1/15Photo by Daisy Gilardini / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. On the hunt. A polar bear is sniffing the air trying to scent seals - Svalbard - Norway. For more information: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/nature-photographer-of-the-year-2017/
Nat Geo’s Nature Photographer of the Year Awards, 2017
NATURE’S very best from the African plains to the Svalbard in Norway, we bring to you the Editors’ top picks. Entries close November 17.
2/15Photo by Jay ruan / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Sunrise of Maasia Mara. During the month of August and September, there are millions of wildebeests, zebra, and other animals in Maasia mara game reserve. On this September morning, a wildebeest eats grass intersected by the sun coming out of the horizon. It was one of the most beautiful sunrise i had seen so far.
3/15Photo by Alexis Darden / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Lightning bridge Spectacular view of the Golden gate bridge during a rare bay area lightning and thunderstorm.
4/15Photo by Christine Lai / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. In Transit. This is a leopard who walked past our vehicle in the Okavango Delta. I admired the intensity of this leopard’s eyes as it moved quietly through the grass.
5/15Photo by Christian Vizl / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Nurse shark at bimini Bahamas, Bimini. Portrait of a nurse shark swimming in mid water.
6/15Photo by Anders Andersson / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Coping with current Swedish outdoors association Friluftsfrämjandet arranges courses in how to handle a canoe in rough waters. A dozen teenagers tried their stamina in the chilly waters of river helge, and didnt mind an occational plunge during the weekend course.
7/15Photo by Shannon Hinson-Witz / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Kanyarunka, The Nyakamwe Family of the drc - New mum Kanyarunka shields her baby from a rambunctious toddler.
8/15Photo by Gary Peart / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Smile for the camera heart racing, hands clenched on the handles of my camera housing, peering through the silty usually clear mangrove water. The American Crocodile suddenly appeared out of the murk, almost resting its snout on the dome port of my underwater setup. I told myself to remain calm, that I was completely safe behind my camera. Although it was a tense encounter at first the silty water adds to the dramatic nature of this image. a moment i will not forget in a hurry.
9/15Photo by Steve De Neef / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Whale shark and anchovies. A whale shark and school of anchovies swim by at Mafia Island, Tanzania. The shark and schooling fish are often seen together as they both are after the same planktonic prey, sergestid shrimp. The population of whale sharks here is quite unique as they remain here year round, scientists believe this is because there’s an abundance of food around the island. Nowhere else in the world do whale sharks do this.
10/15National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest.The picture was taken from a helicopter over lake natron. A flock of flamingos were flying over the lake.
11/15Photo by Ruzdi Ekenheim / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Turn left! Shot at Lake Kekini, Greece.
12/15Photo by Damilice Mansur / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Up in the clouds after a long flight from Aruba to Canada and countless hours of driving I finally got to Bonaventure Island to be able to witness more than 54,000 breeding pairs of Northern Gannets. After 4 km’s of island hiking you can start to hear the sounds and even smell of the Gannets. It was a beautiful day which made this capture seem like the Gannets were up in the clouds. The background fills the frame with hundreds of gannets and a clear blue sky.
13/15Photo by Dragos Pirvulescu / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The New Continents An aerial view over the swamps of Cenas Tirelis near Riga, Latvia.
14/15Photo by Grant Kaye / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Kamokuna ocean entry, November 2016 Lava flows into the ocean at sunset, kamokuna, Kalapana, hawaii
15/15Photo by Matt Porteous / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest. Ocean Power when a wave breaks in front of you out in the ocean, you still have time to break through. Capturing my friend and Film maker Googsi as he creeps below a breaking wave.