Daryl Balfour & Wim van den Heever

One long-term contributor to Remembering Wildlife and the latest addition to the competition's judging panel look forward to the 11th book in the series

- DARYL BALFOUR

Remembering Giraffes will be published in October. As with every book in this successful series, it features images captured by the world's leading wildlife photographers. Here, Daryl Balfour and Wim van den Heever look forward to the book.

As a longstanding contributor to Remembering Wildlife, what qualities do you think elevate a good image into a great one during judging?

Use of light is key, along with a sense of uniqueness – either in the subject or in the behaviour being captured. A great image stands out immediately, whether through exceptional light, a rare moment, or a fresh way of seeing something familiar.

You've been involved with Remembering Wildlife since the early years. What first drew you to the initiative and what keeps you returning?

I was on a flight from Samburu to the Mara, sitting opposite Margot Raggett, and we realised we had independently witnessed an elephant that had died after being poisoned. Later, Margot contacted me about the first book, Remembering Elephants, and I jumped at the chance to be involved. I return because it's such a powerful conservation initiative and a tangible way for me to give something back.

Having witnessed the evolution of Remembering Wildlife, do you have a favourite in the series?

They are all favourites, as each book represents a different species and conservation challenge. That said, the latest edition, 10 Years of Remembering Wildlife, stands out. It brings together a superb selection of images from across the series, along with some new work, and feels like a fitting celebration of everything the project has achieved.

You've seen firsthand how much the series has raised for conservation. Did you ever imagine it would have this impact?