From the Yorkshire Moors to Belgium: My Grouse Image Exhibited at Concours Emotion’Ailes

One of the most rewarding parts of wildlife photography is never knowing where a single image might take you. This summer, I’m thrilled to share that one of my photographs—a red grouse overlooking the Yorkshire Moors—has been selected as a finalist in the Concours Emotion’Ailes competition in Belgium.

The image will form part of an international touring exhibition, opening in September, celebrating the diversity and beauty of birdlife through the lens of photographers from around the world.

The Story Behind the Image

The red grouse is an iconic bird of the British uplands, blending almost seamlessly with the heather that blankets the moors. On the day I captured this shot, the landscape was covered in late afternoon light, and the bird’s posture—alert, proud, and defiant—seemed to capture the spirit of the moors themselves. There had not been any hunting of the grouse that year to allow numbers to recover and was great to see them doing well.

For me, this image is more than a portrait of a bird; it’s a reflection of the wild spaces that inspire my work and the fragile balance between nature and the environments we share.

The Exhibition in Belgium

Concours Emotion’Ailes is a competition dedicated to bird photography, drawing entries from across Europe and beyond. To have my work reach the final stages and be exhibited alongside such talented photographers is an honour in itself. The awards ceremony will be held on 6th September, when the winners of each category will be announced.

I’m considering a road trip from the UK to Belgium to see my image hanging on the gallery wall—a journey that feels like a fitting way to celebrate this milestone.

Looking Ahead

Whether or not I bring home an award, seeing my grouse image travel to an international audience is a reminder of why I began this journey in the first place: to share the beauty of wildlife and inspire others to notice and protect it.

If you’d like to follow along, I’ll be posting updates on Tiktok @rksimages