About

Advertising

Contact

Polar bear swimming beneath the Arctic ice, captured by Audun Rikardsen with icy landscape surrounding.

Audun Rikardsen Captures Polar Bear Under Arctic Ice, Wins Top Prize in Ournature Awards

User avatar placeholder
Written by Sam Johnson

2026-10-16

Polar bear submerged, possibly hunting, as seen from below through icy water.
This could be the last thing an Arctic seal ever sees. | Photo by Audun Rikardsen

The 2026 Ournature Environmental Photo & Video Awards spotlight environmental storytelling through the lens of talented photographers. Norwegian wildlife photographer Audun Rikardsen claimed the overall prize with his mesmerizing image titled “A Seal’s Nightmare.” This striking photograph captures a polar bear from below, gazing through a breathing hole in the Arctic ice, offering an intimate underwater perspective.

Orangutan peering through lush leaves, part of Alain Schroeder's award-winning work.
Alain Schroeder won the Best Photo Story for his touching work with orangutans in Sumatra.

Alain Schroeder’s Heartfelt Orangutan Story Triumphs

Belgian photographer Alain Schroeder earned the Best Photo Story award with “Saving Orangutans,” a poignant visual narrative set in Sumatra, Indonesia. Schroeder’s work documents the critical efforts of conservation teams as they rescue and rehabilitate orangutans facing habitat destruction, conflict with humans, and trafficking threats.

For those interested in exploring transformations in design, Indonesian Home Transforms Spaces highlights an innovative approach in Indonesia, echoing themes of conservation and renewal.

Orangutan under a protective leaf canopy, monochrome presentation in Alain Schroeder's style.
Alain Schroeder

The series vividly portrays the emotional rigors and complexities involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, showcasing the tireless dedication of those striving to secure a future for these endangered primates.

Mother orangutan nurturing her baby amidst dense Sumatra rainforest foliage.
Alain Schroeder
Young orangutan gazes from behind tree trunk, illustrating innocence and curiosity.
Alain Schroeder
Orangutans interacting in dense greenery, capturing familial bonds in Schroeder's work.
Alain Schroeder
Orangutan hangs from branches, encapsulating natural wilderness and playfulness.
Alain Schroeder

A Celebration of Audun Rikardsen’s Wildlife Photography

The awards ceremony took place at Budapest’s Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center. This leading Hungarian institution recognized the creativity and activism driving the award-winning works. The winners’ photos, alongside other finalists, will be featured in a major outdoor exhibition at Széna Square, central Budapest.

Long-exposure night image reveals firefly light trails, showing wildlife's hidden activity.
Winner of the Carpathian Basin category. This atmospheric image reveals a hidden dimension of nocturnal wildlife. Created using a 108-second exposure, the image captures the luminous flight trails of winter moths moving through a moonlit forest. | Photo by Imre Potyo

This open-air exhibition, accessible to all around the clock, will be on display for a month, inviting the public to engage with impactful environmental images in an open and accessible setting. For more information, visit the official website.

Humpback whale feeds near fishing boat, dual view of water surface and underwater scene.
Winner of the Our Footprints category. A humpback whale feeds beside a herring fishing vessel during the polar night, captured in a split image showing the scene both above and below the surface. Each winter, vast schools of Atlantic herring gather in the fjords of Northern Norway, attracting hundreds of humpback whales and orcas. The whales have learned that fishing vessels can provide an easy meal, allowing them to feed on concentrated herring without having to hunt. But this opportunity comes with serious risks: humpback whales can become entangled in fishing nets, causing injuries or drowning, while also damaging fishing equipment. Northern Norway. | Photo by Audun Rikardsen
Cerro Dominador solar plant, mirrors in geometric pattern reflect sunlight towards central tower.
Winners of the Solutions category. Aerial view of the Cerro Dominador solar power plant, its central tower surrounded by a vast field of mirrors reflecting sunlight towards it. The geometric pattern of the heliostats transforms the Atacama Desert into an extraordinary technological landscape. The 210 MW complex was the first project in South America to combine concentrated solar power (CSP) with photovoltaic technology, harnessing the intense solar radiation of one of the driest and sunniest regions on Earth. Atacama Desert, Chile. | Photo by Matjaz Krivic
Great spotted woodpecker feeds chick in low trunk nest, showcasing natural care.
Winner of the Pure Nature – Air category. A great spotted woodpecker returns to feed its chick in an unusually low nesting cavity in the trunk of an old oak tree. The low position of the nest offered a rare perspective on the intimate moment between parent and chick. Hornosvratecká Highlands, Czech Republic. | Photo by Jan Pokluda
Polar bear swimming beneath the Arctic ice, captured by Audun Rikardsen with icy landscape surrounding.

Source: petapixel.com

Frequently asked questions

Who won the overall prize at the 2026 Ournature Awards?

Norwegian wildlife photographer Audun Rikardsen claimed the overall prize with his image titled ‘A Seal’s Nightmare’, which captures a polar bear from below, gazing through a breathing hole in the Arctic ice.

Where was the Ournature Awards ceremony held?

The awards ceremony took place at Budapest’s Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center.

What does Alain Schroeder’s award-winning photo story depict?

Belgian photographer Alain Schroeder earned the Best Photo Story award with ‘Saving Orangutans,’ a narrative documenting conservation efforts in Sumatra, Indonesia to rescue and rehabilitate orangutans facing threats such as habitat destruction and trafficking.

More in

Photography

All Photography

More like this

Night stargazing in an igloo on the North Pole captured in the pictures

Art Meets AI: Antti Karppinen’s Stunning Tribute to Finland

Awesome Art Photography Of Squirrels By Irene Mei

Charming Reflected Landscapes Show The Beauty Of South Korea

Series of "Underwater Playground" photos with professional freedivers

Diving Deeper: Meet the 2023 Underwater Photographer of the Year

Menu