BPOTY - Celebrating the best images from Australia
With entries from photographers based in 63 countries around the world, Bird Photographer of the Year is developing true global appeal. One of the highlights of 2019 was the growing strength and quality of the entries from photographers based in Australia, celebrated here in our latest blog.
Top of the success pile is Georgina Steytler from Western Australia, a regular BPOTY entrant who has tasted prize-winning success in the competition previously. This image of a Welcome Swallow entitled ‘The Hunt’ simply wowed the judges in Birds in Flight and claimed our Silver Award in this category for 2019.
This image of a Welcome Swallow won photographer Georgina Steytler our Silver Award in the Birds in Flight category. ©Georgina Steytler
Diana Andersen received an Honourable Mention from the judges in our Attention to Detail category for this close up image of an Australian Pelican with a feather stuck to its bill.
An Honorable Mention in our Attention to Detail category is Diana Andersen’s reward for this image of a feather stuck to the bill of an Australian Pelican. ©Diana Andersen
Receiving commendations from the judges are Heather Thorning, Gary Meredith, David Stowe, Ian Kowald, Lea Scaddan and Theresa Pitter. The images are shown below.
Heather Thorning was awarded a Commendation from the judges for this image of Pink-eared Ducks in the Bird Behaviour category. Heather also received a further Commendation for an image of mating Fairy Terns in the Bird Behaviour category. ©Heather Thorning
Gary Meredith entered this image of Zebra Finches into the Garden and Urban Birds category and picked up a Commendation from the judges. ©Gary Meredith
Theresa Pitter receives a Commendation in the Best Portrait category for this rather comical image of an Australian Shelduck entitled ‘Put your left leg in and shake it all about’. ©Theresa Pitter.
A Commendation from the judges was David Stowe’s reward in the Best Portrait category for this photograph of Silver Gulls entitled ‘The Conversation’. ©David Stowe
Ian Kowald was Commended for this photograph of a Blue-faced Honeyeater entered into the Garden and Urban Birds category. ©Ian Kowald
Lea Scaddan received a total of three Commendations for her entries into the competition including this image of Galahs at a drinking trough. ©Lea Scaddan
BPOTY director and competition coordinator Rob Read comments ‘The standard of entries this year was by far the strongest we have received since the competition began four years ago. The photographs represented in this collection from our Australian photographers bear testament to the stunning quality of the entries BPOTY is attracting. The BPOTY team can’t wait to see what 2020 will bring from this part of the world.’
Bird Photographer of the Year 2020 is currently open for entries, closing on 30th November 2019. The competition has its own dedicated entry system this year and you can register an account and upload your images via the entry portal here.