Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026: Meet India's Sitaram Raul who won the award for scorpion image in Rajasthan

Indian photographer Sitaram Raul has won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 for Shifting Sand, capturing a scorpion burrowing into Rajasthan’s Thar Desert after hours of patient observation.

An Indian wildlife photographer has earned international recognition for an image that captures an easily overlooked moment in the desert: a scorpion digging into the sand to escape the rising heat.

Sitaram Raul wins ‘Oscars of Wildlife Photography’

Sitaram Dinkar Raul won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category at the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organised by London’s Natural History Museum. His photograph, titled Shifting Sand, was selected from more than 65,000 entries submitted from around the world.

Often described as the Oscars of wildlife photography, the competition recognises images that document the natural world through technical skill, originality and compelling storytelling. Raul’s winning entry stands out for focusing not on a large predator or an iconic mammal, but on the survival behaviour of a small desert-dwelling creature.

Who Is Sitaram Raul?

Raul is an Indian photographer and fine artist whose work focuses on wildlife, macro photography and unconventional ways of presenting nature. Based in Badlapur, Maharashtra, he has spent around 14 years developing his photographic practice, experimenting with lighting, composition and perspective to reveal details that might otherwise escape attention.

His recognition at the 2026 competition builds on an earlier achievement. In 2025, his photograph Nature Reclaims its Space, featuring fruit bats emerging from a historic monument in Maharashtra, received a Highly Commended distinction in the Urban Wildlife category at the same competition.

Raul's approach reflects a wider interest in subjects that are often overlooked. Rather than simply recording an animal's appearance, he experiments with light and framing to tell a story about its behaviour and surroundings.

The Story Behind The Award-Winning Photograph

According to the Natural History Museum, Raul was exploring the sand dunes near the village of Sam in Rajasthan's Thar Desert at night when he noticed scorpions searching for prey. As sunrise approached, the creatures began burrowing into the sand to escape the intense heat.

The behaviour offered a brief opportunity to capture something unusual. Raul timed his exposure to freeze the grains of sand thrown into the air as the scorpion excavated its burrow, creating the striking effect seen in Shifting Sand.

The photograph was taken using a Nikon D750 camera, a 105mm macro lens and a Godox flash. The technical details matter because the subject was small, the movement fleeting and the surrounding landscape challenging to photograph.

According to The Better India's account on X, Raul had initially travelled to Rajasthan to photograph the stars. The unexpected encounter redirected his attention to the scorpion, and capturing the moment required three to four days of observation and repeated attempts. The decisive opportunity lasted only about 90 seconds.

The image also highlights an intriguing adaptation. The Natural History Museum notes that the Indian Buthacus scorpion uses its pincers to dig into sand, while stiff, elongated bristles known as sand combs help prevent it from sinking into the dunes.

Raul's win places the spotlight on wildlife that rarely receives the attention given to larger animals. In the shifting sands of Rajasthan, a brief act of survival has become an internationally recognised photograph.

About the Author

Trisha Bhattacharya is a Senior Content Producer at Livemint, with over two years of experience covering entertainment news from India and beyond. She spends her days tracking what’s trending, breaking down pop culture moments, and turning fast-moving entertainment stories into sharp, engaging reads that actually make people want to click — and stay. <br> She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from Lucknow University, a background that shapes her love for layered narratives, strong voices, and stories that linger long after they’re told. Before joining Livemint, Trisha worked with India Today as an entertainment journalist and film critic. There, she reviewed films, covered industry news, and built a strong foundation in storytelling and cultural analysis. <br> Trisha enjoys working at the intersection of media, culture, and audience interest, always looking for fresh angles and formats. Films, shows, and music are not just her beat but her biggest passion — something that naturally reflects in her writing. Whether it’s cinema, streaming shows, music, or internet trends, she approaches every story with curiosity and intent. <br> Outside the job description, she’s unapologetically passionate about films, shows, and music — sometimes a little too passionate, if you ask her. That enthusiasm often spills into her work, adding personality, urgency, and a touch of chaos that keeps her writing alive. For Trisha, entertainment isn’t just a beat — it’s a language she speaks fluently.