A category to celebrate and showcase the beauty of the natural world and thus the need to protect it. Images submitted can showcase wildlife and wild places from anywhere on earth, and depict exciting new perspectives on our complex ecosystems. It is through these images, that we can raise awareness and advocate for the conservation of our precious biodiversity! Images may be landscape or portrait orientated.

The Natural World – Winning Image:

Winner: Robert Nightingale

‘Dreaming in the Lantern Glow’

We went to Kenya to see and photograph the “big five”. We spent a week in the Masai Mara seeing everything but leopards. On our last day in Samburu as we were leaving, we fortunately saw this regal leopard sleeping in a tree far away, nestled amongst weaver nests.

Location: Samburu, Kenya, Africa
Camera/Lens: Nikon D500, Nikkor 200-500mm f5.6 lens

Highly Commended: Clayton Harris

‘The Breacher’

Upon welcoming the arrival of the annual humpback whale migration, I headed out to catch a glimpse of these ocean giants. With forest fires in the distance, a smoggy haze blanketed the horizon. All of a sudden this whale lunged from the depths and towered above us in what can only be described as the most incredible display of power by an animal.

Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Camera/Lens: Sony A7RIV Body, Sony 100-400 GM lens

Finalist: Michael Snedic

‘A Curious Collector’

I set up my camera near a satin bowerbird’s bower. The male was incredibly relaxed, ignored my gear and continued to tend to his bower. I sat nearby with a remote trigger for hours. Eventually, the bowerbird came right up to the lens and peered in. I was ready!

Location: Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia
Camera/Lens: Nikon D850, Nikon 14-24mm lens, Gitzo tripod with a remote trigger

Finalist: Michael Stavrakakis

‘The Ice King’

It was hard not to think we were being hunted as this 600 kilogram male polar bear confidently strutted towards us. There is something humbling about being eye-level, face-to-face and locking eyes with the Arctic’s top predator.

Location: Svalbard, Norway
Camera/Lens: Sony A7 IV, Sony 200-600mm lens

Finalist: Morgan Hutcheson

‘Onwards and Upwards’
Two of some of the most feared creatures in the world, a South African rock python and a jumping spider, come together in a delicate moment reminding us of nature’s unusual and intricate connections that most might not think of…except perhaps in their nightmares.

Location: Near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Camera/Lens: Sony ILCE-7RM3A, Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens