Polar bear resting among pink flowers wins a major nature photography prize

A photograph of a polar bear resting among pink flowers received the top distinction at the Nature Photography Contest 2025. The image, entitled “Polar Bear Amid Fireweed Blooms” and made by photographer Christopher Paetkauwas selected by the international jury; the organisers reported a €1,000 prize. The competition presented the picture as its overall winning image.

The organisers described the photograph as “surreal”. It shows the polar bear resting among fireweed — a plant with vivid magenta flowers — in the warm light of sunrise. The colour of the flowers creates an unusual setting for this Arctic wildlife image. The soft morning light and the dense flowering plants make the animal appear unexpectedly at ease in the landscape.

Paetkau described the encounter as brief and peaceful. According to the competition account, the jury valued the way the image brought wildlife, landscape and photographic craft together. The account remains the photographer’s description of the moment rather than a broader scientific claim about polar-bear behaviour.

The competition was open to professional and amateur photographers and presented awards across ten categories, including landscapes, underwater life, plants and birds. Other selected images ranged from a young desert fox investigating a camera to a whale photographed after a collision with a ship. Together, the categories showed different approaches to documenting habitats, animal behaviour and the pressures affecting wildlife.

For the community ProFloristthe photograph is a reminder that flowers can shape the mood and meaning of a visual story. Here, the contrast between pink fireweed and the polar bear makes the relationship between plant life, wildlife and place especially visible. For florists and other visual practitioners, it also illustrates how colour and setting can change the way a subject is perceived.

Tree planting — a prize with an impact

The organisers also linked the award to a conservation initiative. They stated that the Photographer of the Year would work with One Tree Planted to select a location for the planting of almost 500 trees. This was presented as part of the competition’s stated environmental contribution.