Polar bears took over an abandoned house and won Nature Photographer of the Year 2022

Nature Talks has announced the results of the Nature Photographer of the Year 2022 competition. This year, polar bears took the victory. Okay, not literally: it was Russian photographer Dmitry Kokh who took the photos of these animals in quite an unusual setting. His remarkable image House of Bears shows a polar bear in an abandoned weather station. And yes, you saw the entire series on DIYP earlier this year!

Of course, there are plenty other stunning photos among category winners, runner-ups and highly commended images. Folks at the Nature Photographer of the Year shared them with DIYP, so let’s check them out.

Seeing polar bears in an abandoned house is definitely not something you encounter every day. Dmitry photographed them when traveling to the Russian Arctic at Kolyuchin Island in the Chukchi Sea. He and his expedition spotted the abandoned buildings, but heard that there was some movement. When they came closer, they saw polar bears inside what used to be a weather station. It’s quite an amazing story, as well as photos, so make sure to read more about it here.

Other than the overall win, Dmitry’s image also won the Human and Nature category. Another image from this series made him a winner of Animal Portraits category. Judge member Karin Van Couwenberg explains why they chose Dmitry’s photo as the winner:

“Decades after people moved out, polar bears moved in. Dozens of polar bears have been making themselves at home in abandoned buildings on an Arctic Island. The photographer recently captured remarkable photos of the bears peering through windows and standing on porches. Both polar bears evoke the emotions of the audience effectively.”

Nature Photographer of the Year competition is organized by Nature Talks, which is also behind the yearly Nature Talks Photo Festival. Nature Talks is a nature photography event with a wide range of genres: macro, landscape, underwater, wildlife, and storytelling. Besides inspiring and educational talks by world class photographers, Nature Talks organizes live Q&As, masterclasses, and portfolio and photo reviews. The Nature Talks Photo Festival 2022 will take place at the beginning of March 2023, and you’ll have a chance to select your favorite photo for The People’s Choice Award while the festival lasts.

The contest also recognizes category winners, runner-ups, and three highly commended images in each category. Take a look at them below, and find more information and more highly commended images on the Nature Photographer of the Year’s website.