Award Winning Photos Submitted To The Nature's Best Photography Competition In 2024

The 24th annual Nature's Best Photography Awards concluded with 113 finalists being chosen in various categories for their stunning submissions. Over 25,000 entries were received from photographers s of every age, background, and level of camera experience in 62 countries. The group of finalists were chosen by a judging panel together with staff editors and quality control specialists. They reviewed the high-resolution and uncorrected raw files, along with the stories behind the shots and extensive data research before deciding on the finalists to be published and displayed. More info: NaturesBestPhotography.Org

#1 MANGESH DESAI | GRAND PRIZE WINNER | Bengal Tigers, IUCN Red List Status: Endangered Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India © By Mangesh Ratnakar Desai of Pune, Maharashtra, India

[caption id="attachment_427672" align="aligncenter" width="2400"] The path to freedom for a tiger cub begins with the challenging duty of defining and protecting its territory. This image portrays pivotal life lessons as the mother imparts fighting skills to her cub providing a masterclass in survival that sets the stage for their fight for freedom. The scenario unravelled elegantly as the tigers gracefully entered the water. I took advantage of the moment to capture their lively interaction. I fine-tuned the shutter speed with precision to capture the dynamic splash of water and the majestic grace of the tigers in motion.[/caption] “Over the years, I have witnessed this young male tiger become more confident and assert dominance over his siblings. His path toward independence as an adult starts with the challenge of learning to define and safeguard his territory. This image illustrates a pivotal life lesson as the mother teaches her cub how to fight, giving a masterclass in survival. The tigers entered the water gracefully, and the scene unfolded. I adjusted the shutter speed precisely to capture the water splashes and the impressive dynamics of the tigers interacting with each other." “Nature photography is more than capturing moments; it is a profound connection to the earth and its countless marvels." — Mangesh Desai

#2 2024 WINNER | ANIMAL ANTICS | Kit Foxes, Onaqui Mountain Herd Management Area, Dugway, Utah, USA © By Brian Clopp of Huntsville, Utah, USA

“In a heartwarming display of sibling affection, one fox encircles its tail around the other. They are perching on top of an underground den, where they will go to escape the scorching summer heat. Getting this shot involved camping in a remote desert area for three nights. The genuine tenderness between these wild animals made me smile and serves as  a poignant reminder that each living creature has a unique value within our vast universe." “Wildlife photography isn’t just about capturing moments; it’s about showing why every sentient species matters and why we must protect their world.”—Brian Clopp

#3 ALBERTO ROMÁN GÓMEZ | YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR | European Stonechat, Arcos de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain© By Alberto Román Gómez, at age 9, of Ubrique, Cádiz, Spain

“On a summer afternoon, my father and I visited an agricultural area on the outskirts of Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park to photograph birds. From our car’s back window, I noticed a young stonechat perched on a gate; the bird was diving to the ground repeatedly to capture insects. One time the bird landed briefly on a fence, and I was able to take this photograph. At this moment, it appeared to be guardian of the territory." “For me, nature photography is not only a hobby but also an important tool to promote wild species and habitats so they may exist into the future.”—Alberto Román Góme

#4 2024 WINNER | BIRDS | Egret and Ladyfish, Yundang Lake, Xiamen, Fujian, China © By Xiaoping Lin of Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China

“The daily opening of the ‘sluice gates’ at Yundang Lake is a key draw for wildlife photographers as it allows seawater to enter the lake, causing the tide to rise. One can observe egrets and migratory shore birds during this period. In this scene, a ladyfish chased a tiny fish; both leaped out of the water simultaneously as they passed the egret. The egret looked surprised and couldn’t decide which one to choose. I used continuous high-speed shooting to capture this fleeting moment. Through advanced development, such as building gates to let in fresh seawater, and by implementing environmental safeguards, we can create habitats for wildlife that are both suitable and sustainable, benefiting us all." "Nature photography often breaks the conventional perception of nature, providing new perspectives, inspiring viewers to discover the beauty in ordinary things, and also reflects the photographer’s understanding and emotional expression of life.”— Xiaoping Lin

#5 2024 WINNER | WILDLIFE | African Leopard Fight, Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana © By Kevin Dooley of Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

“The amount of time invested in getting this image and the technical difficulties I experienced made this one of the most demanding images I have ever created.It took luck, skill, and a lot of patience. I located these two leopards in a tree in the morning and stayed all day as the leopards were enjoying the shade on a very hot day. Close to dark, the female came down, and the male followed. I was photographing as the pair began to scuffle. Quickly losing light, I needed to maintain a fast shutter speed. In addition to the difficulty of focusing on the action, dust was in the air. But it all added to one of my favourite memories as a nature photographer." "Sharing amazing encounters with wildlife through the art of photography is an important part of wildlife conservation.”—Kevin Dooley

#6 2024 WINNER | ART IN NATURE | Eye of Frozen Lake, Baingoin County, Nagqu, Tibet, China | By Lei Li of Taizhou, Zhejiang, China

“I have travelled around Tibet for many years to photograph its lakes and natural wonders. In addition to using a camera on the ground, drone usage is permissible for shooting from overhead. This aerial photograph of a frozen lake revealed a symmetrical design that is not visible while standing at ground level. From an altitude of about three miles, the lake’s surface naturally creates a pattern when it freezes in winter. I have not detected this phenomenon anywhere else in Tibet, where there are more than a thousand picturesque lakes, along with the gigantic mountains." “Modern technology and economic development are changing nature rapidly, both for good and bad. It is crucial to document these changes objectively.”—Lei Li

#7 2024 WINNER | POLAR PASSION | Beluga Whales, Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada | By Brett Freliche

“To photograph this group of very curious and vocal belugas, I was positioned on a foam raft connected by rope to a Zodiac boat. Wearing a 7mm wetsuit with my underwater camera housing in hand, I would bend over the raft at my waist. My fingers and face became numb after continuous and repeated exposure to the cold Hudson Bay. Visibility was less than optimal. On the final day of the tour, a pod of belugas came within a few feet, which enabled me to capture this photo. Each year, more than 50,000 white belugas migrate to this bay to feed and give birth." "There is nothing more pure than being out in nature. For me, it’s a spiritual experience.”—Brett Freliche

#8 2024 WINNER | LANDSCAPES | “Fireworks,” Wildflowers at Sunrise, Alto Paraíso, Goiás, Brazil | By Marcio Esteves Cabral

“At dawn’s light on the Alto Paraíso (Highland Paradise) plateau, a stunning field of Paepalanthus mirrors the sun’s rays, giving the impression of self-luminescence. Utilizing two bracketed shots, one for the sky and another for the wildflowers, I captured the harmony between the vivid sky and these unique backlit plants. This biodiverse high-altitude Cerrado, or tropical savannah, adjacent to Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is part of an environmental protection area (APA), safeguarding it from deforestation." “Nature photography celebrates life and inspires the protection of natural treasures to ensure a greener future.”—Marcio Cabral

#9 2024 WINNER | OUTDOOR ADVENTURE | Highliner During Annular Solar Eclipse, BLM Area Near Monticello, Utah, USA | By Belva Hayden

“Some people are just wired to seek high adventure. Hearing that an annular eclipse was happening—where the moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun—this climber devised a way to make an extreme sport even more extreme and, in this case, an elevated experience. It took considerable planning with BASE Jump Moab climbing team to find a location that was safe for the climber on the line, and also worked for our group of eight photographers. While running and scrambling on the rocks that morning, I needed to keep calm and remember to wear the protective eclipse glasses as I focused on each shot." "I hope my images inspire the rush of adrenaline I feel when out photographing nature.”—Belva Hayden

#10 2024 WINNER | CONSERVATION | STORY | Saving the Monarchs, Mexico, USA, and Canada | By Jaime Rojo ( instagram.com/JaimeRojo) of Madrid, Spain

Photo 1: Monarchs stream through trees in El Rosario sanctuary within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoácán, Mexico. The migrating butterflies winter in the same oyamel fir groves that sheltered earlier generations. “In a world flooded with beautiful but often manipulated images, documentary photography offers an honest glimpse into our planet’s reality.”—Jaime Rojo

#11 2024 WINNER | CONSERVATION | STORY | Saving the Monarchs, Mexico, USA, and Canada | By Jaime Rojo ( instagram.com/JaimeRojo) of Madrid, Spain

Photo 2: Returning for the night within Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, this monarch stretches its wings and manoeuvres into a roosting place to join the other butterflies, packed in closely for protection and warmth. “The annual migration of the monarch butterfly is one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles in North America, full of dazzling natural history enigmas that have kept scientists busy for more than 50 years. It involves a multi-generational life cycle, yet-to-be-understood navigation skills, and an evolutionary arms race with a common weed species, milkweed. In the last three decades, the population of monarchs has suffered a 90% decline. Deforestation in Mexico was once considered the leading factor. However, recent findings reveal an equally urgent threat is the loss of breeding habitat in the USA and Canada, driven by expanding industrial agriculture and housing developments in native prairies. This dramatic decline affects their ability to withstand threats, such as extreme weather events, expected to increase in an era of climate change. Monarch butterflies are long-distance migrants, environmental indicators, and a flagship species among the pollinator family. Any conservation actions oriented to protect their habitat will benefit many other species."

#12 2024 WINNER | CONSERVATION | SINGLE IMAGE | Northern Gannets, Shetland Island, Scotland, UK © By Khurram Khan of Piscataway, New Jersey, USA

“As if the Avian flu outbreak of 2022 had not taken enough of a devastating toll on the northern gannet numbers worldwide, the human practices of discarding fishing materials are not helping the situation. Birds use the trash for nesting, and here, one became caught up in a line. To me, this picture signifies the future of our planet, literally ‘hanging by a thread’ without our conservation action." “Nature photography captures the issues affecting the fragility of our world, reminding us to cherish and protect the wonders we may take for granted.” —Khurram Khan

#13 2024 WINNER | OCEAN VIEWS | Spinner Dolphins Superpod, Off Quepos, Costa Rica © By Cécile Gabillon (instagram.com/cecile_gabillon) of Toulouse, France

“While free-diving in the Pacific Ocean, we came across this spectacular superpod of spinner dolphins herding lanternfish and guiding them toward the surface. I was swimming so hard that it seemed impossible to capture photos, and my fisheye lens was not even wide enough to take in the scene. Being surrounded by these dolphins was one of the most amazing encounters of my life. As they welcomed me into their realm, I nearly forgot to come up for air. Sadly, it has become uncommon to see these massive groups with a decrease in marine life due to pollution and overfishing." "Nature photographers immortalize what we stand to lose if we continue destroying wild habitats.”—Cécile Gabillon

#14 2024 WINNER | NATURE IN MOTION | VIDEO: “When Worlds Collide,” © By Patricia Homonylo of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

“More than one billion birds die in North America annually due to window collisions. For the last 30 years, FLAP (Fatal Light Awareness Program) volunteers have patrolled the Greater Toronto Area in search of birds that have collided with windows. While their efforts have saved an impressive number of birds from collisions, many do not survive the impact. Their bodies are collected, and their lives are honoured in the yearly ‘Bird Layout,’ where volunteers come together to arrange the birds’ bodies in a moving and provocative exhibition.‘The Layout’ honors birds collected from 2021 through 2022 when FLAP recovered more than 5,000 birds—the largest collection to date. The film’s narration includes testimonials from the volunteers as the birds are being arranged. Through their words, you will walk in their shoes, see what they see, and hear how they feel. Their accounts are as heartbreaking as they are thought-provoking. You will never see buildings the same way again. The making of this film was driven by my personal experience. I am not only the filmmaker; I am also a FLAP volunteer. Once I discovered my first bird that had died due to a window collision, I was forever changed." "As creators and photographers, we have a critical role to play. We are witnesses, whistle-blowers, advocates, fundraisers, and storytellers. By creating meaningful images, we move, educate, and inspire others into action.”—Patricia Homonylo