Capturing the Wild: The Inspiring Journeys of Our Contest Winners

Wildlife photography is a journey of patience, perseverance, and respect for the natural world. Behind every extraordinary wildlife image is a photographer who spent countless hours observing animal behavior, waiting for the perfect moment, and working in challenging environments to capture an authentic glimpse of life in the wild. These photographs are more than beautiful images—they are stories of exploration, dedication, and a deep connection with nature.

In this article, we introduce the winners of our Wildlife Photography Contest and the inspiring stories behind their remarkable images. Discover what motivated these talented photographers, the adventures they experienced in the field, and the techniques they used to capture unforgettable moments with wildlife. Their journeys remind us that the most powerful wildlife photographs are not only about technical excellence, but also about patience, passion, and a commitment to celebrating and protecting the incredible diversity of life on our planet.

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KAUSHIIK SUBRAMANIAM

How did you get interested in photography?

I’ve always been interested in photography since I was a child. I was taking film photos at family events and in the garden - pretty much anywhere I went. I didn’t know much about what I was doing technically, but I had fun doing it. Since completing my Master’s degree in wildlife conservation, I have been pursuing wildlife photography & filmmaking full-time.

What is your favourite type of photography?

Wildlife for sure. But I enjoy travel photography a lot as well. Capturing culture, beautiful landscapes and timeless moments.

What are your aspirations as a photographer?

To help people fall in love with the animals that I document, so that they will try their best to protect them, even if they will never see them in person.

For you what is photography? And what are you thinking when you are shooting?

It’s about documenting real moments in the wild, incredible behaviours, things that most people will never be lucky enough to see. I try to capture those moments as true to what they are as possible, and translate that through a screen or paper to people in their homes.

Where can our readers find out more about you? Instagram? Personal webpage?

Instagram & TikTok @kaushman, Facebook & YouTube @kaush and my personal website www.kaush.net. I share moments from the wild in a variety of different ways across all the platforms.

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PREETI & PRASHANT CHACKO

We are Preeti and Prashant Chacko, a husband-and-wife duo based in Dubai who work together as @composingthewild. We think of ourselves as storytellers in the wild rather than wildlife photographers in the conventional sense. We would like our images to feel less like records of a sighting and more like moments worth lingering over, which is a different ambition from the species count or the iconic shot.

Born and raised in India, we moved to South Africa in 2010. Our love story with safari and photography developed soon after this move. We lived in South Africa for five years, and later two years in Kenya. Although we've since returned to Dubai, Africa never left us. The wild became home in a way no place else ever has. Every holiday we take now circles back to it — safaris, long grass, the rhythm of animals moving through their lives. It is rejuvenating in a way that nothing else is.

For years, we photographed in Africa alone. We have since been lucky to travel and photograph in India and Alaska. Alaska was a dream come true for Prashant, to finally photograph bears in the wild as bears have been his favorite animal since childhood.

Over years of photographing, we realised we weren't photographing animals. We began to see in wildlife the same stories that move us in our own lives: the bond between parent and child, the intensity of rivalry, the weight of loss. A lioness teaching her cubs to hunt, the grief of an elephant standing over her calf — these are moments when animals feel emotions just as we humans do. And we’ve tried to capture these moments we have been privileged to witness and showcase these human-like traits.

We love to show our work in black and white. In the absence of colour - form, gesture, and emotion take centre stage. We also believe that an image in monochrome leaves room for viewers to keep discovering new layers and adding their own interpretation. We would like our images to hang large on walls and reward people on the thousandth glance as well as the first.

You can find more of our work at www.composingthewild.art and on Instagram at

@composingthewild.

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PANAGIOTIS XAXIRIS

My journey into photography started almost by accident, but it quickly turned into an absolute passion. It all began when I was messing around with a simple point-and-shoot camera. I randomly switched it to Manual mode while inside a dark room. I set the shutter speed to 5 seconds, and when the camera captured a clear, detailed image out of almost complete darkness, I was in absolute shock. Seeing what the camera could "see" in the dark blew my mind.

From that night on, I was hooked. As a self-taught photographer, I spent countless hours teaching myself the basics of exposure and light. I started by capturing the night sky, chasing stars and long exposures. My obsession grew so fast that just eight months after first switching to Manual mode, I found myself traveling to Iceland to shoot the Northern Lights. That trip was a turning point, and as they say, one thing led to another.

Today, my focus has shifted towards wildlife and nature photography. I love the thrill of the chase and the patience it requires. I often build my own hides, waiting in silence for hours just to capture a split second of an animal’s natural behavior. Photography has become the perfect excuse to travel the world, explore untouched landscapes, and connect with nature on a deeper level.

For me, photography is more than just taking pictures; it is a way to freeze time and share the raw, unseen beauty of our world. When I am out shooting, my mind goes completely quiet. I am fully in the zone, focused only on the light, the environment, and the story of the subject in front of my lens.

Moving forward, my aspiration is to keep traveling, exploring new corners of the globe, and raising awareness about wildlife conservation through my images.

You can find out more about my work on my Instagram @panos_xaxiris.

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Don't forget to take a look to our other open photo contests for more opportunities to showcase your skills and creativity. Explore them here: www.theartistgallery.art/open-contests