Francesco Guffanti Photographer

18/02/2026

Time for Hunting
Birds in Flight: COMMENDED
Francesco Guffanti, Italy

'Cloudy days are the Golden Eagle’s favoured hunting days, as the lack of direct sunlight reduces the risk of the bird casting a shadow on its prey, increasing the chance of a successful attack. I know the habits of this pair of eagles very well, the birds usually frequenting the rock face together. The large ancient larches frame the scene, a tribute to the wild mountains where I live.'

Nikon Z 8 with Sigma 500mm f/4 Sport lens. 500mm; 1/250s; f/9; ISO 160

🏆️Entries have closed and judging is underway for BPOTY 2026! Thank you for all your submissions. Join the newsletter on the website for all the latest updates!🏆️

13/12/2025

06/10/2025

BIRD BEHAVIOUR: GOLD AWARD
Angel or Demon
Francesco Guffanti, Italy

'A Red Deer killed by a car in the pine forest near to where I live provided a fantastic opportunity to document the activity of carnivores and scavengers visiting the carcass. With the help of a friend I positioned and camouflaged a motion sensor and two mirrorless cameras nearby. To avoid any disturbance I avoided the use of flashes or any other type of artificial light. After foxes, crows and some small birds had paid a visit, most unexpectedly, and despite the thick blanket of branches, a Golden Eagle appeared and descended to feed on the carcass. It was an unforgettable experience.'

Nikon Z 6 with Nikon Z 24–70mm f/4 lens. 35mm; 1/250s; f/5; ISO 4,000

🏆️BPOTY 2026 is now OPEN for entries! Enter your photos before December 14th 2025 for your chance to take home the title and a £3,500 cash prize!🏆️

Find more information at birdpoty.com

15/04/2025

🏆️ The BPOTY 2024 Winners are announced TOMORROW! 🏆️ We can't wait to share them with you... stay tuned!

THE ROCK PTARMIGAN REALM

Francesco Guffanti, Italy

Rock Ptarmigan
Lagopus muta

Aosta Valley, Alps, Italy

Category: Birds in the Environment 2023

Reaching the realm of Rock Ptarmigans was a challenge in itself. However, when I arrived, the breathtaking spectacle made it all worthwhile. On a frosty late autumn afternoon, the last rays of sunlight illuminated the Mont Blanc mountain range. This provided a stunning backdrop for a male Rock Ptarmigan, in almost full winter plumage, as it surveyed its territory.

Nikon Z 7 with Nikon 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 lens. 270mm; 1/1,600s; f/5; ISO 500

Join the newsletter on the website for all the latest updates: birdpoty.com

26/12/2024

In the Shadow of Mont Blanc

The wolf (Canis lupus italicus) has returned to the shadow of Mont Blanc. In recent years, I have followed the life of the pack, observing its hunting trips, the growth of the pups, and the social dynamics between them. It has been a unique privilege, for which I will always be grateful.
I discovered that wolves occasionally use this panoramic path during their hunting trips, so I set up a camera trap with the help of a PIR sensor and two flashes to capture their passage at the foot of the majestic Mont Blanc.
After several attempts and dealing with malfunctions caused by the freezing winter, I finally managed to get the shot I had long desired.
This photo is part of the project and photographic book Nuovi Equilibri, developed in collaboration with my friend André Roveyaz, documenting the return of the wolf to the upper Aosta Valley.

https://naturephotographeroftheyear.com/peoples-choice-award/2024-results/peoples-choice-2024-francesco-guffanti-in-the-shadow-of-mont-blanc/

26/12/2024

Angel or Demon

A young deer (Cervus elaphus) hit by a car and dead nearby gave me the fantastic opportunity to document the activity of carnivores and scavengers. With the help of my friend André we positioned and camouflaged a motion sensor and two mirrorless cameras. To avoid excessive disturbance I did not want to use flashes or any type of artificial light.
After foxes, crows and some small birds, the most unexpected animal appeared. Despite the thick blanket of branches, the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) decided to descend to feed on the deer. A tasty and irresistible call also for the queen of the Mont Blanc skies. Over two meters of wingspan, sharp claws and beak makes this bird of prey a perfect killing machine.
Wolves will also visit the carcass in the following days, consuming it entirely under the cover of darkness. No images of their passage but the awareness of not having interfered with the wonderful balance in the natural world. I took this photograph in a pine forest not far from the town where I live in the Aosta Valley, in the north-western Italian Alps.

https://naturephotographeroftheyear.com/previous-editions/npoty-2024-results/francesco-guffanti-angel-or-demon-runner-up-category-birds/

23/05/2024

https://www.illupoenoi.info

Il lupo e noi:conoscere per coesistereThe wolf and us: knowing to coexist Un viaggio fotografico nato da una ricerca di tracce invisibili, lunghe attese e conversazioni silenziose con il paesaggio alpino. Con queste parole i fotografi naturalisti André Roveyaz e Francesco Guffanti hanno descritto l...

06/05/2024

Per chi vorrà seguirci mercoledì sera…

La conoscenza del territorio è di fondamentale importanza per la realizzazione di un progetto fotografico che va a mostrare il ritorno di uno dei più famosi ...

20/03/2024

05/02/2024

Venerdì 9 febbraio, André Roveyaz e Francesco Guffanti presentano presso la di il libro fotografico "Nuovi Equilibri. Sulle tracce di un ritorno", esito di quattro anni di lavoro.

Appuntamento alle ore 18.00.
Evento gratuito.
Vi aspettiamo!
Comune di Aymavilles

05/02/2024

« Quei segni nella soffice neve di inizio inverno
rivelavano qualcosa che, fino ad allora,
esisteva soltanto nei nostri sogni… »

Vieni a scoprire il nuovo libro che ho realizzato con André Roveyaz...📷🐺

The book tells the story of the return of the wolf to the upper Aosta Valley through the eyes of the two photographers. The text accompanies the reader on the discovery of this elusive animal, through notes on the biology of the species and highlighting the fundamental role it plays within of the na...