Thai PBS, in partnership with the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST), is proud to announce the overwhelming success of the ‘Thai PBS Life Takes Flight Photo Contest’.
Over 2,000 photo and video submissions were received from across the country in just two months. The response reflects a growing passion for nature conservation among Thais of all ages, particularly among younger generations who are channelling it through creative visual storytelling.
Vanchai Tantivitayapitak, Director General of Thai PBS and one of the contest judges, said he was both surprised and delighted by the volume and quality of entries. "What struck me most was the standard of work from our youth participants. It was virtually indistinguishable from that of the general public category," he said. "It shows just how deeply young people care about the natural world. A great bird photograph captures the bird's life and character in its natural environment. Thailand is home to over a thousand species of birds and Thai PBS intends to support this contest every year. We will also be expanding our natural science documentary programming to inspire more Thais to see nature as something close to home and worth protecting together."
Dr. Petch Manopawitr, President of the BCST, shared his perspective on what makes a compelling avian photograph. "A great image should represent the bird's environment and capture an interesting behaviour - feeding, nesting, raising its young," he said. "Birdwatching is far more than a hobby. It offers people a genuine way to detox from social media and decompress from daily stress. Birds are the clearest indicator of environmental health around us. When people start paying attention to birds, they begin to understand the quality of the nature in which they and they become important allies in protecting it." He encouraged aspiring photographers to invest time in studying avian behaviour, noting that understanding the subject always makes for richer, more rewarding photography.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a BCST committee member, emphasised the power of visual storytelling. "A complete photograph should have both beauty and strong composition, but also convey something about how the bird lives," she said. "Many award-winning images don't come from the most expensive equipment or the rarest species. They come from creativity, timing and the time spent in nature."
The judging panel also included wildlife photographers and Full Frame programme hosts Smith Sutibut and Baramee Temboonkiat.
Paphaphorn Chalermvanich, Director of the Public Communications and Marketing Centre at Thai PBS, said the contest was designed from the outset to be accessible to everyone - encouraging youth and the general public to step outside, observe the birds around them and share those stories through photography and video. "This is about promoting environmental learning, raising awareness of biodiversity and showing that conservation can be driven by the power of creative communication," she said.
The contest was open across two age categories:
- Youth (15–22 years) and
- General Public (22 and above)
Entries in four formats were accepted:
- Still photography (youth)
- Still photography (general public)
- Short video clips (open to all ages)
- Mobile phone photography, on the theme of ‘Birds Near My Home’
The Winners
Still Photography - Youth Category
- First Prize: From Parent to Children — Mueangpai Suetrong
- Second Prize: The Value of Life — Thamboon Uiyannonwara
- Third Prize: Wyrd of the Green Wanderer — Atiruj Thongthiew
- Honourable Mention: Cute Hunter — Uracha Supattarametakul; Hornbill Takes Me Flying — Weeradet Tamkhuan
Still Photography — General Public Category
- First Prize: Golden Light on Wings… Captivating Every Eye — Hannarong Seekhun
- Second Prize: Joyful — Natthaphon Premboon
- Third Prize: Successful Hunt — Ponwat Thaipinnarong
- Honourable Mention: Heart of the Mountains — Natchaphon Luecha; Happy Family — Sarawut Wanset
Short Video Clip Category
- First Prize: Mischievous — Wutthinan Jantori
- Second Prize: Pink Palace of Love — Jakkrit Trongdee
- Third Prize: Swaying with the Seed-Spreading Bird — Kanoksak Detchaboon
- Honourable Mention: You Know Me Less Than You Think, Nice to Meet You — Pornchai Uengpinitpong; Unity is Strength for Breakfast — Phumjaroern Jirasuwanpakdee
Mobile Phone Photography — ‘Birds Near My Home’ (Popular Vote)
- Riverside Nest of a Little Architect — Setthawut Yon-in
- Screech — Sompong Nahom
- Overlapping Freedom — Teerayut Butsabong
- Feeding the Olive-backed Sunbird Chick — Sirilak Chuenjit
- Zoom Your Heart Shaped Face — Nantaporn Suracharoenchaiyakul
Awards Ceremony
The awards will be presented on 3rd July 2026, from 7:30 am until noon, at the Thai PBS Building ‘A’ Courtyard. The ceremony will be accompanied by a panel discussion on ‘Bird Photography and the Power of Communication for Conservation’, a bird photography exhibition and a community exchange for nature and photography enthusiasts.
Visit www.thaipbs.or.th/birdphoto2026 for full details and to view the winning entries.
