exceptional photos of wild nature revealed

Consecration for Mangesh Desai. The Indian photographer received the grand prize in the “Nature's Best Photography 2024” nature photography competition. The American organization, which bears the same name, encourages photographers around the world, whether amateur or professional, to promote the conservation of nature and animals through their images.

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To steal first place, Mangesh Desai immortalized Maya, a mother Bengal tiger, who inflicts “a lesson in survival” on her cub, in the Tadoba National Park, in Indian Maharashtra. This is the same park where a black panther was seen in 2020. “Nature photography is much more than capturing moments. It is a deep connection with the earth and its countless wonders,” declared the laureate who said he was “honored” to receive this award.

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The competition, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, received more than 25,000 entries from photographers from 62 countries. The jury also rewarded twelve artists according to unique categories. Their photos can be discovered in the slideshow below.

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The winning photo stories

Overall winner of the competition: Mangesh Desai.

“Over the years, I have seen this young male tiger (left) become more confident and assert his dominance over his siblings. His path to independence begins with the challenge of learning to protect his territory. This image illustrates a crucial life lesson as his mother teaches him how to fight.

Youngest photographer of the year: Alberto Román Gómez.

“One summer afternoon, my father and I visited an agricultural area on the outskirts of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park (southern Spain) to photograph birds. From the back window of our car, I noticed a young sparrow perched on a door. The bird dived to the ground several times to capture insects. Then the animal briefly landed on a fence, and I was able to take this photo. At that moment, he seemed to be the guardian of the territory.”

“Birds” category: Xiaoping Lin.

“The opening of the locks of Yundang Lake (China) is of great interest to wildlife watchers because it allows seawater to enter the lake, causing the tide to rise. We can thus observe egrets and migratory birds during this period. Here, two fish jumped out of the water simultaneously, which surprised this egret which did not know which prey to choose.”

“Wildlife” category: Kevin Dooley.

“This is one of the most difficult photos I have made. It took luck, skill and a lot of patience. On the morning of a very hot day in Botswana, I located these two leopards in a tree, so I stayed all day while they enjoyed the shade. When the Sun began to set, the female came down, and the male followed. I then took this photo when the couple was bickering.”

Category “Animal Oddities”: Brian Clopp.

“In a show of brotherly affection, one fox wrapped its tail around the other. Getting this photo involved camping in a remote desert area for three nights in Utah. The genuine tenderness between these wild animals made me smile and serves as a poignant reminder that every living creature has unique value in our vast universe.”

“Natural art” category: Lei Li.

“I have traveled around Tibet for many years photographing its lakes and natural wonders. The use of a drone is authorized for aerial photography. This photograph of a frozen lake revealed a symmetrical design that is not visible when standing at ground level. I have not detected this phenomenon anywhere else in Tibet, where there are more than a thousand picturesque lakes, as well as gigantic mountains.

“Polar Passion” category: Brett Freliche.

“To photograph this group of very curious belugas, I placed myself on a makeshift raft connected by a rope to a Zodiac boat. Visibility was not optimal. Even though I was covered in a wetsuit, my fingers and face went numb from continued and repeated exposure to the cold of Hudson Bay. Every year, more than 50,000 white belugas migrate to this bay to feed and reproduce.”

“Landscapes” category: Marcio Esteves Cabral.

“In the light of dawn, on the plateau of Alto Paraíso de Goiás (Brazil), a magnificent field of Paepalanthus reflects the sun's rays, giving the impression of self-luminescence. By shooting two photos, one for the sky and one for the wildflowers, I captured the harmony between the vivid sky and these unique backlit plants.”

Outdoor Adventure Category: Belva Hayden.

“When I learned there was going to be a solar eclipse, I made a plan to cross on a slackliner during the natural phenomenon, near Monticello, Utah. I had to run over the rocks to capture the right moment. I was trying to stay calm while I was shooting with the goggles on.”

“Conservation, history” category: Jaime Rojo.

“The annual migration of the monarch butterfly is one of the most iconic wildlife spectacles in North America. Over the past three decades, the monarch population has suffered a 90% decline. Deforestation in Mexico was once considered the main factor. However, recent studies reveal that a threat also looms over the United States and Canada: habitat loss caused by the expansion of agriculture and housing into native grasslands. These butterflies are environmental indicator migrants and a flagship species of the pollinator family. Any conservation action to protect their habitat will benefit many other species.”

“Conservation, just one photo” category: Khurram Khan.

“The avian flu epidemic has decimated gannets in 2022. Human practices of disposing of fishing equipment are not helping the situation. Birds use garbage to nest, and here one got caught in a line. For me, this image is representative of the future of our planet. It is literally “hanging by a thread” without any conservation action on our part.”

“Ocean view” category: Cécile Gabillon.

“In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I came across this spectacle of spinner dolphins fishing for lanternfish. I was swimming so hard that it seemed impossible to take photos, and my fisheye lens wasn't even wide enough to capture the whole scene. Being surrounded by these dolphins was one of the most amazing things in my life. As they welcomed me into their kingdom, I almost forgot to breathe on the surface. Unfortunately, it has become rare to see these massive groups with the decline in marine life due to pollution and overfishing.”

“Nature in motion” category: Patricia Homonylo.

“For the past 30 years, FLAP (Fatal Light Awareness Program) volunteers have patrolled the Greater Toronto Area looking for birds that have died due to window collisions. Although their efforts saved a staggering number of animals, many did not survive. Their bodies are collected and their lives honored in the annual Bird Layout, where volunteers come together to curate a moving and provocative display. Here, nearly 5,000 birds are on display.”