Austrian Josef Stefan Named Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A Rare Shot
Josef Stefan, a photographer from Lower Austria, has caused a sensation by being named Wildlife Photographer of the Year by the Natural History Museum in London. Out of more than 60,000 images submitted from 113 countries, an international jury selected 25 finalists — and the passionate nature photographer emerged as the winner.
His award-winning photograph, The Flying Rodent, captures an Iberian lynx playing with a captured rat.
The image was taken during a three-day stay in Spain. On the second day of observation, the photographer managed to capture a truly extraordinary moment.
«The lynx repeatedly tossed the rat into the air and caught it again. The entire scene lasted about 15 minutes. It’s a typical feline ritual — playing with prey before eating it.»
A self-taught photographer, Stefan spent years patiently waiting for the perfect shot. He specializes in photographing wildlife in their natural habitat, often spending weeks in the field. His technique relies on observation without interference — the ability to disappear, to become part of the landscape so that animals do not sense a human presence.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious competition in nature photography, often referred to as «Oscars» of the field. This year, the contest received a record number of submissions. The jury, composed of leading global experts, praised not only the technical excellence of Stefan’s image but also its rare emotional depth: the lynx appears not as a predator, but as a playful, almost human-like creature.
Stefan is the first Austrian to receive this award in the past 15 years. In his hometown of Ziersdorf, he is already being hailed as a national hero.
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