Focus for Survival Finalists 2023
Thank you to everyone who entered Focus for Survival this year. Huge thanks also go to our selection panel, led by Nori Jemil and James Lowen.
Just 12 images have been chosen to feature in our fundraising calendar, with proceeds supporting our Project Fund.
From the clear blue Caribbean waters of Dominica, to the icy heights of K6 in Pakistan, this year’s collection celebrates the natural world.
Many congratulations to all the finalists. To view the shortlist please click here>>>
Image at top: Subi Sridharan
Nairobi King,Torie Hilley
Lion, Nairobi National Park, Kenya
Canon R5, Canon RF 400mm f/2.8 at 400mm and f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 2500
"A simple and beautifully effective image that roughly uses the rule of thirds and sensitively deploys dead space that turns a static image, that could so easily have been dull, into one that encourages the viewer to ask questions. What has caught the male lion’s attention? Is it prey or threat, a female or a rival male? What will the lion do next: run forward or retreat? Any photo that poses questions rather than providing answers – any photo that shows, rather than tells – is a very good photo indeed."
Avalanche,Paddy Scott
K6, Karakoram, Greater Himalayas, Pakistan.
Canon 5dmk iv 70mm ISO100 f11 1/640
"This one caught the attention of the judges, given its huge scope, monochrome tonality and dramatic atmosphere. It takes some effort to reach mountainous regions like the Karakorum, and part of the additional gravitas of this shot is that it doesn’t rely on singular rockstar peaks but takes in the entire landscape, from the dappled light on the vertical striations of the mountain face to the far-off movement of the snow - and avalanche danger that might ensue for those in its wake. It is cinematic in its majesty."Swingtime, Ria Waugh
Mountain Gorilla, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
Fujifilm XT-2 + XF18-135mm: 1/250 sec at f/6.4 ISO 800
"We’ve all seen plenty of images of mountain gorillas in the wild – often in larger groups or with the focus resting on an impressively large, seated adult, perhaps spied through vegetation. So, to see this infant in close proximity, in an action shot perfectly situated to the left of the frame with its intense eyes firmly planted on something out of shot, is unusual and endearing."Water for Survival, Apurba Kumar Das
Green-tailed Sunbird, Rishop, West Bengal, India
Nikon Z9, Lens Nikor 400mm + 1.4 TC= 560mm ,f/5.6.1/4000.ISO 2800
"Photographing a bird in flight is difficult. It is hard to get both a fast enough shutter speed (to freeze the action) with a sufficient depth of field (to get the whole subject in focus), and to manage the latter while still achieving nice smooth background bokeh. A bird with both light and dark plumage, as with this sunbird, is also tricky to expose correctly without either burning the highlights or underexposing the dark areas. "Sunset, Tracey Graves
Cheetah, Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
Canon 5D mark IV, EF 200-400 f/4, ISO 1600, f4, 1/3200
"If photography is all about the light, then this image exemplifies that beautifully. It’s the contrast between the dark silhouettes and luminously warm sky that draws the viewer to this photograph. What’s more, the perfect composition – with all parts of the cheetah delineated, from raised front paw to recognisably curling long tail – allows us to follow its trajectory and imagine the next step. "The Giants, Subi Sridharan
Savannah Elephants with Mt Kilimanjaro, Amboseli, Kenya
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM, f/4, 1/2000, ISO 100
"In stripping this image of its colour, the photographer focuses our attention on form. This, in turns, reduces the image to four essential elements: a group of elephants, parched ground, montane backdrop and searing sun. And these four elements tell a story: the story of survival in a demanding setting. A story revealed, boldly and beautifully."Cloud Walker, Torie Hilley
Coastal Brown Bear, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA
Canon R5, Canon RF 400mm f/2.8 at 400mm and f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 400
"Sometimes the simplest images can be the most impressive. The photographer watching a single brown bear as it searches for food on an Alaskan mudflat sees the scene suddenly come to life when the sky changes, and violets and pinks warmly intertwine with the bear’s opaque shadow on the glistening ground. The horizon disappears as reflected sky and earth meld together."Homeward Bound, John Leigh
Arabian Oryx, In the desert at Murqquab, Dubai, UAE
Canon Eos 5d Mk4, Canon 100-400 zoom f5.6 & 1.3 extender, 1/1600 sec, f7.1
This is one of those photographs that combines so many elements to draw the eye – perfect light, a group of three and a photographer’s vantage point that allows the oryx to dominate their environment. The footprints in the sand and middle animal’s dragging hoof evoke ancient stories of Arabia and great traverses over the dunes. Sometimes we can’t do anything about positioning – the photographer perhaps aches for a little extra space between animal two and three to achieve ultimate compositional perfection – yet the group of three is still beguiling."Safely Intrepid, Gabriella Comi
Cheetah, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Fujifilm X-S10, Fujinon XF 70-300mm LM OIS WR - shutter 1/1250, f 5.6, ISO 1000, 300mm.
"We are used to seeing photos of big cats in ways that demonstrate their might, their dominance. Here the photographer focuses on feline fragility. This is a beautiful moment of intimacy and uncertainty, rendered all the more poignant by the use of monochrome, which focuses our attention on the adult female’s curves… and her youngster’s gaze."A Flicker of Hope, Simon Hilbourne
Sperm Whales, Caribbean waters of Dominica
Canon R5 with Canon RF 15-35mm at 15mm, f/16, 1/160s, ISO1000, natural light
"An intimate moment between two sperm whales, captured beautifully with impressive exposure control, a glorious sense of gentle, perhaps winding movement, and taken in a coloured sea that lends tonal richness to what otherwise might have been a monochrome image."In the Pink or on the Brink, Amarjeetsingh Bishnoi
Lesser Flamingos, TS Chanakya, Mumbai
Canon 6 D MK-II, Tamron 150-600mm
"Shorebirds such as these sandplovers are vulnerable to disturbance and predation, so often retreat from the water’s edge to miniature islands. Space on these safe havens is inevitably restricted, so birds jostle for position. This image captures the moment of bickering perfectly, the movement contrasting with the serene water below, and the bright hues of the sandplovers’ breasts finding their echo in the backdrop of a flamingo flock. "My New Toy, Celia Kujala
Steller sea lion, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia
Nikon D500 Camera, Nauticam Housing, Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 lens @ 10mm, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D2J Strobes. F/11, 1/250, ISO 500.
"Who doesn’t love an animal photograph that combines an element of playful behaviour with a wild and beautiful environment? Given the wide-eyed, direct address with the lens, the viewer is given a privileged insight into the brief moment of interaction between sea lion and diving photographer, caught in a swathe of light that allows for the inclusion of the seabed as part of the underwater scene."
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Which image is your favourite?
All 12 images are eligible for the Bradt Guides’ Focus for Survival Peoples’ Choice Award. The image with the most votes will win. Strictly one vote per person. If you vote more then once all your votes will be discounted. Voting open 31 August – 18 October. Vote here>>>>**