Competition 2024

Alexa Keefe is the senior photo editor for wildlife at National Geographic magazine, shaping the visual narrative for cross-platform stories related to conservation, natural history, and the intersection between humans and animals. She first joined National Geographic in 2011 as a photography producer and then became one of the founding editors of Proof, National Geographic’s award-winning digital series highlighting the experiences of visual storytellers from around the world. She is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and has served on the jury panel for the PA2F Environmental Photography Award, College Photographer of the Year, and the Social Documentary Network’s ZEKE award; she was a featured speaker and workshop leader at the Indian Photo Festival. Alexa’s photo editing work has been recognized by the National Press Photographers Association, Pictures of the Year International, and the Society of Publication Designers. (photo: Rebecca Hale)

Rachael Talibart is a professional seascape and coastal photographer based in the UK. Her critically acclaimed photographs of the ocean and coast have been featured in the press all over the world. Rachael is represented by galleries in UK, Germany and the USA and she is the author of four monographs.She grew up on the coast in a yachting family and this close connection with the ocean informs her work. Rachaelgraduated from the University of London with a Masters degree in Literature and Art and her work draws on themes she studied. Rachael owns f11 Workshops, providing photography day tours and workshops in the South of England and she leads photography tours for international fine art business, Ocean Capture.

Marcus Westberg is a conservation photojournalist, travel photographer and writer, based in Portugal. A scientist by training and a storyteller by choice, he splits his work between conservation organisations -primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and his native Sweden, where he has been documenting the clear-cutting of the country’s native forests since 2020 -and various news, travel, nature and photography publications. His images have won numerous documentary and photojournalism awards, including at the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Marcus is a contributor to The Evidence Project and the Remembering Wildlife books, a Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and a Sony Wildlife Explorer.

Matt Maran is a wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and founder of Hemisphere Publishing, specialising in producing top tier photo-books.He has received multiple awards for his photographs and his wider collection is represented by Nature Picture Libraryand published worldwide through channels such as The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, BBC Wildlife, and National Geographic. Matt's filmmaking contributions extend to the BBC's Natural World Series, Springwatch, Channel 5, Light & Shadow and the Natural History Museum. Beyond his individual pursuits, Matt collaborates with both commercial and non-profit entities, using video and print to spotlight conservation initiatives. Noteworthy accolades include wins in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Big Picture, Montphoto, and the British Wildlife Photography Awards. His latest collaboration, Fox, Neighbour Villain Iconco-created with photographers Neil Aldridge and Andy Parkinson, delves into the fascinating and contradictory relationship the British have with the red fox.

Stephan Fürnrohr was born in Regensburg in 1972 and developed an enthusiasm for photography as a teenager. Ever since he spent time exploring northern Sweden's national parks with two friends at the age of 17, Stephan has been afflicted with the "Arctic virus". Father of two children, Stephan is both an entrepreneur and a member of the Berufsverband Bildender Künstler. He runs his own photo gallery in the picturesque town of Kallmünz, an artist colony near Regensburg.

Laurien Holtjer

As the Head of Communications at Rewilding Europe, Laurien Holtjer is responsible for Rewilding Europe’s communications and marketing strategies and operations, both at a central level and across all rewilding areas. She is an experienced communications professional within the field of nature conservation. In 2005, Laurien graduated with an MSc in Tropical Nature Conservation from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, after which she decided to specialise in the field of communications to inspire audiences and connect people with wild nature. Before Rewilding Europe, she worked as a journalist and communication manager in the field of nature conservation. Rewilding Europe fulfils her personal desire to work towards wilder nature, and a wish to make more people aware of nature’s beauty and innate resilience.

Neil Aldridge

Neil Aldridge is Creative Content Manager at Rewilding Europe and a past winner of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year title. As a photographer, he has used his work to increase understanding and awareness of conservation issues, and to inspire change. His photography has been published by National Geographic, as well as in BBC Wildlife magazine and the collaborative Remembering Wildlife and Photographers Against Wildlife Crime book projects. He is a winner of World Press and British Wildlife Photography awards. Having grown up in Africa, some of his most significant work has focussed on endangered African wild dogs, rhinos and pangolins. Yet, in recent years, he has devoted his time to documenting European wildlife, such as bats, badgers and foxes, with a particular emphasis on society’s relationship with these species.