From a single prize won in 2020 to Egypt’s most celebrated annual wildlife photography event — the story of the fifth edition is one of community, passion, and the extraordinary natural world waiting to be discovered along the Nile.
Aswan Birdwatching: A Proud Official Sponsor
We are thrilled to announce that Aswan Birdwatching was an official sponsor of the Fifth Annual Exhibition of Wildlife Photographers in Egypt, held at the iconic Adam Henein Hall, Hanager Arts Center at the Egyptian Opera House in Cairo, running from July 4 to July 9, 2026.
This milestone event brought together Egypt’s finest wildlife photographers under one roof, celebrating the country’s extraordinary natural heritage through more than 150 stunning photographs depicting Egypt’s wildlife in all its diversity, from the birds of the Nile Valley to the reptiles of the Eastern Desert and the marine life of the Red Sea.
Joining us among the event’s official sponsors were Nikon, OSME (Ornithological Society of the Middle East), iCamp, Dayma, Cam Market, and the Union for Arab Photographers — a lineup that reflects both the reach and the seriousness of this exhibition on the regional and international stage.
What Made the Fifth Edition Special
Inaugurated by Dr. Sherif Bahaa El-Din, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), this year’s edition marked a significant evolution in the exhibition’s scope and ambition.
Previous editions of the exhibition had focused solely on bird photography. The fifth edition expanded to encompass macro photography, insects, mammals, reptiles, and underwater marine life, opening the frame to reveal the full richness of Egypt’s biodiversity, from the microscopic world of insects to the majestic spectacle of Egypt’s wild mammals.
The opening ceremony culminated in the announcement of the competition results, with prizes awarded across the main category as well as dedicated awards for outstanding entries in macro, reptile, mammal, and bird photography.
Ahmed El-Shishtawy, a founding member of the exhibition’s organizing team, described what draws photographers to this event year after year: the shared sense of mission — not just to create beautiful images, but to document, preserve awareness, and celebrate the biodiversity that Egypt’s natural landscapes still hold.
How It All Began: A $1,000 Prize That Changed Everything
The story of this exhibition is one of those rare moments where a personal win becomes a collective gift.
In 2020, artist and photographer Ahmed El-Shishtawy won first place in the prestigious BirdLife International competition — a prize that included a cash award of $1,000 intended for the young photographer to organize his own solo exhibition.
But El-Shishtawy had a bigger idea.
Instead of a solo show, he used the prize to launch a group exhibition for all Egyptian wildlife photographers, inviting Arab artists to participate and creating a space where the entire community could meet, exchange knowledge, and grow together.
In his own words: “I found that the group exhibition would be better and more impactful, because it would represent a bridge between bird photographers, a golden opportunity to get to know each other and communicate, allowing for the exchange of information and experiences on bird species in Egypt, their locations, and the best equipment and techniques used in photographing them. This represents a strong boost and revitalization of this field.”
That first edition in 2020 became the nucleus of what is now Egypt’s most important annual wildlife photography platform, now celebrating its fifth consecutive edition in July 2026, coinciding with 20 years since the founding of Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE).
Aswan’s Photographers Shine on the National Stage
One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s exhibition for us at Aswan Birdwatching was witnessing the strong, visible presence of photographers from Aswan — a city that continues to establish itself as one of Egypt’s most important wildlife photography hubs.
Among the Aswan participants whose work graced the exhibition walls:
Amr Hady, founder of Sobek Planet — exhibited a striking photograph of a Reed Cormorant
Ismael Khalifa, founder of Aswan Birdwatching — showcased a dramatic image of a Yellow-billed Stork in flight
Youssef Ashraf, bird photographer at Aswan Birdwatching — presented a masterful black-and-white study of a Pied Kingfisher
Haitham Fahmy — exhibited a captivating Egyptian Goose portrait
Adel Mahmoud — showcased a powerful Great Cormorant image
Mohamed Abdelsattar — contributed an atmospheric Gray Herons photograph
Zainab Saady — exhibited her Great Cormorant study
Mohamed Rabie — displayed a breathtaking photograph of Great White Pelicans
Eight photographers. Eight species. Eight different ways of seeing the same extraordinary river that runs through all of our work.
This collective presence on the national stage is more than a moment of pride — it is evidence of a growing, vibrant community of wildlife documentarians rooted in Aswan, using their lenses to tell stories that the world needs to hear.
Our Gift to the Winners: Two Free Birdwatching Trips to Aswan
As part of our sponsorship, Aswan Birdwatching will reward 10 winners in the best photos category with two complimentary birdwatching trips in Aswan — a gift we have chosen deliberately.
Because the best way to honour a wildlife photographer is not with a trophy. It is with an experience.
Aswan sits at one of the most extraordinary confluences of bird migration routes in the world — where the Sahara Desert meets the Nile Valley and the gateway to Lake Nasser opens up. Our tours regularly log 40 to 65 bird species in a single session, including Near Threatened species like the Ferruginous Duck, iconic Nile residents like the African Swamphen and Pied Kingfisher, and seasonal visitors that travel thousands of kilometres to spend part of their year on our stretch of the Nile.
For a wildlife photographer, Aswan is not a destination. It is a revelation.
Why Aswan Birdwatching Sponsors Events Like This
This sponsorship is not a marketing exercise. It is an expression of who we are.
Our mission — since the day we founded Aswan Birdwatching — has been to document, protect, and share the natural heritage of this region. We contribute data to iNaturalist as an official Ambassador. We are among Egypt’s top contributors on eBird. We were the first Egyptian bird guide ever featured on 10,000 Birds, the world’s leading birding publication — placed alongside destinations like Costa Rica, Kenya, and Brazil.
We believe that wildlife photography and wildlife tourism are two sides of the same coin. Every photographer who points a lens at an Egyptian Goose or a Great White Pelican is doing exactly what we do on every tour: bearing witness to a natural world that deserves to be seen, celebrated, and protected.
Supporting this exhibition is our way of saying: this community matters. This work matters. And Egypt’s wildlife deserves every frame.