NewsBite

The Rangiroa gang // In front of our boat during we cross the passe of the biggest atoll in a world. In the Tuamotu in Rangiroa those dolphins live all the years in this area. They play in the waves with every ship come around.

Mother Earth’s majesty: The Nature Conservancy announces competition winners

The Nature Conservancy has announced the winners from its 2023 photo contest. From over 80,000 individual photographers, these are the lucky few to make it to the winners’ gallery.

From the 189,000 entries from 191 countries and territories, two Australian photographers made it on the podium of this year’s contest. Ashley Sykes won third place in the Plants & Fungi category for her enthralling shot of ghost mushrooms, photographed in a coastal woodland area in Gerroa, NSW. Winning third place in the Underwater Life category, Daniel Nicholson captured an incredible shot of a grey reef shark parting the tide of a bait ball in the shallows of the Ningaloo Reef.

The 2023 grand prize was awarded to Tibor Litauszki from Hungary, for his underwater photo of a newt eating freshly-laid frog’s eggs. See why The Nature Conservancy’s efforts are so vital to our natural world in the beauty of the collection below.

Fleeting Fungi: Ghost mushrooms make a transient appearance on decaying tree stumps in the coastal forests of Gerroa, NSW. Picture: Ashley Sykes/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Fleeting Fungi: Ghost mushrooms make a transient appearance on decaying tree stumps in the coastal forests of Gerroa, NSW. Picture: Ashley Sykes/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A scarlet kingsnake climbing down a pine tree in Florida, USA, presumably hunting lizards at dusk. Picture: Joseph Mullica/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A scarlet kingsnake climbing down a pine tree in Florida, USA, presumably hunting lizards at dusk. Picture: Joseph Mullica/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A small troupe of wild blue wildebeest watches from a safe distance as a hot-air balloon lands on the Maasai Mara, Kenya. Picture: Michael Hegyi/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A small troupe of wild blue wildebeest watches from a safe distance as a hot-air balloon lands on the Maasai Mara, Kenya. Picture: Michael Hegyi/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A bird’s-eye view captures the charm of a small town in Swidnica, Poland, nestled amid radiant rapeseed fields. Picture: Agnieszka Wieczorek/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A bird’s-eye view captures the charm of a small town in Swidnica, Poland, nestled amid radiant rapeseed fields. Picture: Agnieszka Wieczorek/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Shake it off: A bear liberates himself in the USA wilderness. Picture: Luisa Pericoli/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Shake it off: A bear liberates himself in the USA wilderness. Picture: Luisa Pericoli/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A striking display of predator-prey interaction as an orca launches an attack on two seals on a beach in Argentina. Picture: HJ Yang/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A striking display of predator-prey interaction as an orca launches an attack on two seals on a beach in Argentina. Picture: HJ Yang/TNC Photo Contest 2023

El Cardon cactus, a symbol of reverence for native peoples in northwestern Argentina, under the enchanting glow of the moon. Picture: Jose Pereyra Lucena/TNC Photo Contest 2023
El Cardon cactus, a symbol of reverence for native peoples in northwestern Argentina, under the enchanting glow of the moon. Picture: Jose Pereyra Lucena/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A big sea wave charges towards the shore during a fierce sea storm in Varigotti, Italy. Picture: Giovanni Allievi/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A big sea wave charges towards the shore during a fierce sea storm in Varigotti, Italy. Picture: Giovanni Allievi/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Every evening, a solitary tree on a small island in Brazil becomes a haven for a flock of weary herons, who rest for the night before they set off once more. Picture: Rubens Reboucas/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Every evening, a solitary tree on a small island in Brazil becomes a haven for a flock of weary herons, who rest for the night before they set off once more. Picture: Rubens Reboucas/TNC Photo Contest 2023

In Tai Sang Wai, Hong Kong, a dried pond’s canvas showcases the remarkable legacy of fish and their spawning holes. Picture: Jeanny Tang/TNC Photo Contest 2023
In Tai Sang Wai, Hong Kong, a dried pond’s canvas showcases the remarkable legacy of fish and their spawning holes. Picture: Jeanny Tang/TNC Photo Contest 2023

This shot of an Alpine newt atop a mass of frog eggs is the overall champion of the competition. Using patience, tricky underwater camera housing, a remote trigger and creative lighting, the photographer was able to capture an insight to underwater stream life. Picture: Tibor Litauszki/TNC Photo Contest 2023
This shot of an Alpine newt atop a mass of frog eggs is the overall champion of the competition. Using patience, tricky underwater camera housing, a remote trigger and creative lighting, the photographer was able to capture an insight to underwater stream life. Picture: Tibor Litauszki/TNC Photo Contest 2023

An African bullfrog attacks a rival in an attempt to defend its mating territory. Picture: Christian Passeri/TNC Photo Contest 2023
An African bullfrog attacks a rival in an attempt to defend its mating territory. Picture: Christian Passeri/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A harsh Turkish winter is followed by verdant valleys, offering sustenance for both shepherds and their flocks. Every day, a dusty journey unfolds as they trek 10 km to the foot of Mount Nemrut. Picture: Fatih Yilmaz/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A harsh Turkish winter is followed by verdant valleys, offering sustenance for both shepherds and their flocks. Every day, a dusty journey unfolds as they trek 10 km to the foot of Mount Nemrut. Picture: Fatih Yilmaz/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Under ultraviolet light, a Corn Snakelet’s skin pattern becomes a work of art, unveiling a unique aspect of snake biology. Picture: Irina Petrova Adamatzky/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Under ultraviolet light, a Corn Snakelet’s skin pattern becomes a work of art, unveiling a unique aspect of snake biology. Picture: Irina Petrova Adamatzky/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Autumnal Alaskan trees taste their first snow of the season. Picture: Alessandro Carboni/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Autumnal Alaskan trees taste their first snow of the season. Picture: Alessandro Carboni/TNC Photo Contest 2023

In the heart of Ecuador’s tropical rainforest, a remarkable ogre spider is captured crafting its own egg sac. Picture: Jaime Daniel Fajardo Torres/TNC Photo Contest 2023
In the heart of Ecuador’s tropical rainforest, a remarkable ogre spider is captured crafting its own egg sac. Picture: Jaime Daniel Fajardo Torres/TNC Photo Contest 2023

This image of a hoopoe sweeping at sunrise was selected as a winner by celebrity judge Cole Sprouse. Picture: Hermis Haridas/TNC Photo Contest 2023
This image of a hoopoe sweeping at sunrise was selected as a winner by celebrity judge Cole Sprouse. Picture: Hermis Haridas/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A team of firefighters takes on the largest wildfire in Galicia’s history, which raged for days. According to EFFIS, 2022 marks the worst European fire season of the century. Picture: Adra Pallón/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A team of firefighters takes on the largest wildfire in Galicia’s history, which raged for days. According to EFFIS, 2022 marks the worst European fire season of the century. Picture: Adra Pallón/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A drenched gelada monkey looks on by the cliff edge in a moment of tranquillity during a thunderous rainstorm at Guassa, 3650m above sea level, deep in the Ethiopian highlands. Picture: Bing Lin/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A drenched gelada monkey looks on by the cliff edge in a moment of tranquillity during a thunderous rainstorm at Guassa, 3650m above sea level, deep in the Ethiopian highlands. Picture: Bing Lin/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A view of the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador through the intricate Antisana glaciers, illuminated by the gentle rays of the rising sun. Picture: Roberto Valdez/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A view of the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador through the intricate Antisana glaciers, illuminated by the gentle rays of the rising sun. Picture: Roberto Valdez/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A Spider Family Portrait: This 129-frame focus bracket reveals the world of a wolf spider and her offspring. Picture: Benjamin Salb/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A Spider Family Portrait: This 129-frame focus bracket reveals the world of a wolf spider and her offspring. Picture: Benjamin Salb/TNC Photo Contest 2023

On a late evening in Kansas, a planned pasture burn gently advances along the hill’s ridge, creating a mesmerising red glow. Picture: Bruce Hogle/TNC Photo Contest 2023
On a late evening in Kansas, a planned pasture burn gently advances along the hill’s ridge, creating a mesmerising red glow. Picture: Bruce Hogle/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A grey reef shark seizes its moment within a bait ball, disrupting the order of millions of small fish gathered in the shallows of Ningaloo Reef. Picture: Daniel Nicholson/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A grey reef shark seizes its moment within a bait ball, disrupting the order of millions of small fish gathered in the shallows of Ningaloo Reef. Picture: Daniel Nicholson/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Two male tigers duel in over territory in India’s Tadoba Tiger Reserve. Picture: Narayan Malu/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Two male tigers duel in over territory in India’s Tadoba Tiger Reserve. Picture: Narayan Malu/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Firefighters battle raging blazes in the Spanish town of Santa Ursula. This August, Spain faced its biggest-ever fires. Picture: Luisa Lynch Harris/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Firefighters battle raging blazes in the Spanish town of Santa Ursula. This August, Spain faced its biggest-ever fires. Picture: Luisa Lynch Harris/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A summer night in Hungary sees an antlion in flight, its graceful journey artfully captured with a long shutter speed. Picture: Tibor Litauszki/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A summer night in Hungary sees an antlion in flight, its graceful journey artfully captured with a long shutter speed. Picture: Tibor Litauszki/TNC Photo Contest 2023

The alkaline Lake Magadi in Kenya provides breathtaking patterns on the surface of the lake to photograph passing flamingoes. Picture: Neelutpaul Barua/TNC Photo Contest 2023
The alkaline Lake Magadi in Kenya provides breathtaking patterns on the surface of the lake to photograph passing flamingoes. Picture: Neelutpaul Barua/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A playful Lesser Prairie Chicken from Kansas engages in a spirited game of peek-a-boo as it jumps through the field. Picture: Mike Krehbiel/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A playful Lesser Prairie Chicken from Kansas engages in a spirited game of peek-a-boo as it jumps through the field. Picture: Mike Krehbiel/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Amidst illuminated particles resembling snowfall, a paper nautilus gracefully hitches a ride on floating debris. Picture: Cai Jialing/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Amidst illuminated particles resembling snowfall, a paper nautilus gracefully hitches a ride on floating debris. Picture: Cai Jialing/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Dhaka’s Sadarghat launch terminal becomes a bustling hub during the Eid festival, with enormous crowds taking up all available space on the water vessels. Picture: Mostafijur Rahman Nasim/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Dhaka’s Sadarghat launch terminal becomes a bustling hub during the Eid festival, with enormous crowds taking up all available space on the water vessels. Picture: Mostafijur Rahman Nasim/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Motherly Love: In the picturesque surroundings of Gainesville, Florida, a Sandhill Crane cares for her colts. Picture: Mario Labado/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Motherly Love: In the picturesque surroundings of Gainesville, Florida, a Sandhill Crane cares for her colts. Picture: Mario Labado/TNC Photo Contest 2023

In East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, the sea tribe stands as wise stewards of the ocean. Using basic equipment to catch fish for sustenance, they then sell the surplus at the market. Picture: Bambang Wirawan/TNC Photo Contest 2023
In East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, the sea tribe stands as wise stewards of the ocean. Using basic equipment to catch fish for sustenance, they then sell the surplus at the market. Picture: Bambang Wirawan/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A Northern Gannet colony lines the cliffs of the archipelago in the Czech Republic. Picture: Petr Bambousek/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A Northern Gannet colony lines the cliffs of the archipelago in the Czech Republic. Picture: Petr Bambousek/TNC Photo Contest 2023

A solitary conifer tree in the Dolomites embodies the quiet majesty of the season. Picture: Vittorio Ricci/TNC Photo Contest 2023
A solitary conifer tree in the Dolomites embodies the quiet majesty of the season. Picture: Vittorio Ricci/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Pacific sea nettles swarm in the murky waters off Monterey, California. Picture: Russell Laman/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Pacific sea nettles swarm in the murky waters off Monterey, California. Picture: Russell Laman/TNC Photo Contest 2023

In the marshes of Biebrza National Park, Poland, the penduline tit crafts its distinctive nest. Picture: Grzegorz Długosz/TNC Photo Contest 2023
In the marshes of Biebrza National Park, Poland, the penduline tit crafts its distinctive nest. Picture: Grzegorz Długosz/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Vibrant orange mushrooms emerge from decaying bark on the forest floor in India. Picture: Mohammed Salman/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Vibrant orange mushrooms emerge from decaying bark on the forest floor in India. Picture: Mohammed Salman/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Three exuberant wolves bound through the air, a snapshot of their unbridled enthusiasm and camaraderie. Picture: Siddhartha Ghosh/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Three exuberant wolves bound through the air, a snapshot of their unbridled enthusiasm and camaraderie. Picture: Siddhartha Ghosh/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Long exposure creates a watercolour painting in these semi-submerged birch trees on the River Po in Italy. Picture: Gianluca Gianferrari/TNC Photo Contest 2023
Long exposure creates a watercolour painting in these semi-submerged birch trees on the River Po in Italy. Picture: Gianluca Gianferrari/TNC Photo Contest 2023

In the Tuamotu atoll of Rangiroa, dolphins surf the waves and greet every passing ship with boundless joy. Picture: Estebane Rezkallah/TNC Photo Contest 2023
In the Tuamotu atoll of Rangiroa, dolphins surf the waves and greet every passing ship with boundless joy. Picture: Estebane Rezkallah/TNC Photo Contest 2023

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/photos/mother-earths-majesty-the-nature-conservancy-announces-competition-winners/news-story/e40e7d67379c388a5845cae542a8d3b6