February 2026 Wildlife Photography Contest Beginner Category Winner

In early January, I travelled to northern Sweden to photograph golden eagles from a remote hide. Each day was spent inside a small wooden shelter in temperatures ranging between -10°C and -28°C. The cold was constant, and the landscape lay silent under snow. I waited for sunrise each morning, watching the light change and hoping for an eagle to appear.

Hours passed with little movement. Then a fox appeared at the edge of the forest. It moved slowly across the frozen ground, searching for food, its presence stark against the icy surroundings.

Although my aim had been to photograph golden eagles, the fox became the undisputed highlight of the trip.