World Photographic Cup / Awards
The World Photographic Cup is a prestigious, Olympic-style event that celebrates the art of photography on a global stage. Canada joined photographers from 28 nations around the world to compete not only as individuals but as a cohesive team representing their country.
It’s the podium finish that everyone dreams of, not just for personal glory but to hoist the Canadian flag. And that’s just what Michelle Valberg did at the World Photographic Cup awards ceremony on April 25th in Reykjavik, Iceland where she earned a GOLD medal and Best of Nation award for the highest scoring Canadian Image. Michelle was part of a talented group of Canadian photographers that travelled to Iceland to attend the WPC ceremony in person. Canadian cheers echoed through the auditorium, high-fives were exchanged, and flags flew in shared jubilation as Team Canada’s images received one Gold medal, one Bronze medal and five Top 10 honours. Every victory makes a collective triumph for WPC Team Canada, which placed 6th in the World Photographic Cup competition.
“I am honoured to win the gold medal. To be in Iceland to receive it with Team Canada was even more special because my grandparents were born here”
2026 Gold Medal / Michelle Valberg
Michelle’s gold medal image, which also earned the Best of Nation Award as the top scoring Canadian image, is an intimate capture of a mother polar bear and her cub, standing on the stark volcanic rock of Scoresby Sound in Greenland. The bears pause, noses lifted, catching the scent of another female who has wandered into their territory. The deep contrast between the bears’ white fur and the dark basalt creates a powerful visual tension, a story of survival, instinct, and tenderness unfolding against one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth.
An acclaimed Canadian wildlife photographer and Nikon Ambassador Michelle Valberg’s images reveal the profound connection between nature and humanity. She previous won a WPC gold medal in 2022 and that same year was appointed to the Order of Canada. Through her lens, Michelle inspires conservation awareness and a deeper appreciation the wild places that shape our world.
