Finalists unveiled for BVA’s Veterinary Photographer of the Year 2023 competition

Hosted by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and sponsored by iM3 Dental, the competition showcases the day-to-day lives of vets, their colleagues, the animals they care for and wildlife they encounter. With three categories for entries – Vets at work, All creatures great and small and Happy pets that make us smile – this year’s submissions were an inspiring collection of photos featuring wildlife on the African plains, pets living their best lives on walks in the countryside and striking images of vets doing what vets do best – looking after the animals in their care.

The finalists for this year’s competition, which is now in its eighth year, are:

• Vets at work
  • A Gentle Touch by Sam Price. A Ring-tailed Lemur gently grasps the vet’s finger while recovering from an anaesthetic.
  • Mopping the Brow by Justyn Loveridge shows some light relief after a long procedure.
  • #Colostrumisgold by Sophie Aylett, captures the moment a young calf was up and on the teat before the cow’s muscle layers were even sutured up following a c-section.

• All creatures great and small
  • Roe Buck Running by Jenny Grewal, who photographed this roe buck as he ran through the mustard flowers in the fields of an estate on the Wiltshire-Hampshire border.
  • On the Shoulders of Giants by Katherine Edmondson. Taken at sunrise at Kwantu Game Reserve, South Africa, this image shows three red-billed oxpeckers hunting for insects on the back of a young giraffe in the early hours of the morning.
  • Cheeky Munch by Lilia Silva, who had gone to a local park in London to take photos of birds but couldn’t resist capturing a cheeky squirrel munching away on some berries.

• Happy pets that make us smile
  • Jumping for Joy by Sam Price. This photo features dog Winnie, who loves nothing more than a beach day.
  • Snow Focused by Alice Watson. Rusty the dog on a snowy day in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds.
  • Sheep-a-Doodle Do! by Charlotte Clough. A car boot overflowing with six 12-week-old puppies, in a vet surgery car park

Judges BVA President Malcolm Morley, vet and social media influencer Cat Henstridge and iM3 Sales Manager Sue Emmerton were all overwhelmed by the wealth of talent displayed in the submitted entries. 

On behalf of all three judges, BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “Judging this competition has been genuinely both extremely enjoyable and really difficult. The entries this year have absolutely surpassed expectations and the level of talent on display is amazing. However, the photographs we have chosen are all well worthy of being finalists. From photos that made us laugh out loud, to others that made some of us feel close to tears, they evoked a range of emotions, but we were also impressed by the quality of the images, the creativity of the photographers and the composition of the photos, as well as the stories behind the lens.

“We are looking forward to unveiling the overall winners at BVA Live and also can’t wait to find out what image is chosen as the very first People’s Choice winner! Make sure you come along to the BVA stand at BVA Live to cast your vote.”

The finalist’s photographs will be displayed at this year’s BVA Live at Birmingham’s NEC in May. The winners will be unveiled at a special prizegiving, to which each finalist has been invited to and received a complimentary ticket to attend. Winners will be eligible for £250 John Lewis vouchers.

Brand new for this year, is the ‘People’s Choice’ award, which has been created to give BVA Live delegates the chance to vote for their favourite image from the judges' shortlist. Members will be able to make their choice at BVA Live in May, with the ‘People’s Choice’ winner being announced in the weeks following the event.

Get the full programme for BVA Live at https://bvalive.vetshow.com. Follow the BVA on Twitter @BritishVets for news and information during the show.