A pupil at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire has won the 11–14 Years category of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition.
Oscar’s winning image, ‘Labour of Love’, was taken on a family game drive in Zimbabwe. It shows a dung beetle trying to push its ball of dung up a sandy slope, followed closely by a cluster of flies. Oscar tried several angles to get the shot, and the result turns a tiny moment of perseverance into a striking picture.
The competition is huge. Now in its 62nd year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 attracted more than 65,000 entries from 121 countries, and Oscar is one of just 19 category winners. This year also made history: for the first time, both overall grand titles went to black-and-white photographs.
Speaking to the BBC, Oscar said he hoped the image would encourage others to notice the smaller moments in nature. “I hope that when people look at the photograph, they can see too, and maybe appreciate how much can be happening in a small moment in the natural world.”
Stonyhurst upgraded its photography studio in September 2025. Deputy Head Academic Sarah Joseph says the school is “incredibly proud” of Oscar, adding that the picture shows “not only technical skill and creativity, but also the patience, curiosity and attention to detail required to capture something truly special”.
We love this one. There’s a tendency to think wildlife photography means big cats and long lenses, but Oscar’s picture is a reminder that some of the best images are found by slowing down and looking closely at something most people would drive straight past. As teachers, it’s exactly the kind of approach we try to encourage in our own students.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 key details
- Category: 11–14 Years
- Image: ‘Labour of Love’
- Location: Zimbabwe
- Entries: more than 65,000 from 121 countries
- Category winners: 19
- Competition: 62nd year, run by the Natural History Museum, London
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 exhibition
‘Labour of Love’ will be on show in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London, which opens on Friday 16 October 2026. More about Stonyhurst’s photography programme is on the Stonyhurst College website.
