Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Introduction: An Indian Photographer Who Made the World Look Closer
Sometimes, the most extraordinary stories in nature are hidden in the smallest details. We often imagine wildlife photography as a photograph of a tiger walking through a forest, a leopard resting on a tree branch or an eagle flying over a mountain. But what if an award-winning photograph came from a tiny creature digging into the desert sand?
That is precisely what makes the story of Sitaram Dinkar Raul, a wildlife photographer from Badlapur, Maharashtra, so fascinating.
At the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition in London, Raul won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category for his photograph titled Shifting Sand. The image captures a scorpion burrowing into the shifting dunes of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert as the rising sun brings increasing heat.
His photograph was selected as part of a competition that received a record-breaking 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories. It is a remarkable achievement for an Indian photographer whose work draws attention to the beauty and complexity of wildlife that many people rarely notice.
What I find particularly interesting about this story is that the subject is not a famous animal. It is a scorpion performing an everyday act of survival. Yet, through careful observation, patience and photographic skill, that brief moment became an internationally recognised image.
The story also raises some interesting questions. Who is Sitaram Dinkar Raul? What is the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition? When did it begin, and why is it considered one of the most prestigious wildlife photography competitions in the world?
Let’s explore the photographer’s journey, the science behind his winning image, the competition’s history and what this achievement means for Indian wildlife photography.
Who Is Sitaram Dinkar Raul?
Sitaram Dinkar Raul is an Indian photographer and fine artist associated with Badlapur, Maharashtra. His photographic work focuses on wildlife and creative interpretations of the natural world, with a particular interest in experimenting with lighting, composition and perspective.
According to his official profile published by the Natural History Museum, Raul aims to present nature and wildlife in unconventional ways. Rather than simply documenting what an animal looks like, he explores how a photograph can communicate emotion, reveal behaviour and encourage viewers to see familiar subjects differently.
This approach is particularly interesting in macro photography, where the subject may be so small that its behaviour and physical details are difficult to appreciate without magnification.
For me, that is one of the most valuable aspects of wildlife photography. It does not always require a rare animal or a spectacular landscape. Sometimes, the photographer’s ability to notice an ordinary moment and present it meaningfully makes all the difference.
From Wildlife Rescue to Wildlife Photography
Raul’s journey into wildlife photography is connected to his involvement in wildlife rescue activities in Badlapur around 2012. His interest in animals gradually developed into a passion for documenting wildlife and exploring photography as a creative pursuit.
This is an important part of his story because it shows how a professional interest can grow from direct engagement with the natural world.
Many aspiring photographers believe they need expensive equipment, international travel or access to famous wildlife reserves before they can begin. In reality, learning about animal behaviour, understanding habitats and developing patience can be equally important starting points.
Raul’s achievement demonstrates what can happen when an interest in wildlife develops into a long-term commitment to observation and photographic experimentation.
His work also challenges the idea that wildlife photography is limited to traditional animal portraits. By using different lighting techniques, unusual compositions and close-up perspectives, he looks for ways to reveal details that might otherwise escape attention.
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What Makes Sitaram Raul’s Photography Different?
The defining characteristic of Raul’s work is his interest in presenting nature in a non-traditional way.
In conventional wildlife photography, the aim may be to show an animal clearly within its habitat or capture a striking portrait. In artistic wildlife photography, the photographer may also experiment with light, shadows, movement and perspective to create a more distinctive visual experience.
Macro photography offers enormous possibilities in this respect.
A scorpion digging into sand, for example, can become a fascinating subject when the photographer captures the movement of individual grains, the position of the animal’s tail and the relationship between its body and the surrounding environment.
These details can turn an apparently simple photograph into a story about survival.
Raul’s recognition at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition reflects this ability to combine photographic technique with an interesting observation of nature.
What Is Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026?
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is an internationally recognised nature photography competition organised by the Natural History Museum in London, United Kingdom.
The competition celebrates photographs that reveal the beauty, behaviour and complexity of the natural world. Its entries cover a wide range of subjects, including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, plants, fungi and underwater environments.
However, the competition is not simply about taking beautiful photographs of animals.
It also celebrates storytelling, scientific observation, originality and conservation. A photograph might reveal a rarely observed behaviour, show how an animal adapts to its habitat or encourage viewers to reconsider their relationship with nature.
The competition is widely respected because its winning photographs reach audiences through exhibitions, publications and international media coverage.
For photographers, recognition can provide an opportunity to share their work with a much wider audience. For the public, the images offer a window into parts of the natural world that are difficult to experience directly.
When Did Wildlife Photographer of the Year Start?
The history of Wildlife Photographer of the Year goes back to 1965.
The competition began as a magazine photography contest organised by Animals magazine, which later became BBC Wildlife. Its first edition received just 361 entries.
At that time, wildlife photography was still developing as a recognised photographic discipline. The competition aimed to encourage photographers and give greater visibility to images documenting animals and their environments.
The Natural History Museum became involved in 1984, helping the competition develop into a major international platform.
In 1986, the exhibition began touring, initially around the United Kingdom and later internationally. In 1991, the first book of winning images was published, giving audiences another way to experience the selected photographs.
The competition has continued to expand over the decades.
In 2026, its 62nd edition received 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories. That is a remarkable increase from the 361 entries received when the competition began.
This growth reflects the increasing popularity of wildlife photography and the continuing importance of visual storytelling in helping people understand the natural world.
Why Is Wildlife Photographer of the Year So Prestigious?
The reputation of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition comes from several important factors.
International participation: The 2026 edition received more than 65,000 entries from photographers across 121 countries and territories.
Expert judging: Photographs are judged anonymously, allowing images from professionals and amateurs to be assessed on their merits.
Multiple categories: The competition recognises different kinds of photographic achievement, from animal behaviour and portraits to underwater photography, urban wildlife and conservation stories.
Exhibition opportunities: Selected photographs are presented at the Natural History Museum and through its touring exhibition programme.
Conservation storytelling: The competition encourages people to develop a stronger interest in wildlife and the environments that support it.
The combination of artistic recognition, scientific interest and conservation awareness makes this competition especially significant.
Winning a category means that a photograph has been recognised within a particular field of wildlife photography. It does not necessarily mean the photographer has won the overall adult title, which is a separate distinction.
This difference is important when discussing Sitaram Raul’s achievement.
Sitaram Raul Wins the Behaviour: Invertebrates Category in 2026
The major achievement behind the headline is that Sitaram Raul won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition.
His winning photograph, Shifting Sand, shows a scorpion burrowing into the dunes of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert.
The photograph was recognised for capturing an interesting animal behaviour and presenting it in a visually compelling way.
The subject is relatively small, but the image communicates movement, adaptation and survival. The grains of sand suspended in the air help viewers understand that the scorpion is actively excavating its shelter.
This is what makes the photograph stand out.
Instead of simply showing a scorpion resting on the ground, Raul captured a moment in which the animal interacts directly with its environment.
The distinction between the category winner and the overall winner is worth understanding. The overall adult Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 title went to Italian photographer Federico Veronesi for The Aftermath, a photograph of a female elephant carrying her deceased calf.
Raul’s award is a category victory, and it represents a significant achievement in its own right.
The Story Behind Shifting Sand: A Scorpion’s Fight for Survival
Imagine spending a night in the Thar Desert, watching the dunes under the darkness of the sky.
The desert may appear quiet, but small animals continue moving across the sand. Scorpions search for prey, explore their surroundings and respond to changes in temperature.
As sunrise approaches, the conditions begin to change. The sand becomes increasingly hot, and the scorpions need to find shelter.
During his observations near the village of Sam in Rajasthan, Raul noticed scorpions beginning to burrow into the sand as morning approached.
This behaviour gave him an opportunity to capture something unusual.
He timed his exposure to photograph the grains of sand suspended in mid-air as the scorpion excavated its burrow. The resulting image became Shifting Sand, the winning photograph in the Behaviour: Invertebrates category.
What makes this moment so compelling is that the photograph tells a story without needing several images or a lengthy explanation.
The scorpion’s posture, the moving sand and the surrounding darkness communicate a sense of activity. The viewer can immediately understand that something is happening.
The photograph also encourages us to consider the challenges faced by animals living in extreme environments.
For a scorpion, digging is not simply an interesting behaviour to observe. It is part of how the animal responds to its surroundings and finds a suitable place to shelter.
How Does the Thar Desert Scorpion Survive?
The Thar Desert presents challenges for animals because temperatures can become extremely high, while water and suitable shelter may be limited.
Scorpions have evolved behaviours and physical characteristics that help them survive in such environments.
The Natural History Museum notes that a Buthacus scorpion found in India uses its pincers to dig into sand. Stiff, elongated bristles known as sand combs help the animal move over loose sand without sinking as easily.
These adaptations help explain why the scorpion is such an interesting subject for wildlife photography.
Its body and behaviour are closely connected to the environment in which it lives.
The animal is not simply moving randomly across the dunes. Its movements reflect the challenges of finding food, avoiding harsh conditions and locating shelter.
This is why behaviour-based photography can be so valuable. It gives viewers an opportunity to learn something about an animal’s life rather than simply admire its appearance.
What Camera Did Sitaram Raul Use?
According to the official Natural History Museum photograph details, Raul used the following equipment to capture Shifting Sand:
- Camera: Nikon D750
- Lens: 105mm macro lens
- Lighting: Godox flash
- Shutter speed: 1/250 second
- Aperture: f/14
- ISO: 125
- Location: Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India
These settings provide insight into the technical decisions behind the photograph.
A shutter speed of 1/250 second helps capture a brief moment of movement. An aperture of f/14 provides a relatively deep depth of field, which can be useful when photographing a small subject at close range. ISO 125 keeps the camera’s sensitivity relatively low, while flash provides controlled illumination.
However, the camera and lens alone do not explain the success of the image.
The photographer also needs to recognise the behaviour, anticipate the opportunity, select an effective composition and be ready when the movement occurs.
The final photograph is the result of both technical preparation and careful observation.
How Long Did It Take to Capture the Award-Winning Photograph?
One of the most interesting details surrounding Raul’s achievement is the patience involved in photographing wildlife.
According to media coverage of his journey, Raul spent several days observing and attempting to capture the scorpion’s behaviour. The decisive photographic opportunity was brief, lasting approximately 90 seconds.
His trip to Rajasthan had initially been motivated by an interest in photographing the stars. During the journey, the scorpion became an unexpected subject.
This is a useful reminder that photography does not always follow a predetermined plan.
A photographer may travel to document one subject and discover an entirely different story. The challenge is recognising that opportunity and understanding how to capture it.
Wildlife photography often requires long periods of waiting, repeated attempts and careful preparation. Animals do not perform on demand, and natural behaviour cannot always be predicted precisely.
In Raul’s case, the final image captures a fleeting moment that required patience and attention to detail.
That is one reason I find the story inspiring. The photograph may appear simple when viewed for a few seconds, but behind it lies the photographer’s ability to recognise and capture an important moment.
Sitaram Raul’s Earlier Recognition in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025
The 2026 category win was not Raul’s first recognition in the competition.
In 2025, his photograph Nature Reclaims its Space received a Highly Commended distinction in the Urban Wildlife category.
The photograph features fruit bats emerging from the ruins of a historical monument in Maharashtra.
It explores an interesting relationship between wildlife and human-made environments. Buildings, monuments and other structures may be created for human purposes, but they can also become habitats for animals.
Fruit bats, for example, may use caves, hollow trees and abandoned buildings as roosting places.
By photographing bats around a historical monument, Raul highlighted how wildlife can occupy spaces that people have built or eventually abandoned.
The photograph also demonstrates a different side of his photographic interests.
While Nature Reclaims its Space focuses on wildlife living around a human-made structure, Shifting Sand explores the behaviour of an animal in a desert habitat.
Both photographs encourage viewers to look beyond the obvious subject and consider the relationship between animals and their surroundings.
The two recognitions are distinct: a Highly Commended distinction in 2025 and a category win in 2026. Together, they show Raul receiving international recognition in consecutive editions of the competition.
How Many Awards Are Given in Wildlife Photographer of the Year?
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is not a single-award event.
Each edition includes an overall adult winner, a young photographer winner and winners across several photographic categories. Additional distinctions and selected images also form part of the wider competition.
The 2026 edition recognised photographers across categories including animal portraits, animal behaviour, plants and fungi, underwater photography, urban wildlife, photojournalism and photographic portfolios.
The main distinction is between the overall title and category awards.
The overall adult winner is selected as the year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Category winners are recognised for photographs that excel within their respective subjects.
For example, Raul’s Shifting Sand won Behaviour: Invertebrates, while Federico Veronesi won the overall adult title with The Aftermath.
The Natural History Museum also presents a wider collection of selected photographs in its exhibition. These images allow visitors to explore different species, environments and photographic approaches.
The exact number and structure of categories can change between editions, so the official competition records are the best source for the complete list of awards for any particular year.
How Many Indians Have Won Wildlife Photographer of the Year?
This is an important question, particularly for Indian readers interested in wildlife photography and international recognition.
However, there is a difference between counting Indian overall title winners, Indian category winners and Indian photographers whose photographs received Highly Commended recognition or were selected for exhibition.
The competition has been running since 1965, and photographers can receive recognition in multiple editions. A reliable historical total therefore requires reviewing the official records year by year and distinguishing between award types.
Without that complete audit, publishing a single cumulative number would risk being inaccurate.
What can be confirmed is that Sitaram Raul won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category in 2026 and received a Highly Commended distinction in the Urban Wildlife category in 2025.
His achievements demonstrate that Indian photographers can gain international recognition for subjects ranging from wildlife in human-dominated environments to the behaviour of small desert animals.
Why Indian Wildlife Photography Deserves More Attention
India has a remarkable range of natural environments, including forests, mountains, grasslands, wetlands, coastlines and deserts.
These habitats support an enormous variety of wildlife, from large mammals and birds to reptiles, amphibians, insects and other small organisms.
Yet popular attention often focuses on a relatively small number of famous species.
A tiger photograph can be visually powerful, but a photograph of an insect building a shelter or a bat emerging from a historic monument can reveal equally fascinating details about the natural world.
Raul’s work highlights this diversity.
His photographs demonstrate that wildlife stories can emerge from different environments and from animals that people may not normally consider interesting photographic subjects.
For aspiring Indian wildlife photographers, this offers an encouraging lesson: a distinctive photograph does not always depend on travelling to a famous national park. It can begin with observing local wildlife, understanding its behaviour and learning to communicate that observation through photography.
Why Wildlife Photographer of the Year Matters for Conservation
Wildlife photography has the ability to connect people with animals and habitats they may never encounter directly.
A photograph can reveal the beauty of a species, document a behaviour or highlight the relationship between wildlife and human activity.
This is one of the reasons the Natural History Museum established and continues to organise Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
The competition aims to increase public interest in the natural world and encourage people to care about conservation.
Not every powerful conservation photograph needs to show a threatened species or an environmental disaster.
Sometimes, the most effective image simply reveals something people did not know.
A scorpion digging into desert sand can demonstrate how animals adapt to difficult environments. Fruit bats emerging from an old monument can show how wildlife occupies human-made spaces.
These images encourage viewers to look more closely at the natural world and recognise its complexity.
That matters because conservation is not only about protecting large animals or famous landscapes. It is also about understanding the many organisms and habitats that make ecosystems function.
Raul’s photographs contribute to this broader understanding by drawing attention to moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Exhibition in London
The winning photographs from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 are being showcased at the Natural History Museum in London.
The 62nd exhibition opened on 16 October 2026 and is scheduled to continue until 11 July 2027. It features selected images from the competition and is also planned to tour internationally.
For visitors, the exhibition provides an opportunity to explore wildlife photography beyond a screen.
Large prints allow viewers to appreciate fine details, lighting, composition and the visual storytelling behind each image. Exhibition information also provides context about the species and behaviours shown in the photographs.
For photographers, having work included in such an exhibition offers the possibility of reaching a wider international audience.
For the public, it creates an opportunity to discover animals, habitats and behaviours that may otherwise remain unfamiliar.
Raul’s Shifting Sand is part of this broader celebration of the natural world. Although the subject is small, the photograph captures a moment that tells a larger story about survival and adaptation.
What Aspiring Wildlife Photographers Can Learn from Sitaram Raul
Raul’s achievement offers several useful lessons for anyone interested in wildlife photography.
1. Observe Before You Photograph
Understanding an animal’s behaviour can be as important as knowing how to operate a camera. Spend time watching the subject and learning when and why it performs particular actions.
2. Explore Small Subjects
Wildlife photography is not limited to tigers, elephants and birds. Insects, spiders, scorpions and other small organisms can provide opportunities for compelling images.
3. Learn the Technical Basics
Shutter speed, aperture, focus, lighting and composition all affect the final result. Macro photography requires particular attention to focus and depth of field.
4. Develop Patience
Natural behaviour cannot be scheduled. Be prepared to observe, wait and make repeated attempts when necessary.
5. Tell a Story Through Your Photograph
Ask what the viewer can learn from the image. Does it show survival, adaptation, interaction, movement or a relationship between an animal and its environment?
6. Photograph Responsibly
Never disturb wildlife or damage its habitat to obtain a better photograph. Ethical practice is an important part of responsible wildlife photography.
7. Develop Your Own Style
Raul’s work demonstrates how experimenting with light, perspective and composition can create a distinctive photographic approach. Study other photographers, but develop your own way of seeing the natural world.
The most important lesson is that equipment is only one part of photography. Observation, patience, technical knowledge and curiosity all contribute to a successful image.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Who won Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 from India?
Sitaram Dinkar Raul from Maharashtra won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category with his photograph Shifting Sand. The overall adult Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 title went to Federico Veronesi.
What is Sitaram Raul famous for?
Sitaram Raul is an Indian wildlife photographer and fine artist known for his creative approach to nature photography. He received a Highly Commended distinction in 2025 and won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category in 2026.
What is the title of Sitaram Raul’s winning photograph?
The photograph is titled Shifting Sand. It captures a scorpion burrowing into the sand of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert as it seeks shelter from the approaching heat.
Where was Shifting Sand photographed?
The photograph was taken in the Thar Desert near the village of Sam in Rajasthan, India.
When did Wildlife Photographer of the Year start?
The competition began in 1965 as a magazine photography competition with 361 entries. The Natural History Museum became involved in 1984.
How many entries did Wildlife Photographer of the Year receive in 2026?
The 2026 edition received 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories.
Is Sitaram Raul the overall Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 winner?
No. Raul won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category. The overall adult title went to Federico Veronesi for his photograph The Aftermath.
How many Indians have won Wildlife Photographer of the Year?
A verified cumulative total requires checking the competition’s historical records and separating overall title winners, category winners and other recognitions. Sitaram Raul is a confirmed category winner in the 2026 edition.
Where can I see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 photographs?
You can explore the official gallery on the Natural History Museum website: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery. The 2026 exhibition is running at the Natural History Museum in London from 16 October 2026 to 11 July 2027.
Conclusion: Sometimes, the Smallest Stories Leave the Biggest Impression
Sitaram Dinkar Raul’s achievement at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 is a reminder that remarkable stories can emerge from the smallest details of the natural world.
His winning photograph does not depend on a dramatic predator or a spectacular landscape. Instead, it captures a scorpion carrying out an essential survival behaviour in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert.
Through patience, observation and photographic skill, Raul transformed that brief moment into an internationally recognised image.
His earlier recognition for Nature Reclaims its Space and his 2026 category victory also highlight the diversity of his photographic interests, from wildlife occupying human-made environments to small animals adapting to challenging natural conditions.
For Indian wildlife photography, his success brings attention to a photographer from Badlapur whose work encourages viewers to look more closely at nature.
And perhaps that is the most valuable lesson from this story.
The world around us is full of extraordinary moments, but many of them are easy to miss when we are not paying attention. Sometimes, all it takes is patience, curiosity and a willingness to look a little closer.
A scorpion digging into the sand may seem like an ordinary sight. In the hands of an observant photographer, however, it can become a story about survival, adaptation and the remarkable complexity of life.
That is the power of wildlife photography.
