WildArt Bird Photography Awards
Judges
Image ©Josh Galicki
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Our panel brings together experienced and creative nature photographers from around the world, led by Josh Galicki and Georgina Steytler. A selection of our judges' images are provided at the bottom of this page. For further information about them and to see more of their work, visit their websites and social media accounts by clicking the links in their profiles.
All entries in the WildArt Bird Photography Awards are judged anonymously to ensure a fair and impartial process and that every image is evaluated with expertise, consistency, and integrity. Judges assess images based solely on creativity, technical skill, and artistic vision, without knowledge of the photographer’s identity.
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Josh Galicki - Judge and Panel Co-ordinator
Josh is an award-winning wildlife photographer, podcaster, writer, and conservation storyteller whose work spans from the remote corners of the globe to the remarkable ecosystems in his own backyard. Based in Claiborne, Maryland, Josh's passion for avian photography was born in rural Pennsylvania, where songbirds outside his childhood window sparked a curiosity that would shape his life's work.
His images have taken him to polar ice, tropical cloud forests, and windswept islands, yet he remains committed to celebrating the wildlife that thrives closest to home.
Josh believes that photography can be both beautiful and informative—a tool for inspiring wonder and fostering conservation. His mission is simple: to help others see that nature's most powerful moments are often waiting just outside the door.
Georgina Steytler - Judge and Panel Co-ordinator
An Australian nature photographer and author, Georgina is driven by a dedication to the conservation of the continent’s "weird and wonderful" biodiversity. Often describing herself as an "Invertebirder," she has committed her career to documenting the intricate lives of creatures that fly, crawl, and hop—transforming overlooked species into fascinating and engaging subjects worthy of our protection.
Through her work, Georgina advocates for the protection of fragile ecosystems, using her lens to bridge the gap between scientific urgency and public appreciation. A multi-award-winning photographer and international judge, she is the author of two Australian Geographic books: For the Love of Birds (2021) and For the Love of Flora (2023).
Sandra Bartocha - Judge
Sandra Bartocha is a German photographer, author, and speaker whose work is less concerned with describing the visible world than with making moods, rhythms, and transitions tangible. In her images, she is not searching for the spectacular, but for the delicate and fleeting–for the spaces in between. Her photographs are characterized by poetic depth, subtle nuance, and avisual language that understands nature as an emotional landscape.
Her work is exhibited in numerous museums and galleries worldwide. With her photobooks LYS–An Intimate Journey to the North and Rhythm of Nature, she has demonstrated how photography can become a visual narrative that extends far beyond a single image. Alongside her artistic practice, Sandra is deeply engaged in contemporary photographic discourse. Since 2007, she has served as Vice President of the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) and as editor-in-chief of the magazine Forum Naturfotografie.
In addition, she works as a curator and editor, supporting other photographers in shaping image series into coherent exhibitions or thoughtfully sequenced books. She is regularly invited to serve on juries for major international photography competitions, and her own work has received numerous accolades, includingWildlife Photographer of the Year and the International Photography Awards.
Jiří Hřebíček - Judge
Jiří is a Czech-born, Basel-based wildlife photographer who focuses on mood and atmosphere rather than strict realism. Fascinated by birds—their movement, elegance, and sense of freedom—he uses creative techniques such as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) to create impressionistic, painterly images.
In 2024, he won the “Natural Artistry” category at Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Instead of simply documenting what he sees, he aims to photograph what he feels—inviting viewers into a more emotional, imaginative encounter with the natural world.
Kevin Morgans - Judge
Kevin is a multi-award-winning wildlife photographer, tour leader, and photographic guide with an enduring passion for the wild places and remarkable wildlife of the British Isles.
His journey began on the rugged coastlines of Britain, where he first became captivated by seabirds—creatures full of character, resilience, and mystery.
What started as a fascination soon became a lifelong calling: to tell their stories through powerful imagery and to use photography as a tool for conservation.
Ellie Rothnie - Judge
An internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer, tour leader, speaker and Canon Ambassador, Ellie has an enduring love of bird and animal portraiture. Focusing on species in her native UK, as well as Europe, East Africa, Japan and North/Central America, Ellie’s use of natural light, backgrounds and foregrounds creates elegant and timeless images.
One of her ongoing projects is with the charismatic Dalmatian Pelican of Lake Kerkini, photographing the conservation successes and challenges of a fragile bird species.
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Vince Maidens - Judge and Ethics Advisor
Vince is a Canadian wildlife photographer , known for powerful storytelling images, meticulous craft and an uncompromising approach to ethical fieldwork with wild animals.
A Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 alumnus for his barn owl image “Food Fight,” his work has also featured in the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards and other major international competitions.
Vince writes “The Authentic Voice” on Substack and appears regularly as a podcast guest, where he champions high standards, honesty and excellence in contemporary wildlife photography.
Dr Claire Greenwell - Judge and Ethics Advisor
Claire is an ornithologist and marine scientist with a PhD in Conservation Sciences, specialising in seabird ecology, trophic interactions, and applied conservation. Her work bridges research and environmental advisory, supporting evidence-based management of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Her doctoral research on the Australian Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis nereis) advanced understanding of the species’ breeding ecology and conservation needs, informing management strategies at regional, national, and international levels. She continues to advise government agencies and recovery teams on habitat management and species protection.
Claire is also the co-author of a research paper, titled 'Liked to death: the impacts of social media and photography on biodiversity', which has been widely cited and republished, reaching an audience of 232 million people globally (excluding social media mentions), highlighting the growing global concern regarding ethical nature photography.
Alongside her scientific work, Claire is a nature photographer, using visual storytelling to communicate seabird ecology and conservation challenges, and to foster greater public engagement with Australia’s seabirds. She has received numerous honours and awards including Australian Geographic NPOTY, Sony Alpha Awards and winning the 2020 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards Portfolio Prize for her work on the Australian Fairy Tern."
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