Thai PBS, together with the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST), held the awards ceremony for the ‘Thai PBS Life Takes Flight Photo Contest 2026’ on 3rd July 2026 in the Thai PBS Courtyard, celebrating the power of photography to connect people with nature and drive environmental conservation.
Opening the ceremony, Director General Vanchai Tantivitayapitak reflected on the origins of the project, saying,
The Thai PBS campus, though not large, is remarkably rich and home to over 40 bird species, a small green sanctuary in the heart of Bangkok… As a public broadcaster whose logo is a bird, we feel a natural responsibility to be a bridge between people and the natural world. We believe that encouraging people to notice and appreciate birds is a gateway to understanding ecosystems, discovering other living things, and ultimately caring about conservation on a much broader scale.
He added that the contest was born of a simple but important idea: to remind young people and the general public that this world is not ours alone. "Birds are among the easiest wild creatures to observe. They live alongside us every day. They can open our eyes to the fact that we are just one part of a much larger ecosystem and help us understand why protecting that ecosystem matters," he said.
The event featured a panel discussion on ‘Bird Photography and the Power of Communication for Conservation’, led by wildlife and nature photographers Smith Sutibut and Baramee Temboonkiat, hosts of Thai PBS's Full Frame documentary programme. The two shared their experiences and exchanged views on the ethics of wildlife and nature photography, raising awareness of what it means to photograph responsibly and with respect for the environment.
Guests also took part in a Mini Bird Walk guided by BCST experts, exploring the variety of bird species that make the Thai PBS campus their home. The day concluded with the awards presentation across all four contest categories and a tour of the ‘Life Takes Flight’ exhibition, showcasing selected works from the competition on public display.
Winners' Voices
Hannarong Seekhun, First Prize winner in the General Public Still Photography category, said he fell in love with birdwatching while at university, after joining a nature camp, and has been spending his free time exploring the outdoors, photographing birds and logging sightings on the eBird app ever since. "The 'Life Takes Flight' project is a wonderful bridge. It inspires people to step outside and discover that the world around them is full of birds and other living creatures sharing our space," he said. "I would encourage everyone to go out and experience nature. It's not just relaxing, it's also one small way we can reduce our energy consumption and help address climate change."
Mueangpai Suetrong, a Mahidol University student and First Prize winner in the Youth Still Photography category, shared a touching story of how his mother first brought him to a birdwatching activity in primary school. "I was bored at first. I even cried and wanted to go home," he laughed. "But, once I started using a camera to photograph birds, everything changed. It became a passion." After more than ten years of observing nature, he began to notice changes in the environment around him, which led him to pursue a degree in conservation biology. "This contest uses photography brilliantly as a tool to build awareness… This was also the first competition I've ever entered seriously. Thank you to Thai PBS for creating something that genuinely inspires young people to care about nature," he said.
Phat Taboonpong, a student from Assumption College Thonburi who participated in the Mini Bird Walk, said the experience shifted his perspective entirely. Already interested in wildlife photography and production work, he had assumed birdwatching required deep forest expeditions. "I learned that city birds are actually very comfortable around people. They're easy to observe and photograph right where you are," he said. "I came away with both new skills and real inspiration. I hope Thai PBS continues to organise events like this."
Thai PBS remains committed, as public service media, to drive environmental awareness, creating spaces in which people can learn about and connect with nature through real experiences. We believe that a genuine appreciation of biodiversity is what changes behaviour, builds participation in protecting natural resources and lays the foundation for a truly sustainable society.
View all winning works from the "Thai PBS Life Takes Flight Photo Contest 2026" at www.thaipbs.or.th/birdphoto2026
