{
  "id": 9031775,
  "title": "These stunning award-winning images showcase the very best of bird photography!",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/these-stunning-award-winning-images-showcase-the-very-best-of-bird",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T23:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Amateur Photographer",
    "slug": "amateur-photographer",
    "url": "https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/photo-news/these-stunning-award-winning-photographs-showcase-the-very-best-of-bird-photography/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the 2026 edition of the prestigious Bird Photographer of the Year competition, Henley Spiers of the United Kingdom emerged as the grand prize winner with his awe-inspiring photograph of a northern gannet. This triumph was achieved amidst a staggering entry of over 24,000 images from photographers worldwide. The competition, now in its 12th cycle, invites participants of all skill levels to submit their best bird photography.\n\nSpiers' photograph, titled \"Sunball Rocket,\" earned him the Gold Award in the Birds in the Environment category, as well as the title of Overall Bird Photographer of the Year 2026. The image captures a northern gannet exhibiting its dualistic nature - nurturing its young on the nest and displaying fierce hunting instincts in flight. Spiers described the gannets' hunting technique as a remarkable display of precision and speed, diving into the water at speeds of up to 86km/h.\n\nAnother notable winner was 16-year-old Parham Pourahmad from the United States, who secured the title of Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2026. Pourahmad's winning photograph, \"Moonlit Night,\" depicts a great horned owl perched against a full moon in a park near his home. The young photographer captured the moment by shifting his focus from photographing the owls to capturing the moon, resulting in a truly enchanting image.\n\nThe competition featured eight categories for adult photographers, including Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, Conservation (Single Image), and Creative Perspectives. The youth competition also offered three categories, and both adult and youth winners received Gold Awards. The competition emphasized the importance of authenticity in photography, with Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year, stating that people value real stories and genuine connections with nature.",
  "summary": "The 2026 Bird Photographer of the Year winners are in! Take a look at the amazing photographs The post These stunning award-winning images showcase the very best of bird photography! appeared first on Amateur Photographer .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}