The Nature Conservancy has recently announced the winners of its highly anticipated annual photo contest. This esteemed international competition never fails to attract an array of exceptionally skilled nature and wildlife photographers from across the globe, and this year’s edition is certainly no different.
The Grand Prize Winner was awarded to Hungarian photographer Tibor Litauszki with his images of An Alpine Newt amidst a sizable cluster of frog eggs. Tibor Litauszki says: ” I photographed this moment underwater. I could do it by putting my camera in an underwater case, attaching it to a metal weight and placing it all under the eggs. I waited nearby for it to be dark, and when the newt appeared, I lit it with an LED lamp. I started the camera with a homemade wired remote release. It turned out 1-2 sharp pictures.”
Celebrity Judge Choice – Hermis Haridas, United Arab Emirates (@Hermis.haridas)
“A Hoopoe took flight with its wings spread in a smooth motion across the canvas of the early-morning sky that was illuminated by the sunrise’s bright hues. I saw that this bird would occasionally grab its prey in the air and other times on the ground. Additionally, I observed that each time it caught its prey, it flew in the same direction to a nearby tree”
The following selection highlights the excellent images from each competition’s 12 categories. Please find below the photos that captivated you the most from each type.
AERIALS
First Place, Aerials – Agnieszka Wieczorek, Poland (@polatinaphotoandtravel)
“Inspired by yellow colour I decided to take a photo with a drone showing an aerial perspective of a small settlement of the city of Swidnica, Poland, which was built in the middle of a field. In the spring months the buildings are surrounded by beautiful rapeseed fields”
Second Place, Aerials – Neelutpaul Barua, India (@neel.barua.photography)
Third Place, Aerials -Derek Robertson, United States (@derekrobertsonphotography)
BIRDS
First Place, Birds – Grzegorz Długosz, Poland (@gdlugosz_photography)
“A penduline tit builds its unique nest in the marshes of Biebrza National Park, Poland. The male is shown leaving the nest to bring more material to finish up the build“.
Second Place, Birds – Mike Krehbiel, United States (@krebbs28)
Third Place, Birds – Juan Jose Murillo, Colombia (@jjmurillorolon)
CLIMATE
First Place, Climate – Raphael Alves, Brazil (@photoraphaelalves)
“Euridice Castro, 33, holds her nephew Otavio, in the window, while her son Aquiles plays in the rising rivers, in Anama, Brazil on May 24, 2021. Anama has been an “amphibian city” for years. Without work, adults stay at home most of the time; children, without classes and without public leisure spaces, are left playing in the flooded areas“
Second Place, Climate – Mustafa Binol, Turkey (@mustafabinol)
Third Place, Climate – Luisa Lynch Harris, Spain
FRESHWATER
First Place, Freshwater -Jeanny Tang, Hong Kong
“The holes dug by fish for spawning can be seen after the pond has dried up. Tai Sang Wai, Yuen Long, Hong Kong.“
Second Place, Freshwater -Alan Taylor, United States(@alantaylorphotography)
Third Place, Freshwater – Rubens Rebouças, Brazil (@rubensreboucas)
INSECTS & ARACHNIDS
First Place, Insects & Arachnids – Benjamin Salb, United States(@bens_small_world)
“ This image is a 129 frame focus bracket of a wolf spider with her babies. I encountered her in the middle of an asphalt path during an early morning macro outing this summer. You can usually expect some movement from the kids, which could ruin a stack attempt, but they were all completely still for this set.“
Second Place, Insects & Arachnids – Soumya Ranjan Bhattacharyya, India
Third Place, Insects & Arachnids – 雷 波 / Lei Bo, China
LANDS
First Place, Lands – Alessandro Carboni, Italy (@alessandro_carboni)
“This picture represents one the most intense moments I could remember during my life. It was September, when after a two-week wait I was lucky enough to experience an amazing mix of extraordinary elements, which I will never forget: the impressive display of the autumn colours at their peak and the first snow of the season.“
Second Place, Lands – Roberto Valdez, Ecuador(@robinski__)
Third Place, Lands – Adam Mowery, United States(@adammoweryphoto)
MAMMALS
First Place, Mammals – Siddhartha Ghosh, India
“Here you can see three wolves leaping through the air showcasing their enthusiasm and companionship. It’s like a moment in time that captures their nature in the wild. Each wolf exudes happiness and energy with their eyes shining bright from the excitement and their strong bond as a pack. This image serves as a reminder of the elegance and charm of these animals, in their natural environment.“
Second Place, Mammals – HJ Yang, United States
Third Place, Mammals – Luisa Pericoli, United States(@vittoria_thecutestfrenchie)
OCEANS
First Place, Oceans -Estebane Rezkallah, France(@panchovilaaa)
“These dolphins jumped and played in front of our boat as we crossed Rangiroa, the largest of the Tuamotu Atolls and the second largest in the world. The dolphins play in the waves with each ship that passes by”.
Second Place, Oceans – Bambang Wirawan, Indonesia(@bro_matra)
Third Place, Oceans -Giovanni Allievi, Italy
PEOPLE & NATURE
First Place, People & Nature – Michael Hegyi, United States(@michaelhegyiphoto)
“ A small troupe of wild blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) watches from a safe distance as a hot air balloon lands on the Maasai Mara, spills out its breakfast safari tourists and deflates. Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya. July 2018.“
Second Place, People & Nature – Mano Aliczki, Hungary(@manoaliczkiphoto)
Third Place, People & Nature – Randall Hudson, United States(@kcstorys)
PLANTS & FUNGI
First Place, Plants & Fungi – Jose Pereyra Lucena, Argentina(@josepereyralucena)
“El Cardón, venerated by the native peoples of northwestern Argentina, surrounded by myths and legends. It is impossible not to be absorbed by its strange beauty. A direct shot on a winter moonlit night. Province of Salta, Argentina, 2021“
Second Place, Plants & Fungi – Vittorio Ricci, Italy
Third Place, Plants & Fungi – Ashley Sykes, Australia(@Ausmashmash)
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
First Place, Reptiles & Amphibians – Irina Petrova Adamatzky, United Kingdom(@microcosmic_world)
“In this photograph, the intricate skin of a Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is showcased in a unique way, using ultraviolet light. Scientifically proven, snakeskin exhibits a glowing effect under ultraviolet light, a phenomenon that herpetologists have utilized since the late 20th century to locate snakes in the dark.“
Second Place, Reptiles & Amphibians – Petr Bambousek, Czech Republic(@sulasulacom)
Third Place, Reptiles & Amphibians – Joseph Mullica, United States(@Scarletkingcowboy)
UNDERWATER LIFE
First Place, Underwater Life – Russell Laman, United States(@russlaman)
Pacific sea nettles (Chrysaora fuscescens) swarm in the murky waters off Monterey, California. August 2021. “
Second Place, Underwater Life – Cai Jialing, China(@homoplankton)
Third Place, Underwater Life – Daniel Nicholson, Australia(@barefoot.wandering)
Numerous awe-inspiring photographs that did not receive awards in their respective categories are still available on The Nature Conservancy’s website.
Image credits: All images credited to individual photographers and courtesy of The Nature Conservancy
