um die außergewöhnliche Artenvielfalt dieses Landes zu porträtieren, und war von 2011 bis 2014 Chefredakteurin der Zeitschrift IRIS des spanischen Verbandes der Naturfotografen (Aefona). Ihre Arbeiten wurden in Spanien und anderen Ländern ausgestellt und sind Teil privater und öffentlicher Projekte. Außerdem wird sie als Jurymitglied zu renommierten internationalen Fotowettbewerben wie Montphoto, Asferico und Europäischer Naturfotograf des Jahres eingeladen.

Thierry Vezon is a French photographer living in the South of France. He takes many pictures in Provence, Camargue and the Cévennes. He is also attracted by the icy climes and snow-covered landscapes of the far north with most of his work taking place in Arctic regions. His images hold a strong artistic aesthetic, focusing on quiet moments of beauty. Thierry’s mission is to communicate the emotional impact that wildlife landscapes have on him through his pictures. Specialising in aerial and landscape photography, he regularly works with environmental associations in a bid to raise awareness about the natural world. He is also an accomplished bird photographer, seeking to capture moments of stillness in their frenetic worlds. His work is published regularly in French and international magazines including Terre Sauvage, Nat’Images, GEO, Naturfoto and BBC Wildlife Magazine. Thierry has published 20 books on biodiversity and the art of nature, and his work is exhibited in nature photo festivals and galleries around Europe.

Tom Gilks is Managing Director and Head of Content at Nature Picture Library (NPL), a specialist agency representing leading wildlife and natural history photographers and videographers, based in Bristol, UK. He oversees the curation and licensing of visual content for major international publications and commercial clients.
Previously, Tom spent nine years as Picture and Video Editor at BBC Wildlife Magazine. He holds a degree in ecology and has worked across several picture agencies as well as freelancing as a picture researcher. He spent three years based in East Africa working as a photographer with NGOs. Tom is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP).

Jon A. Juárez is a photographer and filmmaker with a strong focus on conservation and the human stories behind environmental change. He is a staff photographer and filmmaker at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz IZW), where he contributes to international conservation and research projects, including initiatives such as BioRescue and GAIA.
Jon collaborates regularly with NGOs such as Rewilding Europe, documenting rewilding efforts and biodiversity restoration across different landscapes.
Deeply committed to environmental education, he has led and participated in educational and outreach projects since 2015, using photography and film as tools to foster connection, understanding, and responsibility toward nature. He is a full member of the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT).
His work has been awarded in several competitions, including the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, published in a wide range of media (such as The Guardian, BBC, National Geographic and GEO), and showcased in numerous exhibitions, including the Zeiss Major Planetarium in Berlin.

Viktoria Pezzei is a German-Ukrainian photojournalist based in Munich, Germany, whose work explores the complex relationships between people, wildlife, and place. She focuses on underrepresented stories in wildlife conservation, highlighting the intersection of ecological research and local communities. Viktoria is an Emerging League Photographer with the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) and a member of Women Photograph and the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT e.V.). Her visual stories have been published among others in the BBC Wildlife magazine and seen in solo and group exhibitions, including at Les Rencontres d’Arles.

Jon A. Juárez is a nature photographer with great interest in human stories. He has mainly developed his photography in Scandinavia and Germany, using his expertise to promote conservation projects and raise awareness about climate change. He currently collaborates with the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), and is involved in projects like BioRescue and the GAIA initiative. A full member of Germany’s Society for Nature Photographers (GDT), he has displayed his work at several exhibitions in Germany and Spain. His pictures have been awarded internationally, most recently winning the photojournalism category in Wildlife Photographer of the Year and is 2025’s winner of the Rewilding Europe Award.