Great nature photography finds a new space for visibility in Italy. From October 25, 2025 to March 1, 2026, the Fortress of Bard, in the Aosta Valley, will host Bird Photographer of the Year for the first time in our country, an international competition that for ten editions has rewarded the best images of birds from around the world. This is the European debut of a project that, year after year, has established itself as one of the most prestigious events dedicated to nature photography. The competition, now in its tenth year in 2025, gathers thousands of entries each season from professional and amateur photographers. The last edition recorded more than 33,000 shots, submitted by authors from different continents.
The final selection offers twelve categories, capable of rendering the variety of approaches and techniques with which participants observe and interpret the world of birds. From sections reserved for young people, divided by age groups (11 years and under, 12-14, 15-17), to awards for the best portrait, for images documenting behaviors and dynamics (Bird Behaviour), to shots of birds in flight or placed in their natural environment (Birds in the Environment). There are also categories dedicated to black-and-white photography, overall portfolio, creative perspectives, urban birds, and video. Special attention is paid to the conservation dimension, with a specific award for documentary projects.
The competition awards a final prize of 3,500 pounds, but what makes the difference above all is the chance to become part of an exhibition circuit that offers great international visibility. The 2025 edition was won by Canadian photographer Liron Gertsman with an image taken in Mexico, depicting a magnificent frigate silhouetted against a total solar eclipse. A photograph that combines technical rigor and visual power, summarizing the philosophy of the competition: to tell the story of biodiversity through images capable of combining aesthetics and content.
Two Italian photographers received prominent recognition. Francesco Guffanti won first prize in the Bird Behaviour category with his image entitled Angelo o Demone (Angel or Demon), taken in the Aosta Valley, which shows a golden eagle in the act of feeding on the carcass of a red deer. It is a strong image that restores the direct and unmediated relationship with nature. Philippe Egger, on the other hand, took first prize in the Creative Perspectives category thanks to his shot Art Photography, in which a common kingfisher is immortalized in a striking flight juxtaposed with an artistic work.
“It took me a year of preparation to capture my dream: to shoot a bird in front of the total solar eclipse,” Gertsman says. “I enlisted the help of a boat to position myself near some islets off Mazatlán that are frequented by seabirds. As the moon uncovered the edge of the sun at the end of totality, I captured this image during the phase of the eclipse known as the ’diamond ring,’ a moment that lasts only a few seconds.”
“Exceptional bird photography requires technique, artistic vision and dedication. When it all comes together, you get a spectacular image like this,” says Will Nicholls, Director of the Bird Photographer of the Year award. “This photograph is an example of what human creativity can accomplish. In a world increasingly overrun by artificial intelligence-generated images, it’s nice to celebrate an image that is both majestic and rooted in the natural world.”
The arrival of the exhibition at the Fortress of Bard confirms the Aosta Valley complex’s role as a hub for international photography. The exhibition, which will be inaugurated and presented to the press on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., will offer visitors an opportunity to observe a selection of the best images from the competition, brought together in a path that winds its way through the different categories and visions proposed by the participants. The exhibition route will offer an overview that allows visitors to approach the language of photography with different looks. The selected photographs show the result of long waits, patient observations and in-depth knowledge of animal behavior. At the same time, some sections offer freer and more creative interpretations that enhance the power of photography as a tool for invention and aesthetic exploration.
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m./6 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10 a.m./7 p.m.; Monday closed
Rates: full12.00 euros | Reduced 10.00 euros (over 65) | Reduced 6.00 euros (19-25 years old)
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| Bird Photographer of the Year debuts in Italy at Fortress of Bard |
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