The University’s Sustainability Team is delighted to announce the winners of the Earth Day photography competition, delivered in partnership with Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU).
More than 100 inspiring entries were received from across both institutions, with the top 20 shortlisted images now on display as part of Earth Week celebrations.
To celebrate Earth Day 2026 (22 April), the competition invited staff, students and alumni from both institutions to submit photographs on the theme ‘Stories of Sustainability.’ Participants were encouraged to capture perspectives on our changing planet, from the impacts of climate change to the actions, innovations and everyday choices that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Earth Day 2026 is centred on the global theme ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ highlighting the collective power we all have to protect the environment and drive positive change. Here at the University, we are committed to addressing the twin challenges of climate and biodiversity change through our Sustainability Strategy. This sets out commitments to reducing our environmental impact, supporting social equity, and building on our strengths in research and education to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Entries were submitted to an exceptional standard from across both institutions. The range of images showcased creativity, technical skill and powerful storytelling, capturing moments of beauty, challenge, hope and action from across two continents. Judges from across the University and Guild of Students praised the originality and emotional impact of the submissions, making the final selection incredibly difficult.
University of Liverpool winners:
1st Place: Ross Gracey - Let’s ‘av it mate!
Description: Antarctica is one of the last truly untouched ecosystems on Earth. Here, the effects of climate change are becoming impossible to ignore. While conducting fieldwork for my PhD, I captured a moment where an Adélie penguin was forced onto the ice due to the rapidly melting sea ice surrounding. It found itself face to face with a formidable predator. Despite the odds, the penguin stood its ground in a bold face-off. This image serves as more than a snapshot of survival; it reflects our own position in the face of a changing climate. Like the penguin, we are being pushed into uncertain territory, and yet we have the choice to respond with courage. Through science, education, and sustainable action, we can confront these challenges and play our part in protecting the fragile systems that sustain life on our planet.
2nd Place: Roberto De Almada Gomes - Feeling like a fish yet?
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Description: This image captures a fleeting moment in which nature and human neglect collided. Strong winds had carried rubbish from an overfilled container into the sea, creating a deeply unsettling scene. The water, instead of offering purity, is scattered with fragments of human presence drifting aimlessly across its surface. They move without resistance, as if the ocean has been conditioned to accept them. Nearby, a man stepped into the water, unaware at first of what lay ahead. Then he stopped: hesitation, surprise, perhaps even disbelief. In that instant, he became a reflection of us all, caught between expectation and reality. Pause, inaction, shock. As I photographed this moment, a deeper question arose: Is this what marine life experiences every day?
3rd Place: Jim Humphries - Light pollution
Description: March 2024, 11pm. Location: A remote lookout point in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Wild bush dogs howling nearby in the darkness. This view of Mt. Kilimanjaro with the Milky Way as its backdrop was once a renowned pristine ‘Dark Sky’ site. However, rapid growth of sustainable tourism has brought with it extensive light pollution which is clearly visible in this image, silhouetting trees and bushes and even the mountain itself. This was taken on my 60th Birthday trip of a lifetime to safari in Kenya.
XJTLU winners:
1st Place: Ying Shao - Dusk sentinel at Dushuhu
Description: Standing sentinel in the golden glow of a sunset over Suzhou’s Dushuhu Bailu Park, this white egret is framed by the lake’s rippling, honey-hued waters. Its silhouette, mirrored perfectly on the calm surface, captures a quiet moment of harmony between wildlife and urban nature – an ode to Earth Day, celebrating the delicate balance of life that thrives in our shared green spaces.
2nd Place: Xinan Cai - Between hand and wing
Description: At Yuantouzhu, Wuxi, a red-billed gull reaches mid-air to snatch bread from a visitor's hand. This fleeting interaction reveals the blurred boundary between wildlife and human presence. While feeding creates moments of connection, it also raises questions about intervention, how human actions may reshape natural behaviours and potentially affect fragile ecosystems.
3rd Place: Zhelun Yang - Spirit of the Wetlands
Description: This photo was captured in Danzhou, Hainan, featuring the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. With a global population estimated at fewer than 500 individuals, this unique creature, recognizable by its iconic spoon-shaped bill, is literally standing on the precipice of extinction. This tiny bird undertakes an epic, perilous migration across thousands of miles, and its survival now depends entirely on the health of a few crucial stopover sites. The loss of these muddy coastlines to pollution or development would silence this species forever. Its struggle for existence is a direct reflection of our impact on the planet. This photo is a powerful call to action, urging us to recognize that the preservation of biodiversity is a moral imperative.
Celebrating Stories of Sustainability
The six winning photographs stood out for their creativity, impact and ability to tell meaningful stories through a single image. From intimate encounters with wildlife and reflections on environmental change, to moments of harmony between people and nature, each winning image offers a unique perspective on sustainability and our relationship with the planet.
Together, the winning entries demonstrate the power of photography to connect people emotionally with global challenges and inspire positive action.
Exhibition now open in Abercromby Square
Winning photographs, alongside the top 20 shortlisted submissions from Liverpool and XJTLU, are now on display in an outdoor exhibition in Abercromby Square as part of the University’s Earth Week celebrations. Opening on Earth Day, the exhibition will remain in place until mid-June and also forms part of celebrations marking XJTLU’s 20th anniversary.
Staff, students and visitors are warmly encouraged to visit the exhibition and experience these striking visual stories of sustainability in person, including the full stories behind each image. A parallel exhibition is also taking place at XJTLU in China, celebrating the creativity of both university communities across two continents.
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Together, the winning entries demonstrate the power of photography to connect people with global challenges on a personal and emotional level.
You can also explore the online Stories of Sustainability gallery and we’ll be sharing more entries throughout the week across University of Liverpool and XJTLU digital channels, so please keep an eye on our social media platforms.
Thank you
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this competition and exhibition possible, especially the staff, students and alumni who submitted such thoughtful, creative and inspiring work.
We hope these photographs encourage you to reflect on your own relationship with the environment and the role we all play in shaping a healthier, fairer and more sustainable planet.
Find out more
Explore the Stories of Sustainability gallery here.
To learn more about sustainability at the University of Liverpool, and how you can get involved, visit: liverpool.ac.uk/about/sustainability
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