The Guild of Photographers awards 2023

In February, The Guild of Photographers (TGOP) hosts its annual Awards Ceremony, a highly anticipated event among its members. This year's grand ceremony unfolded at the elegant Doubletree Hilton in Stoke-on-Trent. The event serves as a platform to acknowledge outstanding accomplishments, presenting coveted titles such as 'Image of the Year,' 'Photographer of the Year,' and the prestigious 'Photographers Bar' within specific categories. Winning any of these awards marks a noteworthy achievement for photographers.

I'm excited to announce that my efforts throughout the year were met with success, earning me several mentions during the Awards Ceremony. My primary objective was to achieve the Photographers Bar in the Natural World Category. The Guild defines this distinction as a prestigious acknowledgment of consistent excellence in photography. To attain the Photographers Bar in a specific category, members must submit a portfolio of four images, each scoring a minimum of 70 points in the Guild's meticulous evaluation process. Once earned in one category, members can strive to achieve this honor in other categories.

Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I secured the title of 'International Top 10 Photographer Of The Year' in the Natural World category. It was truly gratifying to see my image featured in the awards' official book, showcasing all the finalists.

These achievements serve as strong motivation for the upcoming year!

Top ten image of the year

Had some great news recently that one of my images has been selected by The Guild of Photographers as a top ten image of the year in the wildlife catagory. The final is in February where I will find out if I have won image of the year, but just to be shortlisted is an achievement in itself! See below a statement fro the Guild themselves;

The Guild is a highly respected UK based association for photographers, which has members from overseas as well. Each year it runs an online monthly photographic competition, judged by internationally respected judges, with awards given to the best entries. 



During 2023, the competition attracted c12,000 entries from the most talented of photographers.



It has recently been announced that from all the entries across the year, the Guild’s Judges have selected no more than 10 images in various genres to go forward to the annual Image of the Year Final. Those selected really are the best of the best, and an image(s) by RKS Images is one of those selected as a Finalist!



Guild Director Lesley Thirsk said “One of the Guild’s aims is to drive standards and creativity amongst photographers. Our competition certainly does that, for the standard of the entries we see each month is quite staggering. To have an image recognised by the Guild in the monthly competition is difficult enough, so to have an image selected as being one of the best in a category for the end of year Final is without doubt an incredible achievement, and shows just how talented photographer, RKS Images is.”

Badgers in Scotland

I recently had the opportunity to photograph wild badgers for the first time in Scotland.

Badgers are elusive creatures, known for their distinctive black and white markings and strong, stocky build. They are also known for their strength and ferocity, making them a formidable opponent in a fight. However, despite their reputation, badgers are also incredibly beautiful animals, and I was able to capture this beauty in these images.

I spent hours in the freezing Scottish countryside, patiently waiting for the badgers to emerge from their setts. I was eventually rewarded with visits from multiple badgers and  at one point there were 3! I was so excited to see them, but had to remain quiet so as not to disturb them. As it was night I had to use flashes and an LED light on constantly to light the scene, thankfully the badgers were completely oblivious to them.

Unfortunately, wild badgers are becoming increasingly rare, due to habitat loss and other human activities. This is a tragic loss, not just for the badgers themselves, but for the entire ecosystem. Badgers play a vital role in their environment, and their absence will have far-reaching consequences.

This is why it's so important that we take care of British wildlife. We need to protect the habitats of these animals, and take steps to reduce the impact of human activities on their populations. We also need to raise awareness about the importance of wild badgers, and other species, so that people can understand why it's so important to protect them.

I hope these photographs of these wild badgers in Scotland are a beautiful reminder of the incredible animals that call this country home. It's important to remember that these animals are not just pretty to look at, but also play an important role in the ecosystem. We must take action to protect them, so that future generations can enjoy their beauty as well.