NATURE’S BEAUTY COMES FIRST! PHOTO WINNERS

Nature’s beauty comes first in our book. We’ve gathered a collection of top award winning nature photos that competed in some of the finest photo competitions around the world, and we are sharing our favorites with you, including selections from National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

From National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year: Award winning image above features a polar bear mother and cub, entitled “Playtime,” by Daisy Gilardini. Taken at Wapusk National Park. Manitoba, Canada.

SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

From Sony World Photography Awards: Award winning image above features an erupting volcano in Chile, entitled, “Purple Flashes,” by Eduardo Minte Hess.

PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE (PX3)

From Prix de la Photographie, Paris: Award winning image above features red-rock formations at the Arches National Park Utah, entitled, “Equation of Time,” by Peter Lik.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

From National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather in Focus Photo Contest: Award winning image above features Proton arc, a rare type of aurora, over Lake Superior. Clio, Michigan, entitled, “A Proton Arc Over Lake Superior,” by Ken Williams.

AUDUBON PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

From Audubon Photography Awards: Award winning image above features a Bald Eagle converging on Great Blue Herons to feast on fish in Seabeck, WA, entitled, “Bald Eagle & Great Blue Heron,” by Ken Williams.

SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

From Sony World Photography Awards: Award winning image above features a penguin swimming under a rainbow effect created by sun shining through glass at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, entitled, “Untitled,” by Tin Wing Wu.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY PHOTO CONTEST

From The Nature Conservancy Photo Contest.: Award winning image above features Red Fox walking through a puddle in search of food, entitled, “Red Fox at Island Beach State Park, New Jersey,” by Jessica Kirste.

ATEDGE, SPLASHLIGHT, & THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

From AtEdge, Splashlight, & The American Society of Media Photographers International Photography Awards: Award winning image above features school of fish, entitled, “School is Out,” by Dana Allen.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Daisy Gilardini. “Playtime.” Wapusk National Park. Manitoba, Canada. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.
2. Image: by Eduardo Minte Hess. “Purple Flashes.” Chile. Courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards.
3. Image: by Peter Lik. "Equation of Time" Courtesy of Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3).
4. Image: by Ken Williams. Proton arc over Lake Superior. Clio, Michigan. Courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
5. Image: by Bonnie Block. “Bald Eagle & Great Blue Heron.” Courtesy of Audubon Photography Awards.
6. Image: by Tin Wing Wu. Untitled. Courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards.
7. Image: by Jessica Kirste. Red Fox at Island Beach State Park, New Jersey. Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy Photo Contest.
8. Image: by Dana Allen. School is Out. Courtesy of AtEdge, Splashlight, & The American Society of Media Photographers International Photography Awards.