8 Breathtaking Winning Images From The BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition
Winning captures of Mother Earth.
#1 Grand Prize Winner - Lemur's Tough Life (Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar) - By Donglin Zhou (Hangzhou, China)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
A Common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) carries her baby on her back while making a harrowing leap from one towering cliffside to another. This remarkable image was captured after a day of persistence on the photographer's part—hiking an hour through rugged limestone terrain to her position. Only after waiting until the early evening did her patience pay off when this plucky primate emerged onto the scene, likely leading the troop in search of food. Ordinarily Brown lemurs have no set dominance hierarchy, with groups composed of males and females, old and young alike, but it appeared clear to this photographer that the focal lemur was the leader of the pack. This daring lemur navigated her group deftly through the sharp peaks and crevices of the stone forest, resulting in the immortalization of this once-in-a-lifetime leap.
#2 Photo Story: In My Backyard Winner - The World of Familiar Insects (Various Locations, Japan) - By Takuya Ishiguro (Osaki-shi, Japan)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
It’s an undeniable fact that insects live close to humans at all times, but sometimes they are so small we may not even notice them. And even when we do notice them, they’re often met with disgust and derision. In this series taken in the photographer's native Japan, we’re given an unexpected look into the lives of bugs, wherein the photographer uses his own customized lens to capture unique, up-close images of diversely colorful and impressive species. In this image, we’re shown the unexpected beauty of a Common housefly (family Muscidae) as it shines like a jewel while covered in morning dew. Unfortunately, it won’t be able to fly off until the dew drops evaporate and it completely dries off, making it the perfect portrait specimen.
#3 Winged Life Winner - Leaving The Roost (Near La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica) - By Dvir Barkay (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
At dusk, a family of six Honduran white bats (Ectophylla alba) roost on the underside of a leaf, preparing to take off in search of their dinner. As the first one departs, we’re given a look at its nearly translucent wingspan, a feature often overlooked due to its unique facial features and iconic white fur. As one of the more enigmatic species found near the La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica, this species constructs "tents" out of plant leaves in the forest's understory by strategically cutting the leaf ribs with its teeth. This image captures one of the members leaving at dusk, with the rest of the family following soon after to find figs, a fruit it eats exclusively. After the feast, the family will return, or make a new tent to take shelter in if needed.
#4 Terrestrial Wildlife Winner - Inside The Pack (Ellesmere Island, Canada) - By Amit Eshel (Kfar Hah'oresh, Israel)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
It is theorized that the Arctic wolves (Canis lupus arctos) on Ellesmere Island do not fear humans due to not being hunted or habituated to them. This proved to be the case, when, after many days on the tundra, this photographer was suddenly approached by a pack of wolves. While documenting them, the photographer was surprised at how close they got, noting that at times they were almost touching him and he could smell their breath. While this may seem nerve-wracking, he believes they were just curious and did not see him as a food source. Due to frequent subzero temperatures and remote, arctic conditions, not much is known definitively about these striking creatures and their behavior patterns, but such stories of curious, even playful, wolf encounters on Ellesmere are not uncommon.
#5 Human/Nature Winner - Black Rhino Revival (Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya) - By Ami Vitale (Missoula, Montana, United States)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
Black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) once thrived in Kenya, but rampant poaching in the 70s’ and '80s drove them to near extinction. Thanks to government intervention and conservancy efforts, this trend has reversed over the past 30 years. But the work serving the current populations can be arduous and challenging, as demonstrated here as the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) team can be seen quickly springing into action to save this rhino's life after she reacted badly to anesthesia and stopped breathing. Handlers must manage these powerful creatures safely, even under sedation. The logistical complexities called for precise coordination and the expertise of veterinarians and wildlife specialists. Despite challenges, the teams worked together over three weeks to successfully relocate all the rhinos, and Kenya is halfway to its goal of reaching 2,000 individuals, the minimum required for long-term species survival.
#6 Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora Winner - Third Eye (Rybnik, Poland) - By Marcin Giba (Rybnik, Poland)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
A frozen lake photographed from a drone showcases one of nature’s unblinking eyes, freckled by the footsteps of creatures unknown. In this image, we’re likely seeing the process of how lakes freeze, from the perimeter to the center, in action. This explains the staggered transition of coloration from snow, to ice, then ultimately open water. Taken in the photographer's hometown, he notes that while he has documented other images featuring this eye motif, he never fails to be surprised by the outcome.
#7 Aquatic Life - Octopus Mother (West Palm Beach, Florida, United States) - By Kat Zhou (San Francisco, California, United States)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
A rare glimpse of an Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus briareus) mother and her offspring. These octopuses are a solitary species and after mating hide themselves in extremely difficult to locate areas while tending to their eggs—some even figure out how to lock themselves within a space entirely! While in Palm Beach, this photographer got a tip that a Caribbean reef octopus could be found at the Blue Heron Bridge dive area, and—after four visits to the site to observe her—was finally able to document this exquisite specimen tending to her eggs. This image is bittersweet as it is beautiful, as it demonstrates the protective nature this species is known for; however, what isn’t observable is that this octopus will not eat while tending to her eggs—which means that this incredible invertebrate will die after the eggs hatch.
#8 Art of Nature Winner -Floating Upwards (Rügen, Germany) - By Sandra Bartocha (Wulkenzin, Germany)
Image Source: BigPictureCompetition.Com
Waves crash just along the coast of Rügen, Germany’s largest island. At first glance, this inspiring image feels more like an impressionistic painting rather than a photographic portrait of a storied island. With settlements established as early as the Stone Age, Rügen has undergone many changes over the course of centuries; now, it’s one of Germany’s most popular holiday destinations, known for its many gorgeous beaches. As the viewer sits with this incredible moment water crashes onto the island, one can almost see history written in the waves.
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