“Toad Swimming Through Pond Earns 2026 British Wildlife Photography Award”
“A Toad Swims Across Its Woodland Pond” by Paul Hobson. British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and Black & White Winner
Subject: Toad (Bufo bufo)
Location: Sheffield, England
“I am fortunate to have a pond near my home with relatively clear water, particularly in late winter and early spring before the algae begins to grow. Toads utilize this pond for breeding, and I decided to attempt capturing an image from the bottom upwards. To achieve this, I constructed a glass box to encase the camera and keep it dry. I needed to incorporate ballast to ensure it would sink and used old tripod legs affixed to its sides to maintain the box’s level position. I calculated the box’s depth and adjusted the focus so it would photograph a toad if it swam across the surface. I activated the camera utilizing a modified long cable release. I had to remain patient for quite some time until a toad swam across the water’s surface–most typically swam beneath it and rested on the glass.”
A monochrome photograph of a toad gliding across a pond possesses a captivating, abstract quality. The shadowed figure and the nearby branches appear flattened and slightly warped, swirling like an oil slick as the toad’s legs create ripples in the water. Fittingly named A Toad Swims Across Its Woodland Pond, the photograph was taken by Paul Hobson and has recently received a distinguished accolade. With this achievement, Hobson was recognized as the British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 by the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA). The prestigious photography competition highlights nature photography in Britain while serving as a reminder of the significance of its woodlands, wetlands, and various ecosystems.
Hobson’s prize-winning photograph was selected from over 12,000 submissions to the BWPA, which featured both amateur and professional photographers vying for a grand prize of £3,500 (approximately $4,700) across 11 separate categories in the adult division and three age groups in the youth division.
“I am fortunate to have a pond near my home that has relatively clear water,” Hobson remarks. “Toads utilize this pond for breeding, and I decided I wanted to try and capture an image looking up from the bottom of the pond. To accomplish this, I constructed a glass box to house my camera, equipped with used tripod legs and ballast to keep it from sinking. I then activated the camera with a modified long release cable.
“I had to wait quite a lengthy period until a toad glided across the surface–most typically swam below and rested on the glass,” Hobson reminisces. But the effort ultimately paid off for a captivating and rare perspective of a toad in its natural habitat.
The BWPA also honors the Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 to creatives aged 17 and younger. This year, Ben Lucas won for a charming portrayal of a swan cygnet napping on its sibling’s back. “Nature can be so harsh at times, yet tender moments like this warm my heart!” Lucas expresses candidly.
Scroll down to view all the winners and runners-up of the 2026 British Wildlife Photography Awards. Subsequently, visit the official website to explore the complete gallery of finalists.
These are the award-winning photographs of the 2026 British Wildlife Photography Awards.
“Feathery Pillow” by Ben Lucas. Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and 15-17 Years Winner
Subject: Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
Hornchurch, England
“This was such an endearing moment to observe. A complete family of mute swans glided over to me as I sat quietly by the edge of a picturesque lake. They all settled down for a rest right beside me. The five newly hatched cygnets cuddled up together in a fluffy grey cluster, and I captured this snapshot as one rested its little head on the back of its sibling. Nature can be so harsh, but