Wildlife Photographer of the Year - Animal portraitsWildlife Photographer of the Year - Animal portraits 

This is ‘On Watch’ by John E Marriott from Canada. This photograph was taken in the Yukon in Canada, and it is the 2024 category winner of ‘Animal Portraits’. This photograph shows a group of lynxes. There's one in the centre which seems to take the form of a circle. Its posture makes it look like it has a round body. This lynx perhaps takes up one third of the photograph. It seems like it is sitting down or crouching low. It's big paws are at the front and centre of its body underneath its head. They're very close to the body. It's on a flattish surface that's covered with white snow. There are very few shadows on the ground. It really looks like a white blanket. The Lynx is looking straight ahead. Its eyes look almost half sharp. Maybe there's either too much light or too much wind. The eyes are a greeny grey colour and almond shaped. Underneath on the lower lid there is a white eyeliner. The Lynx has a pinkish brown nose and on its bottom lip it looks like there are flecks of snow. Why is it there? Has it tried to catch something? There are also a few flecks of snow on its head. Its whiskers look like a fancy moustache that someone might swirl in their fingers. At first when you look at the photograph you see 1 cat, it's only as you start looking closely that you think actually there are two others. The two others are either side of its central lynx. They sit behind this main one. The one on the right hand side of the photograph looks like it is just peeking out to take a look. Perhaps it is cautious. You can only see half of its face, so you can only see part of its eye and half its nose, half of its lips and a few whiskers. But you can still see the ears. They look like perfect triangles with black edges, and they have this black tuft that sticks out on top. They look like an antennae, like 2 mini antenna. There's the same black tuft of hair on top of the ears of the central lynx too. In fact, you can see the ears of all three lynxes with the black bit that points straight out from the top of the triangle. As well as the one lynx on the right hand side of the central one, there is a third that sits behind the central cat and to the left. There is more of that one's body, but you can't see too much of its face. Just a little eye that's sticking out from above the bottom of the central one. All three seem to be huddling together, perhaps to keep warm. The lynx on the right looks a little cautious, whereas the one in the front has quite a confident look. Perhaps it is being protective of the two that sit behind it. Perhaps they're a family. Their fur is a silvery grey with specks of white. It looks really thick. There's also a hint of warmth in the colour. Maybe a foxy orange like brown with warm tones. Those paws at the front. They look huge. In the snow in front of the group are a few short branches. There are no leaves on them. There are also some low twigs that look like they may have some buds on them. It definitely feels like a winter scene. These branches frame the view of the group. In the background are the leafless twigs or branches. These are similar shades to the flower of the animals. The lynx definitely blend into the snowy landscape and grey, silver light branches. Their thick coats are clearly keeping them warm.