16 absolutely stunning images from the 2020 British Photography Awards

Our picture editor Lucy Ford picks out some of the finest from among the 320 shortlisted images entered for the 2020 British Photography Awards.

Herdwick Shearlings in Great Langdale, Cumbria, by James Buttenshaw / British Photography Awards
Herdwick Shearlings in Great Langdale, Cumbria, by James Buttenshaw / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: James Buttenshaw / British Photography Awards)

The 2020 British Photography Awards took place this week, showcasing an incredible array of talent — as the pictures on this page show — and raising money into the bargain. You can see the full list of winners and runners-up by category at the British Photography Awards website.

Some 320 images were shortlisted, ranging from portraits and nature images to abstracts, fashion shoots and candid snaps of everyday life. Pictures were sent in from across the world (the only eligibility rule is that the photographers have to be either British or based in Britain), with 90% of the proceeds from entry fees going towards a range of charitable causes.

We've picked out some of our favourites from among those honoured by these awards — to see more, and find out more about the competition and the charities it helps, visit www.britishphotographyawards.org.


Ethereal Mushrooms ©Jonathan Lodge/British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Jonathan Lodge/British Photography Awards)

'A shadow from the past', an image of Cowdray ruins by Maciej Natkaniec / British Photography Awards

Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, 14 Sept. 2019.©Mark Allan / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Mark Allan / British Photography Awards)

A 21st century viking funeral? Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland, is Europe's largest viking fire festival, and was captured by Gordon Siegel / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Gordon Siegel / British Photography Awards)

Highlands Cow by Tomasz Kowalski / British Photography Awards

Highlands Cow by Tomasz Kowalski / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Tomasz Kowalski / British Photography Awards)

The Tree Hopper by Keith Trueman / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Keith Trueman / British Photography Awards)

Wimblehall dam in Somerset, pictured by Robert Tyler / British Photography Awards

Wimblehall dam in Somerset, pictured by Robert Tyler / British Photography Awards

A swan and its mother on the Norfolk Broads by Jonathan Casey / British Photography Awards

A swan and its mother on the Norfolk Broads by Jonathan Casey / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Jonathan Casey / British Photography Awards)

Booby's Bay in Cornwall by Matt Warren / British Photography Awards

Booby's Bay in Cornwall by Matt Warren / British Photography Awards

Herdwick Shearlings in Great Langdale, Cumbria, by James Buttenshaw / British Photography Awards

Herdwick Shearlings in Great Langdale, Cumbria, by James Buttenshaw / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: James Buttenshaw / British Photography Awards)

Royal Pavilion at Twilight by Phil Bedford / British Photography Awards

Royal Pavilion at Twilight by Phil Bedford / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Phil Bedford / British Photography Awards)

'Hitching a ride' by Jason Meadows / British Photography Awards

'Hitching a ride' by Jason Meadows / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Jason Meadows / British Photography Awards)

The Natural History Museum pictured by Hazel Parreno / British Photography Awards

The Natural History Museum pictured by Hazel Parreno / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Hazel Parreno / British Photography Awards)

Rame Head Halo by Oliver Dickinson / British Photography Awards

A 13-second exposure of a drone circling this remote chapel in Cornwall was used to take 'Rame Head Halo' by Oliver Dickinson / British Photography Awards

Morning sun in Bushy Park, London, by Amanda Cook / British Photography Awards

Morning sun in Bushy Park, London, by Amanda Cook / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Amanda Cook / British Photography Awards)

Heather management on the North York Moors by Paul Anthony Wilson / British Photography Awards

Heather management on the North York Moors by Paul Anthony Wilson / British Photography Awards
(Image credit: Paul Anthony Wilson / British Photography Awards)

A bald eagle and a red fox tussle in mid-air over a European rabbit in San Juan Island National Historical Park in Washington state.
(Image credit: Kevin Ebi)

10 breathtaking photographs from the 2019 Audubon Photography Awards

Winning photos and honorable mentions were selected from 2,253 entrants from all over the United States, Washington D.C. and 10

Collision Course by Philip Selby, taken on a lake in Wiltshire ©2018 British Wildlife Photography Awards

Collision Course by Philip Selby, taken on a lake in Wiltshire ©2018 British Wildlife Photography Awards
(Image credit: ©2018 British Wildlife Photography Awards)

The magical beauty of Britain, shown at its very best by the British Wildlife Photography Awards

Over the course of the last 10 years the British Wildlife Photography Awards have done a wonderful job of showcasing

Llighthouse at Point of Ayr in North Wales

Llighthouse at Point of Ayr in North Wales
(Image credit: James Farley)

15 mesmerising aerial photographs which showcase the beauty of Britain

An eerily beautiful picture of a lighthouse in Wales has won the inaugural '400ft Britain' award for aerial photography.

Adrian Graham and his giant Aldabra Tortoises

Credit: Richard Cannon/Country Life Picture Library

Country Life's top 10 nature stories of 2019, from mesmerising photographs to the bird that can screech as loud as a fighter jet

Nature, in all its beauty and ferocity, was celebrated in these unforgettable articles.

©Landscape Photographer of the Year awards - Ken Rennie

Credit: ©Landscape Photographer of the Year awards - Ken Rennie

15 majestic photographs of Britain that will inspire you to enter the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards

If you've taken a superb photograph of Britain in the past year, you're still in time to submit it to

©OPOTY/Anya Burnell

Credit: OPOTY/Anya Burnell

Eight breathtaking photographs from the Outdoor Photographer of the Year award

Lucy Ford
Lucy Ford, a former press photographer, has been Country Life's picture editor since 2016. As well as finding stunning pictures for us, she is also regularly asked to judge international photography competitions.
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