THE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2025 WINNERS GALLERY
The gallery of winners of the 2025 edition of The Nature Photography Contest is here. Enjoy the winning photographs of our photography contest, as well as the different finalists.
Congratulations to all the photography award winners!
PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR
Please spare our home, by Thomas Vijayan.
"Our changing world is a major threat to many living beings around us one among them is this greatest living ape on Earth, The Orangutans. Humans are on a run to satisfy their immediate requirements and are forgetting the impact of it on the coming future. Orangutans are closest to humans. If deforestation continues then the coming generation may miss seeing this majestic creation of God. These helpless creatures are now dependent on feeding stations for food as most of the vegetation or rather 1000+ year old trees which in itself is a major asset to our planet have been cut down for palm oil plantation following a rise in global demand for palm oil by the oil and fats industry which in turn very harmful for the human body.
We humans can easily find an alternative option than these plam oil and could have given a 2nd thought before running the axe over these matured trees and also before snatching the habitat of this gigantic ape.
Orangutans are accustomed to live of trees and feed on wild fruits like lychees, mangosteens, and figs, and slurp water from holes in trees. But with the current rate of change that they are going through I sadly doubt how many more years they can survive. In fact when I spent some time with them I could literally feel that they really want to say something to us humans, there is an untold emotion in each one’s eyes.
In picture, you can see a sad matured Orangutan in between his vanishing habitat pleading us to spare his home. This orangutan is well habituated and sometimes come to a nearby feeding station for food."
Category winners
Natural Landscape
Pawel Zygmunt
The Earth's eye
“An aerial view of the Hveravellir geothermal area in Iceland shows a natural formation that looks like an animal’s eye. A dark, deep-blue pool sits at the center, surrounded by rough, textured ground in rich brown shades. The mineral deposits create a layered effect, adding to the eye-like appearance. The surrounding rocky landscape is barren, making the formation stand out even more. The whole scene has a raw, natural beauty that feels almost alive.”
Wildlife
Janet Gustin
Following
"A young brown bear follows the confident lead of a small seagull across the tidal flats as nature painted the world in golden pastels. The bear's gentle, humble posture as it trusts this tiny guide speaks to a deeper truth - sometimes the greatest strength is found in quiet surrender to gentle guidance. In this extraordinary moment, we're reminded that wisdom often comes in the smallest whispers, and true courage lies in following where we're led with childlike trust."
Macrophotography
Indranil Basu Mallick
Sporing Party
“A captivating macro scene captured under the cover of night. Two glass snails are diligently feeding on the decaying cap of a Termitomyces fungi. The drama is amplified by backlighting with an LED, which brilliantly illuminates the fine details and creates a dramatic silhouette. A long exposure was essential here, enabling the creation of an amazing pattern of discharged spores scattering in the air, adding a surreal, ethereal quality to this natural decay cycle. The diffraction of light through the spores truly transforms the scene.”
Underwater
Remuna Beca
Whale Dreams
“A playful Humpback Whale calf pauses gracefully at the surface in the deep blue of the South Pacific Ocean. A dreamlike scene, which I hope inspires a greater fascination for the wonders of our incredible ocean and the dream to experience and protect it.”
Birds
James Welch
Before the Storm
“A group of king penguins look out to sea as a grey sky indicates an incoming storm.”
Plant Life
Miguel José Ávalos González
My Jeffrey Pine, Sierra de Baza
"Every year I climb into the extreme winter of my nearby mountain. There, far from my comfort zone and immersed in biting cold, right at the upper edge of the treeline, I find myself alone among ancient conifers, battered by the wind. Their ability to adapt to any weather condition is astonishing.
Masters of photography such as Carleton Watkins and Ansel Adams made a humble Jeffrey pine on Sentinel Dome world-famous. Following that legacy, I humbly present my own tree here: a Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii from the Sierra de Baza — a true wild titan, aerodynamic, also crooked and ungainly, yet enormously empowering."
Night World
Peter Hergesheimer
Creation
“The Eagle nebula with the iconic Pillars of Creation is captured in this starless narrowband image. Filter used in narrowband astrophotography allow the camera to capture only specific frequencies of light emitted by ionized gases, in this case Hydrogen, Sulphur and Oxygen. The stars were intentionally removed during processing.
Total exposure time: 30+ hours.”
Environmental impact
Wiktoria West
First Gaze
“A cheetah opens its eyes for the first time after sedation, during which it underwent X-rays, laser treatments, and various other veterinary procedures. This cheetah was a victim of snaring. Snares, often set by impoverished communities to catch small game for food, are indiscriminate and can trap any animal. Fortunately, thanks to the NGO’s daily monitoring team, we were able to intervene quickly and bring her in for treatment to repair torn ligaments. In this image, she is preparing to be transported back into the wild after several weeks in rehabilitation. I have been fortunate to photograph cheetahs across Southern Africa for several years, observing their vulnerabilities, conflicts, challenges, and the promising solutions. A particular challenge was capturing the cheetah’s expression, the very first moment she opened her eyes. This required me to squat beside the vehicle for an extended period (thankfully, I exercise regularly), keeping my gaze fixed on her closed eyes. I needed to ensure that the focus was on her eyes and not on the bars in front of her.”
Sharing the Planet
Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman
The Honey Keepers of Sundarbans
"In the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a honey collectors gather wild honey using traditional methods that have been practiced for generations. This careful and respectful approach reflects a longstanding relationship between local communities and the forest, where people depend on its resources while recognizing the presence and power of wildlife such as the Royal Bengal Tiger. Rising water levels and increasing salinity now threaten both the mangroves and this cultural heritage, reminding us how deeply our well-being is connected to the health of our shared environment. Sathkhira, Bangladesh."
Funny Nature
Into the Gape: Dalmatian Pelican at Dawn
Panagiotis Xaxiris
“Eye-level, natural light, lake Kerkini. A Dalmatian Pelican opens its bill wide right in front of the camera as a group emerges through the soft morning mist-a close, intimate moment showing the character and presence of this iconic species.
Dalmatian Pelican Lake kerkini Greece”
Photographer of the Year
The Photographer of the Year 2025 award has been presented to Angela J Sanchez for her extraordinary talent in capturing the wonder of the natural world through photography. Her work reflects a unique combination of artistic sensitivity, technical skill, and a profound respect for wildlife and the environment. Across different categories, her images convey movement, intimacy, and emotion, inviting us to look more closely at the beauty and complexity of life on our planet.
As part of this recognition, Angela J Sanchez will have the honor of choosing the location where nearly 500 trees will be planted—one for each participant in this edition. Thanks to your support and participation, these trees will help preserve and protect our planet for future generations.
This photograph (Mobula Rocket, by Angela J Sanchez) is just one of the many images that have made her worthy of the Photographer of the Year title.
Great photographs of the finalist
The award-winning photographs of this edition beautifully reflect the richness, power, and vulnerability of our natural world, offering countless reasons to value and protect it. But the story does not end with the winning images. Many other remarkable photographs, each with their own unique perspective and expressive strength, also deserve to be celebrated.
Here you have a small selection of some of the finalist photographs from The Nature Photography Contest 2025.
Once again, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winning photographers of this edition of The Nature Photography Contest 2025. We hope these images serve as a reminder of the extraordinary world we live in, revealing both its visible beauty and its hidden wonders. May they encourage us to look more closely at the natural world, to appreciate its fragility, and to recognize the responsibility we all share in protecting it.
We invite you to share these remarkable images and celebrate the talented photographers behind them—artists who, through their vision and sensitivity, have captured the essence of nature and inspire us to admire, respect, and preserve our planet.