Now in its fourth year, Bird Photographer of the Year is a global photography competition that celebrates avian beauty and diversity.
Black Friday – American Flamingos Bird Photographer of the Year 2018 Winner and Creative Imagery category winner Photo: Pedro Jarque Krebs, PeruBird Photographer of the Year 2018
With thousands of images entered for competition from more than 60 countries, the Bird Photographer Of The Year is the first of its kind dedicated exclusively to birds and the growing interest and passion for photographing them.
A robin snatches a worm: Winner in the Garden and Urban Birds Category Photo: Nikos Bukas, GreeceBird Photographer of the Year 2018
Black Skimmer: Bird Behavior category, Bronze Award Photo: Thomas Chadwick, USABird Photographer of the Year
Red-necked Phalarope: Best Portrait category winner Photo: Saverio Gatto, ItalyBird Photographer of the Year
Gannet flight – Northern Gannet: Best Portfolio category winner Photo: Petr Bambousek-Czech RepublicBPOTY
"Whether you are a hardened pro, a keen amateur with the latest kit, or simply a hobbyist with a camera-phone or small compact camera, there is an opportunity for you to have your pictures critiqued by leading experts, win prizes, appear in a stunning coffee table book and perhaps be on display in the travelling BPOTY exhibition," write the organizers.
The first prize of £5,000 went to Peruvian Pedro Jarque Krebs for his vibrant image of American Flamingos. "Black Friday is an image which is nothing short of explosive; it made an instant and lasting impression on a panel of judges who are determined to push the boundaries of perceived convention," said competition organizer and judge Rob Read. "This is photographic punk rock."
Grey Heron: Best Portrait category, Bronze Award winner Photo: Ivan Sjögren, SwedenBPOTY
Common Snipe: Best Portrait Silver Award winner Photo: Roelof Molenaar, NetherlandsBPOTY
Common Ostrich: Birds On The Environment category winner Photo: Salvador Colvée, SpainBPOTY
Ruddy Turnstones: Birds in the Environment Silver Award winner Photo: Mario Suárez Porraz, SpainBPOTY
Other prizes include money, camera equipment and travel vouchers. The competition is open to residents of any territory and to entrants of all ages who can participate in 8 categories and two additional special awards.
“Year Three of this competition proved to be a real treat for all the judges who struggled to make their way through thousands of fantastic images and whittle them down to the winners," said Read. “Bird Photographer of the Year 2018 attracted an impressive standard of photography."
The 2019 competition opened for entries on August 20 and will close on November 30, 2018.
Great Crested Grebe: Young Bird Photographer Of The Year category, Gold Award winner Photo: Johan Calberg, SwedenBPOTY
Little Egret: Birds in Flight category winner Photo: Sienna Anderson, U.K.BPOTY
Starling: Attention to Detail category Silver Award winner Photo: Alan Price, U.K.BPOTY