Focus for Survival 2021
Congratulations to the 26 finalists.
The shortlist can be viewed here. The winners in all categories can be viewed here.
Winner of Bradt Focus for Survival Photographer of the Year 2021: Sam Wallace, Yin & Yang
Winner of Focus for Survival People’s Choice 2021: Paul McComb, Freeze!

Thank you to everyone who entered Focus for Survival. We received nearly 700 entries to this year’s competition with images representing a range of endangered species and at-risk wild spaces. There are poignant stories behind many of the images.
Our selection panel has been hard at work, narrowing down the entries to just 26 finalists. These images transport us to sixteen different countries around the world and gives us an intimate view both above ground and underwater. We hope you enjoy the images as much as we have!
Thank you to everyone who took part this year and many congratulations to all the photographers, detailed below:
Artur Stankiewicz
Dreaming Mama
Bwindi, Uganda
Wildlife CategoryTodor Tilev
Geese Take Flight at Lake Boora
Lough Boora, County Offaly, Ireland
Wild Space CategoryPrakash Ramakrishnan
Elephant Train
Western Ghats, India
Wild Space CategoryJulian Asher
Fearless Symmetry
Ol Jogi, Laikipia, Kenya
Wildlife CategoryAnuradha Marwah
A Brand New Day
Masai Mara, Kenya
Wildlife CategoryYves Guenot
Trio of Whales
Reunion, Indian Ocean
Wildlife Category
Bruce Missing
Strength in Struggle
Mala Mala, Greater Kruger, S.A
Wildlife CategoryPaul McCombe
Freeze!
Serengeti, Tanzania
Wildlife CategoryArtur Stankiewicz
Storm Over Serengeti
Serengeti, Tanzania
Wildlife CategoryYves Guenot
Reef Colours
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Wild Space CategoryGlyn Edmunds
Fatu the Northern White Rhino
Ol Pejeta, Kenya
Wildlife CategoryJulian Asher
Above The Fray
Sabi Sands, Greater Kruger, S.A
Wildlife CategorySeverin Poehlmann
Chimpanzee
Kibale, Uganda
Wildlife CategoryK.Berry
Dragon's Blood Tree
Socotra, Yemen
Wild Space CategoryCelia Kujala
Two Inquisitive Friends
Essex Rocks, Western Australia
Wildlife CategorySam Wallace
Yin & Yang
Volcanoes NP, Rwanda
Wildlife CategoryDan Shipp
Hot Panic
Vanua Levu, Fiji
Wild Space CategoryArtur Stankiewicz
Magic of Mana
Mana Pools, Zimbabwe
Wild Space CategoryYves Guenot
Clown and White Anemone
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Wild Space CategorySam Wallace
The Stare of Extinction
Kalahari, Botswana
Wildlife CategoryCharlotte Fawkes
Zulu
UK
Wildlife CategoryKaushiik Subramaniam
Isolation
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Wildlife CategoryAnuradha Marwah -
Last of the Royals
Ranthambore, India
Wildlife CategoryDibakar Roy
Sparkling Edge
New Barrackpur, India
Wild Space CategoryYogesh Bhatia
Princess Out of the Green
Ranthambore, India Wildlife CategorySimon Hilbourne
Rays for Days
Fuvahmulah, Maldives
Wildlife Category
SELECTION & AWARDS
Selection
Selection was tough! Thanks to Nori Jemil and James Lowen for their expert eyes. Nori and James led the selection panel this year on bahlf of Bradt Guides, and were tasked with the final decisions. They were joined by fellow professional photographer Paul Goldstein and our patron, the author/photographer/explorer Levision Wood along with charity trustees.
Each image was first assessed for eligibility. Some top quality images were discounted during the first phase of selection because they did not fulfill the criteria laid out in our submission guidelines. Further selection considered overall image quality and impact, technique, originality, composition and context.
Awards
All 26 images are eligible to win the Focus for Survival People’s Choice Award – an award voted for by the public. Voting is now OPEN!
Just six images will be short-listed by our panel and eligible for the Focus for Survival Photographer of the Year Award which will be announced next month. The six photographers will be contacted and their images framed and exhibited during our exhibition tour, including gallery@oxo on London’s South Bank. Each of the six images will be auctioned online on 28 November in aid of our 21 For 21 Project Fund.