WildArt Photographer of the Year 2022 Winners

2022 was another amazing year for WildArt Photographer of the Year. The competition received over 10,000 submissions from all over the world, the standard of which was simply awe-inspiring. Our judges certainly had a really tough job on their hands to choose the winners, and they spent weeks deliberating before a decision was made. Our sincere thanks go to everyone who entered the competition and made it such a success, and huge congratulations go to our WildArt Photographer of the Year winner for 2022 Jan Piecha from Germany and his incredible image of a Blackbird. This was our Founder’s Choice from Abstracts. Congratulations go to Simone Baumeister, also from Germany, who wins our Best Portfolio Award. Our WildArt Young Photographer of the Year is Anton Trexler who makes it a clean sweep for Germany this year! His image of Starlings was a big favourite among the judges. All our winners epitomise the very essence of the competition which seeks to celebrate the artistic side of wildlife photography. Scroll down the page and feast your eyes on all our 2022 winners. Watch our awards presentation below to enjoy all the images, plus interviews with our winners, or click here to go directly to it on our YouTube channel.

A special thanks go to our sponsors this year; Swarovski Optik, OM System, F-Stop Gear, and Cotton Carrier for providing the prizes. Without their support the competition could not run.

WildArt Photographer of the Year 2022 Winner, ‘Flooded with Light’

Jan Piecha, Germany.

Jan’s winning image is precisely what the competition seeks to award and promote. The vision required to construct an image of this quality should act as an inspiration to all wildlife photographers who strive to produce original and artistic work within this genre of photography. An extraordinary image which rightfully deserves the title of 2022 WildArt Photographer of the Year. Jan wins £3,000 plus a Swarovski Optik NL Pure 8x42 binocular worth in excess of £2,300.

My name is Jan Piecha and I am a nature photographer from Germany. I studied environmental planning and ecological engineering and am working at various universities in the field of nature conservation, which regularly results in synergy effects with nature photography. The interest in the animal world has been present since my childhood, and photography was added a few years later when I got my first camera from my parents. Vertebrates are still my favorite subjects today. A responsible approach to nature, without having a negative influence on my subjects, is particularly important to me.

While I prefer to work on photo series and larger projects in the immediate vicinity of my home, I also love to visit the tropical regions of our planet, where I am particularly fascinated by the huge biodiversity. My photos are regularly published in magazines and have received awards in various international photo competitions.

‘A common blackbird is singing during the evening hours. Actually I was waiting for a raccoon in the evening. However, he took his time, which is why I became aware of this blackbird. Sometimes special moments just happen unplanned and spontaneously.’

Jan Piecha, WildArt Photographer of the Year Winner 2022.

WildArt Photographer of the Year Best Portfolio 2022 Winner -

Simone Baumeister, Germany.

At WildArt POTY we have always been keen to recognise and reward consistency of skill and talent. Our BEST PORTFOLIO Award for 2022 sought to do just that. Simone demonstrated these qualities with the most impressive and artistic set of images as you will see from the gallery below. Our thanks go to OM System (formerly Olympus) who sponsored this award with the latest pro camera body (new for 2022) and two lenses worth over £4,000!

My name is Simone Baumeister and I was born in 1974 in the northwest of Germany, where I still live today. To be able to combine my passion for nature and wildlife with photography is a gift, which I hope will inspire and encourage those that see my photos to preserve our natural treasures.

In recent years I have been fascinated to discover through my photography, that it is not necessary to travel long distances to enjoy and observe nature. A short walk from our own doorstep can offer incredibly exciting encounters. And so, to this day, my nature photos are taken almost exclusively in the vicinity of my home.

The time outside in nature is never wasted time. What there is to discover when you roam through the forests, meadows, mountains and moors with alert eyes is simply beautiful. I am convinced that a single lifetime is not enough to discover everything and understand it completely. This inspires me anew every time I go out with my camera.

Simone Baumeister, WildArt Photographer of the Year Best Portfolio Winner 2022.

WildArt Young Photographer of the Year 2022 Winner

Anton Trexler, Germany.

We are keen to encourage the younger generation of photographers in their photographic journey. We are always amazed by the incredible quality of the images that are submitted each year, many of which would compete in the adult categories. Our sincere congratulations go to Anton Trexler from Germany for his amazing image of Starlings. Anton wins a Swarovski Optik CL Pocket 8x25 binocular.

View our Category Winners and Top 100 Lists

The competition was crammed full of amazing photography from hundreds of photographers from all around the world. Below you will find links to all the category winners, plus the top 100 galleries for each of our ten competition categories. Feast your eyes and be inspired!