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Puffin studio ... This image was taken last summer on Skomer Island, Wales. It is well known for its wildlife, the puffin colony is one of the largest in U.K.The photo shows a detail or study of an Atlantic puffin resting peacefully under the rain. As Skomer is inhabited, puffins do not feel afraid of humans, and so people can be close to puffins and the photographer can think about the right composition and take this kind of intimate portraits. Also that morning the conditions came together: rain and light. Picture: Mario Suarez Porras/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
1/15Puffin studio ... This image was taken last summer on Skomer Island, Wales. It is well known for its wildlife, the puffin colony is one of the largest in U.K.The photo shows a detail or study of an Atlantic puffin resting peacefully under the rain. As Skomer is inhabited, puffins do not feel afraid of humans, and so people can be close to puffins and the photographer can think about the right composition and take this kind of intimate portraits. Also that morning the conditions came together: rain and light. Picture: Mario Suarez Porras/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Sailing in Meringue ... Capturing the immensity of the landscape in Greenland is difficult. The sky is huge, the mountains are gigantic and the icebergs are colossal. When our zodiac rounded this beautiful iceberg, our sailing ship was in the background, giving some sense of scale to this whipped iceberg. Picture: Philip Friedman/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
2/15Sailing in Meringue ... Capturing the immensity of the landscape in Greenland is difficult. The sky is huge, the mountains are gigantic and the icebergs are colossal. When our zodiac rounded this beautiful iceberg, our sailing ship was in the background, giving some sense of scale to this whipped iceberg. Picture: Philip Friedman/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Wet! Wet! Wet! ... These Cheetah cubs didn't seem to be enjoying the afternoon downpour. They ran close together as they tried to keep up with mum. I'd like to say that I kept dry taking this image but in order to capture the moment I had to lean out of the window, allowing the stair-rods of water into the vehicle and got drenched by doing so. Worth it though. Picture: Gillian Lloyd/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
3/15Wet! Wet! Wet! ... These Cheetah cubs didn't seem to be enjoying the afternoon downpour. They ran close together as they tried to keep up with mum. I'd like to say that I kept dry taking this image but in order to capture the moment I had to lean out of the window, allowing the stair-rods of water into the vehicle and got drenched by doing so. Worth it though. Picture: Gillian Lloyd/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Glen le Féerique ... During my trip in Scotland, this shot was one of my first objective. I spent a lot og hours and days to get it. The sign on left down corner is a celtic spiral. It representtravel from the inner life to the higher spirit form. To the ancient people of Ireland it represented the sun and its cosmic energy. Picture: Fabrice Petruzzi/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
4/15Glen le Féerique ... During my trip in Scotland, this shot was one of my first objective. I spent a lot og hours and days to get it. The sign on left down corner is a celtic spiral. It representtravel from the inner life to the higher spirit form. To the ancient people of Ireland it represented the sun and its cosmic energy. Picture: Fabrice Petruzzi/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Orphan Orangutan ... The island of Borneo, which is split between the countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, was once covered with a lush tropical rainforest, but in the wake of ongoing deforestation and the expansion of plantation farming, the habitats of the islandís endemic and endangered species are being destroyed rapidly. Relentless deforestation has precipitated the loss of 90% of the orangutan population in 100 years. At this rate, some expect this species to become extinct within the next 20 years. Picture: Yosuke Kashiwakura/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
5/15Orphan Orangutan ... The island of Borneo, which is split between the countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, was once covered with a lush tropical rainforest, but in the wake of ongoing deforestation and the expansion of plantation farming, the habitats of the islandís endemic and endangered species are being destroyed rapidly. Relentless deforestation has precipitated the loss of 90% of the orangutan population in 100 years. At this rate, some expect this species to become extinct within the next 20 years. Picture: Yosuke Kashiwakura/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Rush Hour ... Thousands of snow geese take flight during a snowy morning fly out at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico It is loud and sounds like a passing train! Picture: Eileen Johnson/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
6/15Rush Hour ... Thousands of snow geese take flight during a snowy morning fly out at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico It is loud and sounds like a passing train! Picture: Eileen Johnson/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Before sunrise ... Quiet morning after raining for whole night in Xingping, Yangshuo. Picture: Tianyuan Xiao/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
7/15Before sunrise ... Quiet morning after raining for whole night in Xingping, Yangshuo. Picture: Tianyuan Xiao/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Tequila Sunset ... We were returning from a very successful day in the Masai Mara and were rushing to make it out the gate at the opposite end of the park, late one evening, when this scene presented itself. The beautiful melting orb of the sun, seeping through the clouds, lighting the sky a vibrant orange and in the foreground were these 4 zebras, set against that backdrop. Picture: Zhayynn James/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
8/15Tequila Sunset ... We were returning from a very successful day in the Masai Mara and were rushing to make it out the gate at the opposite end of the park, late one evening, when this scene presented itself. The beautiful melting orb of the sun, seeping through the clouds, lighting the sky a vibrant orange and in the foreground were these 4 zebras, set against that backdrop. Picture: Zhayynn James/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
On a mission ... A grizzly bear chasing a salmon in the river, and the salmon trying to escape jumping out of the water. Picture: Meril D./2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
9/15On a mission ... A grizzly bear chasing a salmon in the river, and the salmon trying to escape jumping out of the water. Picture: Meril D./2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Aladdin's Cave ... Snow cave on the slopes of the volcano Mutnovsky. Due to of global warming, glaciers have begun to decline. As a result, the ceiling of the cave became thin and the sunlight creates a wonderful picture of the different colors. Picture: Denis Budkov/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
10/15Aladdin's Cave ... Snow cave on the slopes of the volcano Mutnovsky. Due to of global warming, glaciers have begun to decline. As a result, the ceiling of the cave became thin and the sunlight creates a wonderful picture of the different colors. Picture: Denis Budkov/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
I Am Angry ... We arrived at one of the watering holes in Etosha National Park in the late evening. Four Lions were devouring a large kudu that they killed. A pack of hyenas appeared from the bush nearby attracted by the smell of blood and food for them. What ensued was a fight for the dead kudu between 4 female lions and 16 hyenas. Needless to say, in the end the hyenas won and got the prized kudu. Picture: NingYu Pao/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
11/15I Am Angry ... We arrived at one of the watering holes in Etosha National Park in the late evening. Four Lions were devouring a large kudu that they killed. A pack of hyenas appeared from the bush nearby attracted by the smell of blood and food for them. What ensued was a fight for the dead kudu between 4 female lions and 16 hyenas. Needless to say, in the end the hyenas won and got the prized kudu. Picture: NingYu Pao/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Hummingbird ... This lil humming bird baby was caught in my home. Here he is recouping from what was a stressful time being stuck. Minutes later her flew away. Picture: Emily Riley/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
12/15Hummingbird ... This lil humming bird baby was caught in my home. Here he is recouping from what was a stressful time being stuck. Minutes later her flew away. Picture: Emily Riley/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Early morning rays at Mt. Bromo ... A scene of sunrise rays which is reflected on an intense smoke of Bromo eruption. Picture: Rifky Setya/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
13/15Early morning rays at Mt. Bromo ... A scene of sunrise rays which is reflected on an intense smoke of Bromo eruption. Picture: Rifky Setya/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Polar Bear Reflection ... As we cruised the ice fields near Prince Regent Inlet in the Canadian high arctic we came across a lone Polar Bear wandering across the ice seeking a meal. Picture: Bill Klipp/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
14/15Polar Bear Reflection ... As we cruised the ice fields near Prince Regent Inlet in the Canadian high arctic we came across a lone Polar Bear wandering across the ice seeking a meal. Picture: Bill Klipp/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Diving ... Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic. They fish by diving into the sea, they can do it from a height of 30 meters with a speed of 80 km/hour, and pursuing their preys underwater. The island of Noss, in Shetland Islands, is one of the most important nesting point, with over 7000 breeding pairs. I took this picture in front of the high cliffs, from a small boat using an underwater housing, and surrounded by thousands of gannets flying, diving, shouting around me Öan amaz. Picture: Felipe Foncueva/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
15/15Diving ... Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic. They fish by diving into the sea, they can do it from a height of 30 meters with a speed of 80 km/hour, and pursuing their preys underwater. The island of Noss, in Shetland Islands, is one of the most important nesting point, with over 7000 breeding pairs. I took this picture in front of the high cliffs, from a small boat using an underwater housing, and surrounded by thousands of gannets flying, diving, shouting around me Öan amaz. Picture: Felipe Foncueva/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
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