The BGS Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is back again for 2024. Open to the whole BGS community – pupils from Reception to Upper Sixth, and parents, guardians, staff and OBs – we are looking forward to seeing your photographs celebrating the wonder and beauty of the natural world.
As in previous years, the competition will be judged by a guest judge from the world of wildlife photography and film-making. We are delighted to announce that this year's judge will be wildlife cameraman Olly Scholey, whose career has taken him across the world, working on both BBC and Netflix wildlife productions. You can read more about Olly's career in his own words below.
If you'd like to enter the competition, the closing date for entries is Monday 13 May – full details are on the poster below.
BGS Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 judge, Olly Scholey
For the last 12 years I have immersed myself in the craft of capturing images of the natural world.
After a childhood captivated by photographing garden birds and earning a degree in Zoology from the University of Leeds, I've dedicated over 1000 days of my life to capturing the beauty of wildlife through film and photography worldwide.
I began my career working abroad as a camera assistant on a wide range of wildlife films, before getting a full-time production role on Netflix’s “Our Planet”, where I worked on the Polar, Open Ocean and Coastal Seas episodes of the series. More recently I have worked on two BBC series, “The Mating Game” (2021) and a new series about parental care in nature. This career has involved going to the polar regions seven times, sailing across two oceans, spending over 500 hours filming underwater, and many months spent filming terrestrial wildlife on every continent.
I have been extremely fortunate in my career to have some amazing photographic opportunities, and it has allowed me to learn from some of the best wildlife photographers in the world. In my spare time I get immense enjoyment from photographing UK wildlife and landscapes, which remains the most challenging and rewarding place to pursue this craft.
