Photographers from across Canada shine in national nature photography contest

“Coming to the contest new this year, I was blown away by the talent demonstrated by photographers from all across the country,” said Guest Judge Shane Gross. “Choosing a grand prize winner was a particular challenge for the entire panel, but the scale of the biological event taking place just beneath the waves in Jeremy Mathieu’s stunning seascape really accentuated the awe-inspiring beauty of British Columbia’s coastline.”

Open to photographers of all experience levels from across Canada, the KBA Photo Contest highlights the natural beauty and ecological importance of Canada’s Key Biodiversity Areas - places essential for the persistence of wildlife, plants, and ecosystems.

“This year’s contest was the hardest to judge yet, with a record-breaking 400+ entries,” said Peter Soroye, Key Biodiversity Areas Assessment and Outreach Coordinator at WCS Canada. “We received breathtaking photos from every province and territory, showcasing the diversity, beauty, and resilience of Canada’s KBAs. We’re grateful to every photographer who participated and made the judging process both challenging and inspiring.”

The scale of participation in this year’s content is indicative of how deeply intertwined nature is with Canadians’ sense of national identity, as demonstrated in recent polling.

2025 KBA Photo Contest Category Winners

Fauna: A Quiet Moment in Bloom - Simone Heinrich (Tonquin candidate KBA, Alberta)

During a summer hike in the Tonquin Valley, Simone watched a caribou peacefully grazing in a field of wildflowers. Once it had finished grazing, it lay down to rest among the flowers. A quiet, unforgettable moment.

Flora and Fungi: Richness of a Forest - Deborah Freeman (Carmanah Walbran Forest candidate KBA, British Columbia)

In the Central Walbran on Vancouver Island, Deborah Freeman captured a dramatic photo of a plump Thimbleberry waiting to be noticed.

Landscapes and Ecosystems: Frozen Winter Wonders – A. Michael Bezener (South Okanagan candidate KBA, British Columbia)

Frozen bubbles created by rising methane from decaying lake vegetation and respiration gases from sleeping turtles and fish create fascinating multi-layered natural works of art locked within the icy surface of Vaseux Lake - evidence that even in winter, this Okanagan candidate Key Biodiversity Area harbours rich biodiversity and essential ecological processes.

People and Conservation: Copepods and Climate Change - Liam Brennan (Grand Manan Archipelago KBA, New Brunswick)

In this image, Liam depicts oceanographic fieldwork in the Grand Manan basin. His research lab is trying to understand spatial and temporal change of copepods - a small species of zooplankton that forms that is the dominant prey species of many species at risk, such as the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

A complete list of winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions can be found here: https://kbacanada.org/2025/11/03/winners-of-the-2025-kba-canada-photo-contest/

About the KBA Photo Contest

The KBA Photo Contest is part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness of Canada’s Key Biodiversity Areas - sites critical to the survival of species and the health of ecosystems. Through photography, the contest celebrates the people and places that make Canada’s landscapes so extraordinary.