BWPA 15 Judge Spotlight: Ellie Rothnie
The 15th British Wildlife Photography Awards is in full swing, so we turned the spotlight on this year’s judging panel - exploring their connection to wildlife photography and the experiences that led them here.
Read on to discover more about wildlife photographer, speaker and Canon Ambassador Ellie Rothnie - including her top tips for entering this year’s competition!
What inspired you to take up nature photography, why did you choose to make it your career and what do you love most about it?
It started the moment my dad put a film camera in my hands. I was a little girl, but he treated me like a fellow explorer. We weren’t just taking pictures — we were learning how the world fits together. Trees, rivers, mountains… all of it. That curiosity never left me.
I took the “sensible” route first. Marketing job, office life, the whole thing. But nature kept tugging at me. About twenty years ago I started shooting more seriously, and by 2016 I hit that tipping point. I realised I couldn’t keep ignoring the thing that lit me up.
Leaving my marketing career was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure. But the moment I stepped away from the corporate world, I felt like I could breathe again. I haven’t looked back.
Every time I’m out in the field, I’m reminded that Nature is bigger, wiser, and more intricate than we give it credit for. Wildlife photography isn’t just about capturing an image — it’s about understanding your place in the tapestry of life. That’s what keeps me going.
If you’re thinking about making a similar leap, start with passion, stay with curiosity, and trust that the path will reveal itself once you take the first step. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to begin.
Tell us about a highlight and a lowlight of your career
The pure highlight came in 2023. Canon invited me to join their Ambassador Programme for EMEA. I’ve photographed with Canon my entire life, so to be recognised by them at that level… it was extraordinary. It felt like a full‑circle moment — the little girl with a film camera finally being seen by the brand she grew up with.
It was incredibly validating. Not just professionally, but personally. It was a reminder that following my passion — even when the path wasn’t straightforward — was absolutely worth it.
And on the other side of my journey, the pandemic, without question, was tough for me as it was for so many people. Being a freelance photographer during that time was incredibly challenging. Work vanished overnight. The uncertainty was heavy. But it also forced me to rethink, adapt, and reconnect with why I do this in the first place. In a strange way, that lowlight sharpened my purpose.
The highs remind you what’s possible. The lows remind you why you keep going.
BWPA 15 is now open for entries!
Submit your images by 7th June 2026.
If you could go back to when you were just starting out, what advice would you give yourself?
I’d tell her to trust her instincts far more than she thinks she can. The path won’t always be clear, but the passion is real — and that’s enough to begin. I’d remind her that she doesn’t need to have everything figured out. Every photographer, every creative, every explorer starts with uncertainty. What matters is staying curious and taking the next step, even when it feels small.
I’d also tell her not to be afraid of the detours — the marketing job, the long hours, the moments of doubt, the knock-backs. All of it shapes you. All of it feeds your perspective. And one day, it becomes part of the story you’re proud to tell.
I think the biggest thing is to keep going. Keep learning. Keep looking closely at the world. The journey will take you exactly where you’re meant to be.
What is your favourite British species, landscape or habitat to photograph and why?
For me, it’s the Red Squirrel. I’ve been photographing these endearing little mammals for the past decade, and they never stop surprising me. They’re full of character — expressive, curious, and incredibly fast. They test the autofocus capabilities of any camera, which keeps me on my toes. But beyond that, they have this charm that’s impossible to resist. Every encounter feels special.
Red squirrels are at risk, and that makes their story even more important to tell. Photographing them isn’t just about capturing a beautiful moment; it’s about raising awareness and celebrating a species that needs our attention and protection. When a species captures both your heart and your lens, it becomes a privilege to share their story.
© Ellie Rothnie
Show us your favourite photo that you have ever taken - why is it your favourite and what is the story behind it?
If I had to choose a single favourite photograph — the one that stays with me no matter how many years or images pass — it would be this moment with the three male giraffes in the Maasai Mara.
Not because it’s the most dramatic thing I’ve ever witnessed, or the rarest, or even the most technically complex. It’s my favourite because of what it felt like to be there.
Three male Maasai giraffes were standing close together in sun‑washed grass. Their bodies formed this gentle arc, each coat showing a different pattern of rich markings.
What stands out is the symmetry. They’re close enough that their bodies overlap, creating a feeling of unity, yet each one holds its own posture and presence while testing the strength of each other with their necks. The background is bright, minimal, and photographed in high-key, which pulls your eye straight to the trio — their height, their elegance, and the subtle tension in how they’re positioned.
© Ellie Rothnie
What is the most challenging shot you have ever captured - and why?
This image represents an idea that I had in my mind for many years before I took it: the African elephant carrying the sun on its tusk.
A clean silhouette looks simple, but it’s a tiny miracle when it works. You need perfect light, perfect shape, perfect timing — and you control none of it. The animal has to step into the right place, strike the right pose, and separate cleanly from the horizon in the few seconds as the sun is rising. It’s graphic, unforgiving, and utterly dependent on luck meeting preparation.
© Ellie Rothnie
Which BWPA category is your favourite and why?
It has to be ‘Animal Portraits’. I’m known as an animal portrait photographer, so it’s the one that resonates most deeply with how I see the natural world. Portraits allow you to connect with an animal on a level that goes beyond behaviour or environment. It’s about character, presence, emotion — capturing a moment where the viewer feels like they’re meeting that animal, not just observing it. When it works, it’s incredibly powerful.
A great animal portrait reveals something intimate and honest. It’s a privilege to be able to create that connection, and it’s why that category will always be my favourite.
You can see the full list of BWPA Categories here.
What are your top tips and advice to entrants - how can they make their images stand out?
A good image shows skill. A competition‑winning image shows vision. Judges see thousands of technically competent photographs — sharp, well‑exposed, nicely composed. But the images that rise to the top have something more: intention, emotion, and a point of view.
I believe that technical skill is the baseline — it gets you through the door. What wins is storytelling. It’s the image that makes a judge pause, lean in, and feel something. Maybe it reveals behaviour you don’t often see. Maybe it shows a familiar species in an unfamiliar way. Maybe it captures a moment that feels unrepeatable.
Slow down. Really observe. Spend time understanding your subject — its rhythms, its habits, its environment. The more deeply you connect with what you’re photographing, the more authentic and powerful your images become.
