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Beyond the Competition

2025
Competition
Winners

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grand prize winner

Black Grouse Showing Off

Tromsø, Norway
Audun Rikardsen | Tromsø, Norway

Grand Prize

Camouflage Rhino

Lemur's Tough Life

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar

A Common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) carries her baby on her back while making a harrowing leap from one towering cliffside to another. This remarkable image was captured after a day of persistence on the photographer's part—hiking an hour through rugged limestone terrain to her position. Only after waiting until the early evening did her patience pay off when this plucky primate emerged onto the scene, likely leading the troop in search of food. Ordinarily Brown lemurs have no set dominance hierarchy, with groups composed of males and females, old and young alike, but it appeared clear to this photographer that the focal lemur was the leader of the pack. This daring lemur navigated her group deftly through the sharp peaks and crevices of the stone forest, resulting in the immortalization of this once-in-a-lifetime leap. 

Donglin Zhou

Hangzhou, China

Donglin Zhou is a wildlife photographer and the co-founder of SKW Nature. Actively engaged in ecological conservation and the production of nature documentaries, her video project The Snow Leopard and Pallas’ Cat Chronicles was shortlisted in the Video Category of the 2022 China National Geographic Wildlife Photography Contest. In 2022, she served as the chief cinematographer for the documentary Autumn and Winter Diary of Dayan, an ecological civilization promotional film produced by the Ningbo municipal government. Zhou has received many awards, including: 2023 BigPicture Terrestrial Wildlife Category Winner, China National Geographic Wildlife Photography Contest’s Best Nature Photographer of the Year 2024, and the Highly Commended Award in the 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition hosted by the BBC. Her works have been displayed at the Natural History Museum in London, the California Academy of Sciences, the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, and the Wildlife Conservation Summit in Singapore.

See Jaime's behind-the-scenes video

Grand prize winner

The Forest Of The Monarchs

Jaime Rojo | Madrid, Spain
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Michoacán, Mexico

terrestrial wildlife winner

For Survival

Donglin Zhou | Hangzhou, China
Shiqu, Sichuan Province, China

Need stuff here too.

Aquatic Life Finalist

Talia Nicole Greis | Sydney, Australia

Theatre of War

Whyalla, Australia
In this painting-like scene, two male Giant Cuttlefish (Ascarosepion apama) fight over a nearby female. Every winter, these gliding giants gather in Whyalla to mate, lay eggs, and flaunt their camouflaging abilities. Below them, two separate clouds of ink are visible; like most cephalopods, cuttlefish eject ink in order to escape attackers or confuse predators. In this case, that defense mechanism may not have assisted in the struggle! 

Aquatic Life Finalist

Melanie Müller | Berlin, Germany

Yin Yang

Guraidhoo, Maldives
Your daily moment of zen: Two Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) engaged in a dinner dance. These rays famously feed in two ways: The first is called cyclone feeding, wherein hundreds of rays gather in high-density food areas, circling around to form a large swirl of predator and prey. In this image, we’re likely seeing the second way rays feed, a process called barrel rolling. The rays swim with their mouths open, circling backwards in the same spot to feed on as many small fish and plankton as possible. 

Aquatic Life Finalist

Angel Fitor | Alicante, Spain

Dystopian Seas

Murcia, Spain
A Mediterranean jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata) pulsates towards the surface during a “whiting” event in Mar Menor, the largest lagoon in Spain. In 2022, this expansive area developed a mystifying feature called “whiting”, wherein milky water covered most of the lagoon’s surface and did not go away. Scientists do not agree on the origins of this phenomena, but what is clear is that this murky water mires the local marine population through reduced visibility and sunlight blockage.

Aquatic Life Finalist

Hitomi Tsuchiya | Gotemba, Japan

Into The World Of Dreams

Kagoshima, Japan
At the southern tip of Kyushu, Japan, a Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) swims in a surreal scene just offshore of the volcanic island of Satsuma-iojima. The photographer attributes the fantastical colors to an “underwater aurora” composed of volcanic material, likely influenced by wind direction, water temperature, sunlight, and the tides. She notes that no single moment in the water during an aurora is the same thanks to these fluctuations, meaning this image is as dreamy as it is utterly unique. 

Aquatic Life Finalist

Nick Kanakis | Austin, Texas, United States 

Filling Up

Navarro County, Texas, United States
During a night hike in Texas wetland, this photographer came across two common members of the area’s herpetofauna entangled in a predation event: a Diamondback watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer) and American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). Though these species are often easily observable on their own, this particular scenario is incredibly unusual given its entirely unobstructed scene—making for one unforgettable photo. 

Aquatic Life Finalist

Georgina Steytler | Goode Beach, Australia

Mudskipping

Broome, Australia
After days and thousands of attempts, this photographer was finally able to capture this incredible midair moment of a Blue-spotted mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris) as it leapt out from the mud. As their name suggests, these amphibians use their pectoral and pelvic fins to ‘skip’ forward and can utilize their tail to move along the ground faster—making them just as adept at traversing land as the water. 

Aquatic Life

View Finalists in this category
Camouflage Rhino

Octopus Mother

West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

A rare glimpse of an Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus briareus) mother and her offspring. These octopuses are a solitary species and after mating hide themselves in extremely difficult to locate areas while tending to their eggs—some even figure out how to lock themselves within a space entirely! While in Palm Beach, this photographer got a tip that a Caribbean reef octopus could be found at the Blue Heron Bridge dive area, and—after four visits to the site to observe her—was finally able to document this exquisite specimen tending to her eggs. This image is bittersweet as it is beautiful, as it demonstrates the protective nature this species is known for; however, what isn’t observable is that this octopus will not eat while tending to her eggs—which means that this incredible invertebrate will die after the eggs hatch.

Kat Zhou

San Francisco, California, United States

Katherine ‘Kat’ Zhou is a nature photographer who specializes in underwater, landscape, and wildlife photography. She's particularly drawn to the underwater realm for its uniqueness and vibrance, and her portfolio reflects a deep affinity for marine life, education, and conservation. Her work has been featured in numerous competitions and publications worldwide, and her recent accolades include being named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023 by Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, as well as winning the overall Best in Show award in Ocean Art 2022—becoming the first woman to earn this designation.

See Shane's behind-the-scenes video

Aquatic Life winner

Tadpole Migration

Shane Gross | Nanaimo, Canada
Vancouver Island, Canada

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE Finalist

Mohammad Murad | Hatteen, Kuwait

No Eyes

Mongolia
A Pallas’ cat’s (Otocolobus manul) eyes are completely covered after a heavy snowstorm. Though this image presents a humorous portrait of a somewhat underseen species, the photographer notes that he wants to bring attention to the challenges faced by some Pallas’ cat populations, particularly in Mongolia. Major threats to the cats include being hunted for their pelts, poisoning of their prey species, and habitat fragmentation. 

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE Finalist

Dewold Tromp | Middleburg, South Africa

Pure Bliss

Chobe River, Botswana
Captured during a particularly dry and hot period, an adorable baby African elephant (Loxodonta africana) cools off on the riverbank after a long day of walking. The older elephants surround it, allowing the little one to relax and play in the water while being protected from crocodiles lurking nearby. 

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE Finalist

Sadie Hine | Arcata, California, United States

Exorcism

Manila Dunes, California, United States
Witness the final stage of a parasitic relationship as a beetle larva (family Scarabaeidae) sits frozen against the drifting sand while a fungus (genus Ophiocordyceps) erupts from its head. By the time this image was taken, the insides of this beetle would have been fully consumed by mycelium, with the fungi producing fruiting bodies that almost look like horns to release spores. These spores will go on to infect other insect species, continuing the morbid cycle. 

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE Finalist

Charlie Wemyss-Dunn | Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Forest Walker

Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Flanked by the magical light of the late dry season, an enchanted forest scene boasts not only an elegant African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) under an iconic Ana tree, but a herd of Common elands (Taurotragus oryx). While elephants are considered the most emblematic species in the Mana Pools National Park, the eland herd in the photo is also very notable due to their behavior. They are normally very shy and quick to run away from humans and vehicles, but remained peacefully alongside the elephant in this image.

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE Finalist

Sitaram Raul | Badlapur, India

Nightclub

Badlapur, India
A colorful shot of an Indian red scorpion (Hottentotta tamulus) resting on a log with sporing fungi. The fantastical colors are the various fungi spores—which emit their own unique color—lit by a camera flash, while the scorpion is illuminated by ultraviolet light, making for an artfully executed image. 

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE Finalist

Lucas Bustamante | Quito, Ecuador

The Hunter In Action

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
A familiar scene in an unlikely climate: A puma (Puma concolor) stalks a group of Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in a snowy Chilean terrain. Closely related to llamas, Guanacos are camelids that have rich red blood cells, allowing them to withstand low oxygen levels at the high altitudes they’re known to live at. Though not considered endangered, in this particular park, their previously stark population has made a comeback in the last 30 years— allowing the pictured puma to thrive off of their herds.

Terrestrial Wildlife

View Finalists in this category
Camouflage Rhino

Inside The Pack

Ellesmere Island, Canada

It is theorized that the Arctic wolves (Canis lupus arctos) on Ellesmere Island do not fear humans due to not being hunted or habituated to them. This proved to be the case, when, after many days on the tundra, this photographer was suddenly approached by a pack of wolves. While documenting them, the photographer was surprised at how close they got, noting that at times they were almost touching him and he could smell their breath. While this may seem nerve-wracking, he believes they were just curious and did not see him as a food source. Due to frequent subzero temperatures and remote, arctic conditions, not much is known definitively about these striking creatures and their behavior patterns, but such stories of curious, even playful, wolf encounters on Ellesmere are not uncommon. 

Amit Eshel

Kfar Hah'oresh, Israel

Since childhood, wildlife has always been a main source of interest and curiosity to Amit Eshel. He studied and graduated with honors with a BA in illustration, animation, and graphic design. After graduation, he combined his two biggest passions—animals and art— and created a professional career as an animal-inspired jewelry designer and a wildlife photographer. Specializing in mammalian photography, Eshel travels to remote locations trying to capture special nature moments and serving as a guide for wildlife photography trips. In 2023, he was a category winner in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

See Hema's behind-the-scenes video

terrestrial wildlife winner

Beauty Of Thar Desert

Hema Palan | Mumbai, India
Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India

Winged life finalist

Pål Hermansen | Ski, Norway

Apollo

Gotland, Sweden
An Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) flies off after taking a long drink of nectar from a thistle (family Asteraceae). Though many may be put off by their prickly nature, thistles are an undersung hero in the biodiversity realm, serving as a favored nectar source among countless species. Ironically enough, the Apollo butterfly produces a repulsive, bitter taste on its skin to detract predators—making the two species more alike than one might think!

Winged life finalist

Khurram Khan | Piscataway Township, New Jersey, United States

Radiant Dance

Alajuela, Costa Rica
Backlighting offers a dramatic approach to a familiar scene: A Rufous-tailed hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) feeding on a Heliconia flower (family Heliconiaceae). Beautiful though chaotic, these hummingbirds are known to be aggressive feeders, often chasing away other hummingbirds and insects from their meal. The lone victor hovers in perfect compositional harmony, its silhouette echoing the flower’s form.

Winged life finalist

Bence Máté | Pusztaszer, Hungary

Queleas

Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
While watching several different mammal species, including an African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), gather at a small pond to drink, a massive flock of Red-billed queleas (family Ploceidae) suddenly descend. While documenting this breathtaking, swirling mass of birds, the photographer notes that he could feel the rush of air from tens of thousands of wings beating in unison, even from nearly 100 feet away. Initially focusing on capturing close-ups of the queleas, he soon repositioned himself to frame a more expansive view—its scale creating a magical image of an elephant grazing in the distance as the birds sweep by. 

Winged life finalist

Doug Gimesy | Wongarra, Australia

Baby On Board

Myuna Wetlands, Australia
A delightful showcasing of the maternal instincts of a Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) as she glidies through a canopy with her baby in tow. The largest bat in Australia, Grey-headed flying-fox mothers keep their pups attached until they are about three weeks old. At that point the pups are typically too heavy to carry and are left in a roost to await for food until they are strong enough to forage for themselves, often at a risk of exposure to the elements like rain and cold. Those initial weeks of attachment are brief and rarely documented in flight.

Winged life finalist

Minghui Yuan | Wuhan City, China

Home on the Leaves

Xishuangbanna, China
In the tropical rainforest of Xishuangbanna, this photographer discovered a moth pupae (genus Cyana) inside a curious protective net. This net is actually an intricate nest designed from the moth’s own hair known as setal hair. Contact with setal hair naturally causes a stinging-like irritation, allowing the moth pupae to resist attacks from predators like wasps and ants. In the coming months, this pupae will make the final metamorphosis, emerging as a moth. 

Winged life finalist

Clay Bolt | Livingston, Montana, United States

The Smell of Success

Tatama National Park, Colombia
An Orchid bee (tribe Euglossini) takes the bait on a plant spritzed with locally-mixed compound designed to attract its attention. Male orchid bees naturally strive to collect as many scents as possible, absorbing them into spongy tissues inside their back legs. These "collections" are thought to demonstrate the male’s fitness to female bees, since only a strong male can fly great distances to collect these scents—but there is still much to learn about the specialized behaviors of these beautiful bees. 

Winged Life

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Egret

Leaving The Roost

Near La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

At dusk, a family of six Honduran white bats (Ectophylla alba) roost on the underside of a leaf, preparing to take off in search of their dinner. As the first one departs, we’re given a look at its nearly translucent wingspan, a feature often overlooked due to its unique facial features and iconic white fur. As one of the more enigmatic species found near the La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica, this species constructs "tents" out of plant leaves in the forest's understory by strategically cutting the leaf ribs with its teeth. This image captures one of the members leaving at dusk, with the rest of the family following soon after to find figs, a fruit it eats exclusively. After the feast, the family will return, or make a new tent to take shelter in if needed.

Dvir Barkay

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Since receiving his first camera at the age of thirteen, Dvir Barkay has been relentlessly documenting his lifelong passion for wildlife, plant life, and nature as a whole. This passion has taken him across the world, though he remains committed to showcasing the often overlooked areas of America's natural environment. In his work, he seeks to erode the boundary between fine art nature photography and a more natural documentary style, highlighting the artistic inspiration readily found in the unadorned wilderness. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including being part of the People's Choice at the 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and category winners in the Nature Photographer of the Year, and the Biophoto Competition.

See Franco's behind-the-scenes video

Winged life winner

Underwater Harmony And Chaos

Franco Banfi | Cadro, Switzerland
Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom

LANDSCAPES, WATERSCAPES, AND FLORA FINALIST

Sandra Bartocha | Wulkenzin, Germany

Lightness of Summer

Pieverstorf, Germany
Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota) dances in a summer meadow’s wind. Also known as a wild carrot, Queen Anne’s lace is a somewhat controversial plant whose reputation depends on where it is located. In its native Europe and Asia, it’s considered a vital plant that attracts wasps and allows them to thrive; however, in areas like the United States—where the origins of its introduction are debated—it’s considered an invasive, noxious weed. Nevertheless, this image demonstrates nature’s beauty, even in our less desirable plant species. 

LANDSCAPES, WATERSCAPES, AND FLORA FINALIST

Stelios Misinas | Athens, Greece

Desert Flood

Merzouga, Morocco
In September 2024, southeastern Morocco experienced a rare Sahara Desert flood caused by an extratropical cyclone. Villages like Tagounite were inundated with over 3.9 inches of rain within just 24 hours, leading to flash floods that disrupted infrastructure and daily life. The deluge dramatically transformed the arid landscape, even filling Lake Iriqui—a dry lakebed untouched for more than 50 years. This extraordinary event highlights the growing impact of climate change, as rising global temperatures increase atmospheric moisture and fuel extreme weather events. These changes are reshaping the Sahara Desert’s environment, underscoring the urgent need for climate action to address intensifying weather patterns and their effects on fragile ecosystems.

LANDSCAPES, WATERSCAPES, AND FLORA FINALIST

Talia Nicole Greis | Sydney, Australia

Acacia

Tulum, Mexico
An underwater tropical garden featuring lilies and various fish flourishes in the shallows of the famous Cenote Carwash, also known by its Mayan name Aktun Ha (water cave). Colloquially called the Carwash because the pond was previously used by taxi drivers to clean their cars, the cenote still boasts crystal clear turquoise waters as seen in this incredible image. 

LANDSCAPES, WATERSCAPES, AND FLORA FINALIST

Pere Soler | Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain

Sunrise And Storm

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
After an impressive hike on a windy night, by dawn this photographer was rewarded by the gorgeous, intense red coloration on the Cuernos del Paine (Pain horns). Though a hallmark of these mountains in Torres del Paine National Park, the red is not always visible, with the photographer noting even on this day that the light and clouds were filtering the sunlight, revealing and hiding the towers with every gust of wind.

LANDSCAPES, WATERSCAPES, AND FLORA FINALIST

Ellen Woods | Middleton, Connecticut, United States

Embers in the Snow

Middleton, Connecticut, United States
The Eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) gets its name, as one might surmise, from the skunk-like smell it emits when its leaves are bruised. In addition to its odor, this plant has the unusual adaptation called thermogenesis, meaning it has the ability to produce heat, allowing it to tolerate wintry conditions like that pictured undeterred. This not only protects the plant’s tissues from frost damage, but it also serves to attract beetle and fly pollinators in search of a warm carrion meal.

LANDSCAPES, WATERSCAPES, AND FLORA FINALIST

Kate Vylet | Santa Cruz, California, United States

Growing Gold

Monterey, California, United States
Buoyed by a string of golden pearls, a young Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) swirls in the green mist of spring brine just off the coast of Monterey. Contrary to popular belief, Giant kelp are not plants. They are actually an algae, and while they do not take root, they do share one common characteristic with plants: They photosynthesize! And those golden pearls are actually gas bladders that allow the kelp to float up in order to stay closer to the sun, facilitating the photosynthesis process.

Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora

View Finalists in this category
Regeneration

Third Eye

Rybnik, Poland

A frozen lake photographed from a drone showcases one of nature’s unblinking eyes, freckled by the footsteps of creatures unknown. In this image, we’re likely seeing the process of how lakes freeze, from the perimeter to the center, in action. This explains the staggered transition of coloration from snow, to ice, then ultimately open water. Taken in the photographer's hometown, he notes that while he has documented other images featuring this eye motif, he never fails to be surprised by the outcome.

Marcin Giba

Rybnik, Poland

Poland-born Marcin Giba graduated from the Institute of Creative Photography at the University of Silesia in Opava, Czech Republic. He serves as an organizer and artistic director for one of the oldest photography festivals in Poland, Rybnicki Festival of Photography. Specializing in drone photography, he works as a professional commercial photographer in Poland.

See Geo's behind-the-scenes video

Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora winner

In Celebration

Geo Cloete | Yzerfontein, South Africa
Cape Peninsula, South Africa

ART OF NATURE FINALIST

Aniket Thopate | Badlapur, India

A Starfall

Alibag, India
While walking along the beach, the photographer was struck by the sight of hundreds of Starfish (class Asteroidea) washed ashore, scattered across the sand. Rather than documenting them all en masse, he intentionally used a slow shutter speed to capture an image that denoted a sense of movement—almost as though this lone starfish was falling from the sky. The result is an ethereal, almost-celestial celebration of this starfish.

ART OF NATURE FINALIST

Marek Biegalski | Skerries, Ireland

I See You

Factory Butte, Utah, United States
Light spreads across the peaks of the Badlands, transforming the landscape into a moving canvas of light and shadow—almost like a game of hide-and-seek between brightness and darkness. The photographer notes it was fascinating to watch the light shift so dynamically, revealing and concealing parts of the terrain in real time. He was struck by that sense of movement, of discovery, and the way the land seemed to come alive under changing light, allowing him to produce this unique approach to Badlands photography. 

ART OF NATURE FINALIST

Pawel Zygmunt | Oldtown, Ireland

Monster's Eye

Hveravellir, Iceland
A drone-captured image from the Icelandic highlands reveals the breathtaking interaction of textures, forms, and hues sculpted by the earth’s most fundamental forces. This particular photograph focuses on geothermal zones, offering a unified visual story of a landscape that is ever-changing and alive with natural energy. You can’t not see the eye of some mythical creature, but it's really a geothermal pool, surrounded by mineral-rich deposits and erosion that develop into textures and patterns over time.

ART OF NATURE FINALIST

Bernard Schubert | Wiener Neustadt

Adaptation for Death

Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park, Austria
A collage of benthic invertebrates (clams, worms, crustaceans) are pooled together in a milky puddle of a highly alkaline soda lake. One of those tiny creatures, a Fairy shrimp (Branchipus schaefferi), sticks out amidst the crowd with its larger frame and distinct, shiny blue egg sack. In spring, the soda lakes are typically filled with water, containing masses of fairy shrimps which are an important food source for local waterbirds. These shrimps’ life cycles have adapted to the drying and disappearance of their habitats, even producing long-lasting, dormant eggs that ensure the species' survival over time. However, these lakes are at high risk due to rising spring temperatures which lead to faster evaporation and continuously dropping ground-water levels.

ART OF NATURE FINALIST

Simon Biddie | Edinburgh, Scotland

Ghost of the Reef

Marsa Alam, Egypt
A Ghost goby (Pleurosicya mossambica) conspicuously camouflages against coral. While small and unassuming, these cryptic fish are abundant and protein-rich, making them a critical part of reef food chains. But naturally, they’ve evolved to evade predators, the Ghost Goby in particular being partially translucent—allowing him to blend in perfectly with surrounding coral.

ART OF NATURE FINALIST

Ellen Woods | Middleton, Connecticut, United States

Cosmic Chlorophyll

Sea Isle City, New Jersey, United States
A small jetty rock nestled in the sand and shell fragments amid the ocean's surf is exposed with ultraviolet light to create a celestial scene. The rock's red fluorescence is caused by chlorophyllic Green algae (Green alga), and while this ethereal image is incredible to behold, it also allows us to spotlight the often overlooked marine algae, which actually plays a vital role in coastal ecosystems. As primary producers, they form the foundation of the food web, directly feeding herbivores and indirectly supporting higher trophic levels (e.g., secondary consumers). Algal mats also provide microhabitats for small invertebrates, offering shelter from predators and protection from desiccation during low tide. 

Art of Nature

View Finalists in this category
Fields of Dreams

Floating Upwards

Rügen, Germany

Waves crash just along the coast of Rügen, Germany’s largest island. At first glance, this inspiring image feels more like an impressionistic painting rather than a photographic portrait of a storied island. With settlements established as early as the Stone Age, Rügen has undergone many changes over the course of centuries; now, it’s one of Germany’s most popular holiday destinations, known for its many gorgeous beaches. As the viewer sits with this incredible moment water crashes onto the island, one can almost see history written in the waves.

Sandra Bartocha

Wulkenzin, Germany

Sandra Bartocha is a German photographer, speaker, and author specializing in natural landscapes and abstract work, with the aim of creating images that evoke an emotional response. Since 2007, Sandra has been Vice President of the GDT, German Society for Nature Photography (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Naturfotografie e.V.), and she is the editor-in-chief of the magazine GDT Forum Naturfotografie. She has authored several publications, including educational books such as "Fotoschule in Bildern: Naturfotografie" and the highly acclaimed photo books "LYS – An Intimate Journey to the North" and "Rhythm of Nature". Her images have been awarded in prestigious contests, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the International Photography Awards, and are frequently featured in exhibitions at museums and galleries worldwide.

See Kazuaki's behind-the-scenes video

art of nature winner

Stardust Forest

Kazuaki Koseki | Yamagata City, Japan
Forest in Yamagata prefecture, Tohoku region, Japan

HUMAN/NATURE FINALIST

Doug Gimesy | Wongarra, Australia

Hopeless

Toolem Vale, Australia
In many parts of Australia, the Dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) is the largest apex predator, playing a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health. It is a significant cultural species for many First Peoples and is often described as a totemic species: kin and family. Despite this, as well as being listed as vulnerable to extinction by the Australian Government, the Dingo is misunderstood, underappreciated, and often legally persecuted, with broad-scale baiting, trapping and shooting. In this image, Lyn Watson from the Australian Dingo Foundation stands inside the enclosure of one of her pure-bred, ambassador dingoes, Aussie. Lyn has worked tirelessly on the side of dingoes for many years, to help ensure they are recognised as unique and important to the ecology of the Australian landscape, and they continue to survive and thrive. Part of her work involves preserving and breeding a genetically pure dingo population at her research centre on the outskirts of Melbourne, as well as communication education and advocacy. Her hope is that one day, dingoes may be reintroduced into the wider Australian landscape, and help restore balance to the ecosystem.



HUMAN/NATURE FINALIST

Rob Green | Missoula, Montana, United States

Crossing the Line

Montana, United States
A Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) mother crosses under a barbed wire fence with two cubs in tow, the wire clipping and ripping out her fur. The family pass into a backyard, proceeding to rummage trash cans and a compost pile. Here, we see clearly the challenging environment facing large omnivores like grizzly bears as they seek to survive in an ever-crowded American West. Though grizzlies have learned to navigate human-dominated landscapes in search of food, their adaptability comes at a cost; bears don’t distinguish human food sources from natural ones, so when they destroy property, prey on livestock, or even break into homes—that can spell a bear’s demise. Bears that habitually scavenge around human communities are typically relocated or euthanized out of caution for people’s safety. But feeding behaviors are passed from mothers to cubs and can perpetuate a lethal cycle. If there is a future for coexistence, it’s in our ability to change alongside the grizzly. Wildness isn’t confined to parks or arbitrary lines on the map: It’s at our doorstep. With the right tools and vision, the question is whether we will choose to adapt.


HUMAN/NATURE FINALIST

Rob Green | Missoula, Montana, United States

The Face in the Trap

Montana, United States
A young Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) is captured by wildlife biologists on suspicion of killing two sheep on a community farm. As the human population grows, grizzly bears are left with fewer places to turn for natural diets and are often tempted to go after human food sources— often at great cost to the bear. After capture, this bear looked more confused than anything, and this culvert trap isn’t the most serious one his kind will face. The traps humans put on landscapes––roadways, unsecured attractants, our sprawling human footprint––pose far greater threats over time. Luckily, wildlife specialists were able to perform a health screening, attach a GPS collar to obtain movement data, and relocate this bear. But as the trap door opened and he launched back into familiar habitat, the photographer felt a twinge of conflict: As humans expect this bear to change his habits to survive in the ever-crowded American West, are they willing to do the same?

HUMAN/NATURE FINALIST

Thomas Nicolon | Le Bouscat, France

Brice and His Catch

Lake Télé Community Reserve, Congo
Itoua Brice poses with a Congo dwarf crocodile (O. osborni) he caught in the swamps of Lake Télé Community Reserve, the largest swamp forest in the world. Co-managed by Congo wildlife authorities and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), this community reserve allows hunting for local consumption but bans trafficking, creating a fine balance between the needs of humans and wildlife. Endemic to the Congo basin, these crocodilians are shy, harmless, but very easy to hunt—making their meat popular across central Africa. Recent studies show their populations seem to be in decline, making this striking portrait all the more nuanced. 

HUMAN/NATURE FINALIST

Jon A. Juárez | Berlin, Germany

Finding Light in the Dark: A Tale of Hope in Rhino Reproduction

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya
A bittersweet breakthrough within IVF techniques in wild animals: this Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) fetus is the result of the first successful embryo transfer performed in a southern white rhino female. Unfortunately, his surrogate mother died due to a bacterial infection before carrying the pregnancy to term; however, the fetus is proof that the reproduction management techniques developed by the BioRescue project have the potential to work. The BioRescue Project is an international initiative dedicated to saving the Northern white rhinoceros from extinction through advanced reproductive technologies. Their success with this fetus allows the team to begin implanting northern white rhino embryos into southern white rhino surrogates, as the last two northern white rhinos in the world, both female, cannot carry pregnancies to term. Through this project, BioRescue makes a groundbreaking effort in conservation, blending science and ethics to restore a nearly lost species.


HUMAN/NATURE FINALIST

Ringo Chiu | Temple City, California, United States

Escape From The Hell Of Fire

Cherry Valley, California, United States
A Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) scampers to safety as flames flare behind it. This image was taken at the Apple Fire, a wildfire that ignited in northwest Palm Springs in August 2020, and paints a vivid picture of nature’s vulnerability in the face of disaster. The stark contrast between this creature’s desperate escape and the raging wildfire makes this tiny mouse a symbol of survival against overwhelming odds. The photographer hopes viewers take away the fragility of wildlife in wildfires, as well as the urgency of addressing environmental challenges, especially as extreme heat and fires become more frequent.

Human/Nature

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Camouflage Rhino

Black Rhino Revival

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

Black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) once thrived in Kenya, but rampant poaching in the 70s’ and '80s drove them to near extinction. Thanks to government intervention and conservancy efforts, this trend has reversed over the past 30 years. But the work serving the current populations can be arduous and challenging, as demonstrated here as the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) team can be seen quickly springing into action to save this rhino's life after she reacted badly to anesthesia and stopped breathing. Handlers must manage these powerful creatures safely, even under sedation. The logistical complexities called for precise coordination and the expertise of veterinarians and wildlife specialists. Despite challenges, the teams worked together over three weeks to successfully relocate all the rhinos, and Kenya is halfway to its goal of reaching 2,000 individuals, the minimum required for long-term species survival.

Ami Vitale

Missoula, Montana, United States

Ami Vitale is a Nikon Ambassador, National Geographic photographer, writer, filmmaker and speaker who creates unique stories which amplify the work of communities on the front lines of grassroots conservation. Ami is an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and a recipient of the Lucie Humanitarian Award, the Missouri Honor Media for Distinguished Service, and an inductee into the North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame. She has received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting, been named Magazine Photographer of the Year at the International Photographer of the Year awards, and is a six-time recipient of World Press Photo awards. She is also the founder and Executive Director of Vital Impacts, a non-profit that leverages photography to inspire and mobilize youth as agents of change. Instyle Magazine named Ami one of fifty Badass Women, a series celebrating women who show up, speak up and get things done.

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human/nature winner

Good Fire

Maddy Rifka | Arcata, California, United States
Yurok Ancestral Lands, Humboldt County, California

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Nicole Land | Kerens, Texas

Tall Tales

UTSWMC Rookery, Dallas, Texas 
An incredibly provocative shot: A pair of Great egrets (Arden alba) mating in a rookery in the middle of downtown Dallas, Texas.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Takuya Ishiguro | Osaki, Miyagi, Japan

Un-bee-leaf-able

Osaki, Miyagi, Japan
As though riding a magic carpet, a leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata) is carrying a leaf. This photographer creates his own custom lens to capture these tiny creatures up close. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Barrett Hedges | Canmore, Canada

Massive Migration

Katmai National Park, Alaska, United States
In a time of salmon run shortages, an amazing birds-eye view reveals a massive congregation of sockeyes (Oncorhynchus nerka) migrating around a brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Katmai National Park. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Henley Spiers | Exeter, United Kingdom

Puffer Playtime

Los Islotes Rookery, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Famously playful, California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are prone to using rocks, sticks, feathers, and sea stars as props in their games. In this case, they have chosen an unlucky guinea-fowl puffer fish (Arothron meleagris) to play with along the water column. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Savannah Rose | Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Down the Bank

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States
An American beaver (Castor canadensis) drags a fallen sapling down a snowy hill to the water below. It was unclear to the photographer how it planned to get the sapling all the way down, noting that the beaver tumbled into the water soon after this image was snapped!

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Katherine Lu | Singapore

Pyrosome Zone

Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom 
Taken during a blackwater dive, a barely one-inch juvenile Mototi octopus (Amphioctopus mototi) sits on a Pyrosome (genus Pyrosoma), a colony composed of thousands of tiny organisms called zooids. It’s rare to see these creatures in the Pelagic zone at all, let alone using debris, trash or other animals for transportation, camouflage, and safety.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Sirachai Arunrugstichai | Bangkok, Thailand 

Diversity in Death

Bangkok, Thailand
Using skeletal images of various fish captured through x-ray, this image symbolizes the potential loss of marine biodiversity due to degraded reef ecosystems. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Buddhilini de Soyza | Sydney, Australia

A Turbulent Swim

Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa 
Southeast African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) attempting to  cross a river were carried downstream by the flooding, likely caused by torrential rains due to climate change. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Armand Sarlangue | Caden, France

Icy Nap

Petersberg, Alaska, United States
While freshly fallen ice is a worrying sign of global warming, ironically, these small icebergs—set against the backdrop of massive glaciers—provide good resting spots for the local seals (family Phocidae).

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Armand Sarlangue | Caden, France

Big Bang

Fagradalsjfall Volcano, Iceland
Surrounded by fiery patterns caused by storm winds and rain, a 1,200 degree lava fountain erupts from a secondary fissure during the 2021 Icelandic volcano. This dramatic shot was captured via drone, only moments before authorities closed off access due to the storm’s danger. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Anton Sorokin | Felton, California, United States

The Diversity of an Oak

Contra Costa County, California, United States
This composition showcases the hidden Gall wasp (family Cynipidae) biodiversity that can be found in Oak trees (genus Quercus). Each gall pictured is specific to a different species of wasp and they all depend on oaks to complete their life cycles. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Dennis Corpuz | Mabini Batangas, Philippines

Whistle Blower

Valparai range of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, TamilNadu, India
In an unusual gesture, a tiny Combtooth blenny (family Blenniidae)  appears to call out while resting inside a glowing green coral. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Pravin Shanmughanandam | Coimbatore, India

In the Arms of Mother Nature

Valparai range of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, TamilNadu, India 
A herd of Indian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) rest at the edge of a Shola forest patch. Though they are peacefully napping, they choose this place to rest in order to withdraw from danger quickly and remain touch-connected to each other so that each member can be quickly alerted in case of threat. Given that elephants rely on forest covers to rest and take shelter, these last remnant forest patches are crucial and pivotal to sustain the wildlife in the region.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Milan Radisics | Budapest, Hungary

Plunge Pool Laps

Vértes Natural Park
A Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) captured with an underwater camera mounted in a pool. Without  natural water in the nearby mountains, and puddles frozen during the winter, this fox—and all manner of animals—come to this yard and regularly drink from the small plunge pool.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Morgan Heim | Astoria, Oregon, United States

Tower Birds

Middleton Island, Alaska, United States 
A biological research station set up on a decommissioned air force base is now home to a long-running seabird study. This astonishing image was taken through a one-way mirror used to observe Black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) nesting on a former radar tower, allowing the photographer to stand unseen, inches away.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Manuel Enrique González Carmona | Olivares, Sevilla, Spain

Fallen Angel

Tintillo River, Spain
A dead Stone pine (Pinus pinea) appears to be struck by a lightning bolt and sinking into a fountain of lava. In reality, it’s planted within the Tintillo, the most acidic river in the world, with its riverbed edges defined in bright orange. This heavily mined river is brimming with heavy metals such as iron, copper, and sulfur dioxide, giving it a fiery red hue. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Jessica Hadley | Moran, Wyoming, United States

Alpine Grizzly

Absaroka Mountain Range, Wyoming, United States
It’s unexpected to see a Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) at such a high elevation peak, but some grizzlies in Wyoming spend their summers on high alpine talus slopes. Here, they feast on army cutworm moths (Euxoa auxiliaris), one of the highest calorie foods available to bears here—some bears eating as many as 40,000 moths to get their 20,000 calories per day!

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Richard Herrmann | Poway, California, United States

Star Garden

Channel Islands, California, United States
Standing out in the vast gardens of Brittle sea stars (Ophiothrix spiculata) is a Two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculatus), which is curious as this particular species is capable of color-changing camouflage, allowing it to blend in perfectly with its surroundings. 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Wayne Lai | Zhuhai, China

Hunting Cape Gannet

The Wild Coast, Port St John’s, South Africa
While sardine (family Clupeidae) runs are often in murky water, a strobe light helped illuminate the moment a Cape gannet (Morus capensis) dove straight into a school of unlucky fish. Not only were the cormorants attacking the bait ball from the air, dolphins were circling down below, driving the fish to the surface.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINALIST

Massimo Giorgetta | Latina, Italy

Life Protected

North Sulawesi, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
Encountered during a black water dive (aka night dive), a one-inch Salp (family Salpidae) hosts crabs, shrimps, and lobster larvae, both attached to it and resting inside. Though mistaken for jellyfish, salps are not venomous and feed on plankton, allowing small fish and other critters to hide within them to avoid predators.

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Aquatic life finalist

Talia Nicole Greis | Sydney, Australia

Theatre of War

Whyalla, Australia
An incredibly provocative shot: A pair of Great egrets (Arden alba) mating in a rookery in the middle of downtown Dallas, Texas.

aquatic life finalist

Melanie Müller | Berlin, Germany

Yin Yang

Guraidhoo, Maldives
As though riding a magic carpet, a leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata) is carrying a leaf. This photographer creates his own custom lens to capture these tiny creatures up close.

aquatic life finalist

Angel Fitor | Alicante, Spain

Dystopian Seas

Murcia, Spain
In a time of salmon run shortages, an amazing birds-eye view reveals a massive congregation of sockeyes (Oncorhynchus nerka) migrating around a brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Katmai National Park. 

aquatic life finalist

Hitomi Tsuchiya | Gotemba, Japan

Into The World Of Dreams

Kagoshima, Japan
Famously playful, California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are prone to using rocks, sticks, feathers, and sea stars as props in their games. In this case, they have chosen an unlucky guinea-fowl puffer fish (Arothron meleagris) to play with along the water column.

aquatic life finalist

Nick Kanakis | Austin, Texas, United States 

Filling Up

Navarro County, Texas, United States
An American beaver (Castor canadensis) drags a fallen sapling down a snowy hill to the water below. It was unclear to the photographer how it planned to get the sapling all the way down, noting that the beaver tumbled into the water soon after this image was snapped!

aquatic life finalist

Georgina Steytler | Goode Beach, Australia

Mudskipping

Broome, Australia
Taken during a blackwater dive, a barely one-inch juvenile Mototi octopus (Amphioctopus mototi) sits on a Pyrosome (genus Pyrosoma), a colony composed of thousands of tiny organisms called zooids. It’s rare to see these creatures in the Pelagic zone at all, let alone using debris, trash or other animals for transportation, camouflage, and safety.

People’s Choice

View Finalists in this category
Camouflage Rhino

Hunting Cape Gannet

The Wild Coast, Port St John’s, South Africa

While sardine (family Clupeidae) runs are often in murky water, a strobe light helped illuminate the moment a Cape gannet (Morus capensis) dove straight into a school of unlucky fish. Not only were the gannets attacking the bait ball from the air, dolphins were circling down below, driving the fish to the surface.

Wayne Lai

Zhuhai, China

Wayne Lai began his underwater photography on a macro-imagery focused trip to Anilao in 2016. Deeply impressed by the beauty and behavior of their creatures under the focus light, his enthusiasm for underwater macro photography has escalated. In just under two years, and after frequent visits to Lembeh, Romblon and Anilao, Wayne was able to hone his skills in wide-angle photography. Since 2017, Wayne’s photos have been recognized in top underwater and nature and wildlife photography competitions such as Spotlight UW Macro Photographer 2017; Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year 2021; DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2021; Nature Photographer of the Year 2021; Art of Nature, Glanzlichter 2024.

Aquatic Life winner

Of Blades & Spines

Kate Vylet | Santa Cruz, United States
Carmel Bay, United States