Snow Moose

Matthew Henry's Image

Waiting in the car, Matthew spotted this moose in the snow. As it approached him, Matthew’s chance for a creative portrait came when the moose paused to drink from a puddle. Every few seconds, the animal looked around, its head contrasted against its dark, wet fur. Matthew experimented with shutter speeds to capture both the snowfall and the details of the moose’s face.

The moose, or elk, is the largest living species of the deer family, known for its long, unmistakable muzzle. It also has long legs, which help it stride through snow. Particularly heavy snowfalls, however, can make progress slow and attack from grey wolves more likely. The moose is adapted for freezing conditions in winter when it grows a thick, insulating undercoat.


Behind the lens

Matthew Henry

Matthew focuses on telling stories of wildlife through intimate portraits. The goal of his photography is to evoke emotions from the viewers to create an appreciation for our natural world and inspire people to protect our environment. Matthew is currently studying conservation enforcement at college to prepare for a career as a natural resource law enforcement officer.

Image details

  • Nikon D800
  • 70–200mm f2.8 lens
  • 1/1600 sec at f4  •   ISO 1000
  • Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.

Support our important work


Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.

Donate now

Discover more

Sign up to our newsletter

Receive email updates about Wildlife Photographer of the Year news, events, science, products, services and fundraising activities. We may occasionally include third-party content from our corporate partners and other museums. We will not share your personal details with these third parties. You must be over the age of 13. Privacy notice.