#Galápagos Islands

Winning the Water Life category at the British Photography Awards 2024 was an incredible honour and a dream come true for me. As a wildlife photographer, it’s the culmination of years of dedication to capturing the beauty and complexity of the natural world. The award-winning image of the seal was taken in the Galápagos Islands that I was privileged to explore on an expedition with HX.

Have you heard? The Galápagos Islands are overflowing with unique bird species. Many of the birds found across the archipelago cannot be found anywhere else in the world. When you explore, look out for these unique species. Depending on the season in which you are travelling, you will have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.

One of the most defining factors of Galápagos is the wide selection of animal species that are endemic to the islands. The “Big15” animals are the most iconic breeds across the archipelago. During your trip to Galápagos, you are likely to encounter the majority of these animals.

The iconic wildlife of Galápagos – from giant tortoises to scaly iguanas – is for the most part unbothered by human presence, making photographic encounters all the more rewarding.

Considered by many as one of the most amazing natural wonders in the world, sea stacks have long attracted ramblers, climbers, geologists, and photographers with their mysterious locations, seemly solitary nature, and the millions of years they take to form. Luckily, it doesn’t take long to learn where you can see them and how a sea stack is formed.