20 Winning Images From The World Nature Photography Awards 2022

Being a nature photographer takes both skill and guts– Imagine being so close to wild animals and harsh landscapes! On top of that, they have to be quick and observant all the time otherwise they’d miss the perfect shot.

#1 JENS CULLMANN, GERMANY – GOLD WINNER AND GRAND PRIZE OF WORLD NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Jens Cullmann

#2 GOLD: CHARLES SCHMIDT, USA

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Charles Schmidt

#3 BRONZE: STAFFAN WIDSTRAND, SWEDEN

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Staffan Widstrand

#4 GOLD: HIDETOSHI OGATA, JAPAN

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Hidetoshi Ogata

“Japanese macaques on Awaji Island in Japan form huddles consisting of many individual monkeys, sometimes reaching more than thirty. In other places, huddles are usually made up of just a few, rarely more than ten. Cuddling and grooming are among several possible reasons for making a huddle. It begins with the mother and baby cuddling. Other females and young males then join in, as well as other cuddling groups. This photo captures a rare moment during the lactation season when three pairs of monkeys have formed a huddle after grooming. Most Awaji monkeys are non-aggressive and when they are raising their babies, mothers create individual communities that have no social hierarchies.”

#5 GOLD: TOM SHLESINGER, ISRAEL

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Tom Shlesinger

#6 GOLD: NICOLAS REMY, AUSTRALIA

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, ©Nicolas Remy

“An Australian fur seal shows a bad injury from a boat propeller. Shot in Port Kembla, NSW, Australia.”

#7 GOLD: NORIHIRO IKUMA, JAPAN

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Norihiro Ikuma

#8 GOLD: JULIE KENNY, AUSTRALIA

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, ©Julie Kenny

“The tree is seen as a sacred symbol, which carries significant meanings in both religious and spiritual philosophies. From above the surrounding sheep tracks combined with the fallen tree reminded me of the Tree of Life. While the aerial perspective focuses on the earth, you can see the pooled water in the sheep tracks reflecting hints of blue from the sky. While this represents many different things, for me it communicates the interconnection of all things, beginnings and endings, the cycling of life.”

#9 GOLD: VLADISLAV TASEV, UK

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Vladislav Tasev

#10 GOLD: SASCHA FONSECA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Sascha Fonseca

“A beautiful snow leopard triggers my camera trap high up in the Indian Himalayas. I captured this image during a 3-year camera trap project in the Ladakh region in northerm India. The mystery surrounding the snow leopard always fascinated me. They are some of the most difficult large cats to photograph in the wild. Not only because of their incredible stealth, but also because of the remote environment they live in.”

#11 SILVER: BEATRICE WONG, HONG KONG

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Beatrice Wong

#12 SILVER: TAKUYA ISHIGURO, JAPAN

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Takuya Ishiguro

#13 SILVER: EDUARDO FELDMAN, ISRAEL

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Eduardo Feldman

#14 SILVER: THOMAS VIJAYAN, CANADA

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Thomas Vijayan

#15 SILVER: PARTHA ROY, SINGAPORE

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Partha Roy

#16 SILVER: DR ARTUR STANKIEWICZ, POLAND

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Dr Artur Stankiewicz

#17 SILVER: TAMAS ARANYOSSY, HUNGARY

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Tamas Aranyossy

#18 SILVER: ASHOK BEHERA, INDIA

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Ashok Behera

#19 BRONZE: ANDRE JOHNSON, USA

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Andre Johnson

#20 BRONZE: LI LIU, USA

Image source: worldnaturephotographyawards, © Li Liu