Pakistani wildlife photographer Awais Ali Sheikh has won first place in the wildlife category of the 2026 Drone Photo Awards for his photograph of two snow leopard cubs resting on a rocky mountainside in northern Pakistan.
The winning photograph, titled Hidden in Plain Sight, shows the young animals blending into the rocky landscape, making them difficult to spot at first glance. The image was captured in Ghalapan village, Gilgit-Baltistan, and highlights the natural camouflage that helps snow leopards survive in mountainous areas.
The winning photograph, titled Hidden in Plain Sight, shows the young animals blending into the rocky landscape, making them difficult to spot at first glance. The image was captured in Ghalapan village, Gilgit-Baltistan, and highlights the natural camouflage that helps snow leopards survive in mountainous areas.
Sheikh received the international award during a ceremony held in Siena, Italy, on October 10. The Drone Photo Awards are part of the Siena Awards festival, which recognises photographers who capture nature, wildlife, people and landscapes from the air.
According to festival information, this year’s competitions received more than 40,000 photographs from 163 countries.
Sheikh, who was born and raised in Pakistan and is now based in Portugal, focuses on wildlife photography, particularly snow leopards and other wild animals. His achievement has also drawn attention to Pakistan’s rich wildlife and the need to protect endangered species and their natural habitats.
