SUMMARY
The Grand Prize winner of the 2026 Environmental Photography Award is Britta Jaschinski's "Handprint on Sea Turtle," an image captured in a wildlife forensic lab. The photograph, which reveals a human handprint on a turtle's shell using ultraviolet light and fluorescent powder, was chosen over more traditional nature scenes. The award, now in its sixth year, also recognized category winners for images depicting forests, humanity vs. nature, oceans, and polar regions, highlighting diverse environmental issues.
TAKEAWAYS
"Handprint on Sea Turtle" won the Grand Prize at the 2026 Environmental Photography Award.
The winning image was taken in a lab using ultraviolet light, not in the wild.
The award celebrated diverse environmental themes across multiple categories.
The winning photograph highlights forensic science in wildlife crime investigation.