In a powerful blend of art and advocacy, the winners of the Focus for Survival 2025 competition have been announced, showcasing breathtaking images that serve as a potent call to action for conservation. Organised by the charity Explorers Against Extinction, the competition selected 12 stunning photographs from around the world to be featured in a fundraising calendar.
The winning images, chosen by a judging panel that includes acclaimed wildlife photographers Paul Goldstein, Will Burrard-Lucas, and Sue Flood, alongside charity patron Levison Wood, capture the beauty and fragility of our planet’s wild inhabitants.
Kudu Hill, Savuti, Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Sony A7Rv, 100-400mm GM @100mm, f5.6, 1/200, ISO 200
“A beautiful female leopard climbed up on a rock and turned her head to catch the first rays of sun of the day.”. Alex McLean
“This is a beautifully composed photograph that captures the elegance of the animal. The leopard is bathed in warm, golden light that highlights its calm demeanour, while the soft, blurred background creates a sense of serenity.” Will Burrard-Lucas
Samuel Smith Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sony A7RiV ,ISO3200, 1/1000s. 600m f4
“Amid heavy rain, a male hooded merganser searches for food in the water. After catching and swallowing a fish, it rises and performs a dramatic wing flap – an elegant display of power and poise, even in the storm.” Picart (Dennis Liu)
“I love this portrait of a hooded merganser. Beautifully framed, atmospheric and something different. The bad weather only adds to the image, and the photographer has used their skill to slow the rain drops yet freeze the action of the bird. A wonderful image.” Sue Flood
Svalbard, Norway.
Nikon D500, Nauticam housing, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye f/3.5-4.5. f/11, 1/250, ISO 1250.
“The Atlantic walruses swimming in the light of the midnight sun of Svalbard were so beautiful to watch. At one point, a couple of curious ones decided to swim toward me and I was able to capture this magical moment. The walrus population was once decimated by hunting but has rebounded. However, climate change makes their future uncertain. Atlantic walruses are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. I hope this image inspires people to care about this beautiful species and the majestic environment that they live in. This image was taken with a pole-cam.” Celia Kujala
“Intimate portrait that also conveys the spectacular wild landscape.” Will Burrard-Lucas
Solio Game Reserve, Kenya.
Canon R5, 1/1250, F4, ISO 640, EF 400MM f2.8 III
“Solio Reserve is a private sanctuary dedicated to the conservation of white & black rhino & has run the most successful rhino breeding programme in East Africa. I was able to get this image of a 1 month old rhino calf & its mother by lying on the ground so your eye is focused on their interaction. Rhino calves are born without horns & these develop from about six months. Hopefully in this reserve, which has incredible protection for their rhinos, the rhino calf will grow horns as big as its mothers without fear from poachers.” Jules Oldroyd
“The low angle and composition of this shot helped capture this rhino mother and her calf in a perfect, tender moment, Again, the aperture used helped ensure the subject stood out from the background and the angle chosen of their profile made for a powerful shot.” Sue Flood
Explorers Against Extinction stated that the images are a “powerful reminder of the colour, beauty and diversity of our planet and a persuasive call to action to protect the wild.” This sentiment is echoed in the stories behind each photograph. From the Arctic to the Pacific, the featured subjects — which include a snail, a polar bear, and a rare white humpback calf — highlight both the grand and the subtle wonders of nature.
Cooch Behar, Tapurhat Forest, West Bengal.
Nikon D500, Tamron 90 mm VC USD, F/14; ISO 500 ; Shutter Speed 1/160
“I know snails can eat mushrooms and may carry and disperse mushroom spores. Snails eat fungi for nutrition and flavor. Snails may promote fungal growth by grazing on leaves and depositing nitrogen-rich feces on wounds. Fungi get benefit from snail grazing by gaining access to nutrients and inner plant tissues. Snails have chemical receptors that help them differentiate between different types of fungi. In this image I have documented a snail enjoying mushroom spores. ” Anirban Dutta
“This is sumptuous. A cross between natural history and a 70’s Roger Dean poster. Composition-wise it utterly rocks and compels the viewer to ask ‘WHAT THE?’ Small is beautiful here as is slow, outstanding work, I’d not mind ‘shelling’ out for this.” Paul Goldstein
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Nikon D500, Nauticam Housing, Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D2J Strobes. f/11, 1/200, ISO 400.
“This image was captured when a beautiful Steller sea lion swam up to me and stared tenderly into my eyes melting my heart. Steller sea lions are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. With this image I hope to ignite a desire within people to protect these extraordinary beings and their ocean home.” Celia Kujala
“This portrait of a seal made me smile. Having spent many, many hours underwater with my camera I know it’s not an easy shot to take, but this is nicely done and stood out from the crowd. Loved the whiskers!” Sue Flood
Reesor Pond in Markham, Ontario, Canada.
Sony A1 ,1/4000s, iso500, 600mm, f4
“A tern emerges in a burst of water as it seizes a large pike, showcasing the precision and power of avian hunting.” Yan Zhang
“A dramatic moment of action captured with great skill and technical ability.” Will Burrard-Lucas
Amboseli, Kenya.
Fujifilm XT-3 + XF100-400mm: 1/1000 sec at f/6.4 ISO 250
“Shortly after we passed a beautiful breeding herd of elephants making their twice-daily crossing of a dry lakebed between the forests at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and a water source, our guide stopped the safari vehicle. He encouraged my husband and me to get out and lie on the ground. Apprehensive about the approaching herd, I trusted our knowledgeable guide, who understood elephant behavior. This led to one of the most unforgettable and thrilling photographic experiences of my life. As the herd silently moved within 20 meters of us, they never took their eyes off of us. I held my nerve and clicked the shutter. There’s nothing quite like photographing elephants from a ground level perspective. It’s in that moment you truly realize just how small you are next to these gentle giants. Listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, elephant populations continue to decline, driven by illegal poaching for ivory, extensive habitat loss from human development, and increasingly severe human-elephant conflicts. Dedicated conservation work, including stronger protections and anti-poaching patrols, are crucial to reversing elephant population declines.” Ria Waugh
“No, it is not original but if you are going to cliche, it has to be a good one and oh my this is on the money. The low angle amplifies the moment and I can almost hear the creak and crack as those giant feet tread on the parched lake bed.” Paul Goldstein
Purbasthali is a village in the Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India.
NIKON D850, NIKKOR 200-500 MM LENS, f/7.1/1000 sec, ISO 1000
“The Black-hooded Oriole’s parenting strategy focuses on ensuring the survival of their young. Parents work together to provide a steady food supply, ensuring their young receive the nutrients they need to grow and develop. By focusing on survival, Black-hooded Orioles increase the chances of their young reaching adulthood and continuing the species.” Santanu Bose
“I loved this intimate moment in the life of the oriole family. Excellent composition and the shallow depth of field used made the chicks and parent stand out from the foliage in the background, so it was well executed. It also made me smile!” Sue Flood
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
(Fujifilm XS10 + Tamron 150-500) 500mm – 1/800 – f 6.7 – iso 3200
“Hear me out – besides big cats activity, there is actually another good reason to wake up at ungodly hours on safari : sometimes you are graced with one of those iconic African dawns. You climb in your vehicle at 5.30 am mumbling a rant and low key cursing yourself for loving animals so much. Still all sleepy, you wrap yourself in a Maasai blanket to fight the freeze of the East African highlands, ready for a bumpy ride in the bush on your quest for adventure. And then, unexpectedly, you stumble into unbelievable scenes like this, with a giraffe and her calf taking a calm stroll on the horizon while the sky is being painted orange by the rising sun. Disclaimer: it may take you some seconds to realise it’s really happening in front of you and no, you are not still in bed and dreaming. I am always grateful to Mother Nature for her enchanting way to remind us to never lose our sense of wonder.” Gabriella Comi
“The bold colours against the silhouette of the giraffes create an eye-catching photograph, capturing the beauty of the African landscape at dawn.” Levison Wood
Vava’u, Tonga.
Sony ZV-E1, 17mm f/4, 1/320, ISO 50
“Captured in the tropical waters of Vava’u Tonga in 2024, this incredibly rare white humpback Māhina is the first pure white humpback whale observed in Tonga in recorded history. Māhina, meaning moon in Tongan, was the name given to this calf due to her luminescent appearance underwater which is as rare as it is breathtaking, as wherever she moves she illuminates the water into a bright electric blue. Only an estimated 1 in 40,000 humpbacks have this striking lack of pigmentation causing bright white skin which seems to glow underwater in contrast with deep ocean blues. Watching this spectacular and curious moon white whale calf play and roll through the water represents the remarkable success story of a species given the chance to recover after being heavily targeted by whaling and once being brought to the brink of extinction. Considering the resilience of this awe-inspiring species, sightings of such rare individuals renews hope in what can happen when conservation is championed and wildlife is allowed to thrive.” Jonathan Allen
“An albino Humpback calf hovering over the mouth of its mother. That’s insane. No further comment really necessary – don’t care for details, style or geeky technical info, this is an extraordinary image. When judging any competition, the basic two tenets of judging have to be paramount: originality and degree of difficulty … exactly!” Paul Goldstein
Baffin Island, Canada.
Canon R5, 1/1250, F9, ISO 400, 600f4
“Baffin Island is one of the most majestic & pristine environments in the world to see polar bears, especially in March & April when the sea ice has frozen. However, with temperatures between-30 to -40 it is also one of the most challenging to ensure you keep your hands warm to press the shutter. We had spent most of the morning & part of the afternoon with this mother & her COYS (Cubs of the year) which were likely a week or so out of their den. However, just as they were settled the mother got spooked & she & the cubs ran off towards a nearby iceberg. We set off to see if we could spot them & when we got to this iceberg I couldn’t believe my eyes. The mother & cubs were huddled together on top of the iceberg. To witness such intimate moments, such as this one, between the cubs whilst their mother rests is something that is a once in a lifetime sighting.” Jules Oldroyd
“I’ve always admired polar bears, and the photographer has managed to capture such a tender family moment here.” Levison Wood
One of the most remarkable images is “Māhina” by Jonathan Allen (Australia), which captures a rare white humpback calf. Another powerful winner is the calendar’s cover image, “The Crossing” by Ria Waugh (USA), a dramatic depiction of an elephant herd in Kenya. Other winning images include “Snail Enjoying Sporulation” by Anirban Dutta (India), “Belle” by Celia Kujala (USA), and “Age of Innocence” by Jules Oldroyd (UK).
The winning photographs are set to be exhibited on London’s South Bank and auctioned online, with all proceeds supporting vital conservation projects. The public can also participate by voting for their favourite finalist for the People’s Choice Award.
Take a look at the Winners and the Highly Commended photos at Explorers Against Extinction.
