10/03/2026

Jury MontPhoto 2026

Balance, Knowledge and Experience: The Jury that Nature Deserves 

For the 30th edition of MontPhoto, the most prestigious international nature photography competition in Spain, we have assembled an exceptional jury. Five perspectives. Five countries. One single mission: to recognise the images that best portray and define the natural world. 
The 2026 jury brings together scientific rigour, artistic sensibility and a deep commitment to conservation — a combination that reflects MontPhoto's founding values: photography as a tool for knowledge and for change. 
We are pleased to introduce the five photographers who will evaluate the images submitted to this edition. 

Melissa Groo 
USA  ·  https://www.melissagroo.com/  ·  @melissagroo 
 
Melissa Groo is a wildlife conservation photographer, writer, and conservationist based in the USA. A Sony Artisan of Imagery and Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers, she considers herself a "wildlife biographer" — telling stories through images and words that reveal the unique character of wild beings. As an assignment photographer for Audubon and Smithsonian magazines, she travels to remote corners of the world to document wild animals, their habitats, and the people fighting to protect them. Her work has also appeared in National Geographic, National Wildlife, and Living Bird. A leading voice on ethics in wildlife photography, she co-created the National Audubon Society's landmark Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and has advised major international organisations and contests on best practices. In 2020, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology released her online masterclass Bird Photography with Melissa Groo, featuring 40 instructional videos. She has received numerous awards, including the 2023 Jay N. Ding Darling Memorial Award for Wildlife Stewardship Through Art, and has served on the jury of prestigious contests such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2023) and Bird Photographer of the Year. 
 
Marco Colombo 
Italy  ·  https://www.calosoma.it/  ·  @marco_colombo_photography 

Marco Colombo is an Italian naturalist, photographer, and science communicator born in 1988, whose passion for wildlife began in childhood exploring snakes, insects, and the sea. He holds a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Milan, with research focused on vipers and wall lizards, and is a certified diving instructor and AIGAE environmental guide. His photographs and articles have been published in outlets such as National Geographic Italy, BBC Wildlife, and Ocean Geographic, and he has served as scientific consultant for RAI3's Geo programme. He has edited and contributed to numerous photography and identification books, exhibitions, and conferences on Italian wildlife. In 2007, he discovered a new spider species in Sardinia. He teaches at the Master's in Wildlife Communication at the University of Insubria and collaborates with protected natural areas. A three-time category winner at Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2011, 2016, 2018), his work has also been recognised at GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the World Festival of Underwater Images. He has served on juries of international contests including Asferico and Nature Photographer of the Year. 
 
Francesca Page 
United Kingdom  ·  https://www.francescapageart.com/  ·  @francescaapage  

Francesca Page is a British ocean explorer, visual artist, and award-winning wildlife photographer and conservation photojournalist. Working across photography, film, painting, digital illustration, and writing, she believes that art has the power to save the planet. She has travelled the globe capturing vital conservation and wildlife stories, focusing on the overlooked and untold narratives of our natural world. For the past decade, she has highlighted stories of bycatch, the illegal shark and ray trade, coral restoration, and rewilding efforts in the UK. Deeply curious about how visual communication can shift perspectives, her work shines a spotlight on misunderstood creatures, habitats, and urgent environmental issues. Beyond her creative practice, Francesca is a scuba diving instructor and freediver, passionate about connecting people with the underwater world. Her work has been recognised by the International League of Conservation Photographers, National Geographic UK, Ocean Photographer of the Year, and British Photographer of the Year. She has collaborated with organisations including the Blue Marine Foundation, Netflix, UNOC, and PADI. 
 
Dhritiman Mukherjee 
India  ·  https://dhritiman.com/  ·  @dhritiman_mukherjee 

Dhritiman Mukherjee is one of India's most accomplished nature, wildlife, and conservation photographers — an explorer and wanderer who spends 300 days a year in the wild. Over 25 years, he has worked across more than 50 countries, tackling some of the planet's most extreme environments: trekking the Himalayas in search of snow leopards, climbing an active volcano in Congo, diving underwater caves in Mexico, and reaching the depths of frozen Lake Baikal to photograph Baikal seals. He focuses on rare, endangered subjects and habitats, aiming to create work that is both visually compelling and scientifically essential. With over 400 photo stories published in BBC Wildlife, GEO, National Geographic, and The New York Times, he is also co-author of the books Magical Biodiversity of India and The Land of Mosaic. His awards include Wildlife Photographer of the Year (NHM), the Carl Zeiss Award, and the RBS Earth Hero Award — the latter two especially dear to him for recognising his contribution to conservation. He served on the jury of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 and India's 6th National Award for Photography. In recent years he co-founded Biont, a filmmaking collective dedicated to impactful conservation films, producing over 70 films in five years. He is currently ambassador for RoundGlass Sustain and Sony India. 
 
Ofelia de Pablo 
Spain  ·  https://ofelia-zurita.com/  ·  @ofeliadepablo 

Ofelia de Pablo is a Spanish documentary filmmaker, investigative photojournalist, and visual storyteller based between Madrid and London. Co-founder of Hakawatifilm alongside Javier Zurita, her work as a photographer, filmmaker, speaker, and writer has taken her to more than 60 countries to document the social, environmental, and political issues that define our times. Internationally recognised for her hybrid visual narrative, her multimedia stories have appeared in some of the world's most influential media, including The Guardian, National Geographic, The New York Times, TIME, Channel 4 News, GEO, Der Spiegel, and CNN. A Canon Pro Master, she delivers talks and workshops on multimedia production and its role in conservation and social impact, work validated by the prestigious World Press Photo organisation. Recent projects include conservation films supported by Wildscreen UK and a La Caixa Foundation grant. She has served on the jury of major international contests including GDT Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021, and received the Premio Periodismo al Límite from the Club Internacional de Prensa for her pioneering contribution to multimedia journalism.