Isle of Wight wildlife photographer Siân Elizabeth has been Highly Commended in the Birds in their Environment Category of the prestigious Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 competition.
Selected from approximately 24,000 images entered in the competition, Chinstrap Mountain captures a Chinstrap Penguin within the immense and dramatic landscape of the Antarctic peninsula, placing the bird within the environment it depends upon rather than presenting it simply as a close-up wildlife portrait.
The image will also appear in the Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 Collection 11 book and go on tour as part of the BPOTY Exhibition, alongside photographs selected from photographers around the world.
Siân, who photographs under the name Siân in the Wild, said:
“To me this image represents resilience and I am so incredibly happy that the BPOTY judges saw in this image, how I see and feel about it. I am so happy and proud and feel honoured to be awarded alongside the best bird photographers in the World.”
Alongside still photography, Siân has just launched Siân in the Wild YouTube Channel, a wildlife and nature platform documenting encounters with wildlife and wild places through photography and film.
