"It was almost impossible to keep the camera steady. In the remote Almirantazgo Sound, the biting cold, ever-changing light and unpredictable wind forced me to readjust my stance and refocus after every blast of photos" says award-winning photographer
With 14-year-old DSLR gear, this photographer braved Chile's challenges to capture a stunning Black-browed Albatross – and won a major prize
Wildlife photographer Rodrigo González Pairoa encountered considerable difficulties while photographing birds in Albatross Islet, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile. His prize-winning image of a Black-browed Albatross, captured using a DSLR camera from 14 years ago, claimed the top prize in the Birds Without Borders category of the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards.
The photographer recounted the challenges, stating, "It was almost impossible to keep the camera steady." In the harsh conditions of the remote Almirantazgo Sound, the cold, changing light and unpredictable wind required Pairoa to constantly readjust his stance and refocus after each burst of photographs. The albatross remained calm, allowing the photographer to approach it steadily.
Pairoa observed the bird tilting its head as if observing him with the same curiosity he displayed while photographing it. The moment was brief as the wind ceased, enabling Pairoa to fill the frame with the bird's face, showcasing the dark outline around its eye and the intricate texture of its plumage. The resulting photograph depicts a moment of silent, intimate connection with a species of the Southern Seas.
The photographer hopes the image will evoke a similar sense of closeness in viewers. The Black-browed Albatross is a relatively small and widespread species, breeding on islands in sub-Antarctic and southern oceans, and venturing as far south as the Antarctic and north to waters off Brazil and Australia. Notably, individuals from different nesting colonies tend to migrate to varying regions during the non-breeding season, with those from South Georgia Island generally moving to waters off southern Africa, while those from the Falkland Islands prefer the seas east of South America.
The Audubon Photography Awards celebrate photographers who highlight the beauty, challenges, and threats facing birds across Chile, Colombia, Canada, and the United States. The judges praised Pairoa's image for its abstract perspective and the skillful use of a simple background that did not distract from the albatross's intense gaze, which served as the focal point.
This 2026 Audubon Photography Award winner is among the best of the year's submissions, alongside other exceptional images. For those interested in wildlife photography and bird photography gear, as well as information about ongoing photo contests, additional resources are available.
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