Streetlights shine through the mist as two beavers touch noses, in a wetland on the edge of a building site in Olsztyn, Poland. Here's how Jan Wieczorek photographed this award-winning scene
His stunning monochrome image won the 2026 Rewilding Europe Award. Here's the story behind it.
In a wetland on the edge of a construction site in Olsztyn, Poland, urban rewilding took center stage in a remarkable photograph awarded the 2025 Rewilding Europe Award. Captured by Jan Wieczorek in 2025, the night scene showcases three beavers gathered nose-to-nose, surrounded by gnawed stumps and stripped branches, evidence of the beavers' engineering prowess.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of roads and railway lines, and with new housing projects sprouting up nearby, Wieczorek's image reveals that wildlife can flourish right next to human developments. Observing these beavers for over a decade, Wieczorek emphasizes the importance of such a scene, stating that nature doesn't always reside far from urban centers – it can thrive in the heart of cities.
His photographic approach involved a wide, low, and close framing, utilizing a Sony A7R III, a 16-35mm f/4 lens, a tripod, and an infrared sensor. The monochrome setting of ISO 1600 illuminated the misty backdrop, emphasizing the beavers and their environment. The image was selected as the winner of the Rewilding Europe Award, a prestigious category within the GDT's European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, highlighting the award's commitment to showcasing the harmonious coexistence of humans and wildlife.
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