The submissions to this year’s World Nature Photography Awards have been judged, and the winning images and photographers have just been announced. Thomas Vijayan was the Grand Prize winner, with his image of an orangutan climbing a tree. The contest organizers have shared with us some of the winning images, shown below, from their 13 categories. Captions were provided by the photographers and have been lightly edited for clarity.
Winners of the 2020 World Nature Photography Awards
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The World is Going Upside Down: Grand Prize Winner and Gold, Animals in Their Habitat category. To make this image of a Bornean orangutan in Tanjung Puting National Park, the photographer climbed a tree and waited. “I selected a tree that was in the water so that I could get a good reflection of the sky which can make the image look upside down. Then I climbed up the tree and waited for hours. This is a regular path for the orangutans to cross to another small island so I was sure to get this frame if I waited patiently.” #
© Thomas Vijayan / World Nature Photography Awards -
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Lion Fight: Gold, Behavior: Mammals category. An interloper approaches a watering hole in the Serengeti that was already claimed by a small pride of lions. As the lioness came close, the pride attacked her in order to drive her away. #
© Patrick Nowotny / World Nature Photography Awards -
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Andre Fajardo: Gold, People and Nature category. Andre Fajardo and I went to dive early one morning. Sometimes you'll see a ton of life in this area and other times you won't. This particular day we came upon a few bait balls and the fish let us swim around them. The photo was taken in the Pacific Ocean in the Hawaiian Islands. #
© Christa Funk / World Nature Photography Awards -
Long Live the King: Gold, Black and White category. Ulysses, one of the last remaining great tuskers, bears down on top of me, demonstrating his colossal size and tusks. #
© Harry Skeggs / World Nature Photography Awards -
Flying Saucer: Gold, Behavior: Birds category. This great horned owl just jumped from its perch in the trees to begin flight. She thrust her wings forward to gain momentum. As the wings connected in front of her, it appeared as though she formed a perfect flying saucer. The image was taken near High River, Canada. #
© Dale Paul / World Nature Photography Awards -
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21st Century Rhino Conservation: Gold, Nature Photojournalism category. A white rhino is dehorned to prevent it from being killed by poachers. However, it’s a highly effective strategy, as well as a conservation measure of last resort. All rhino species are, or have been, on the brink of extinction due to the popularity of their horns in Asia. #
© Gunther De Bruyne / World Nature Photography Awards -
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Lizard Burps: Bronze, Behavior: Amphibians and Reptiles category. A green crested lizard burps during its rest time on a tree branch, in Windsor Nature Park in Singapore. #
© Mr. Endy / World Nature Photography Awards -
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Spirit of the Ice: Gold, Planet Earth’s Landscapes and Environments category. The first cold days of winter have frozen the surface of a pond. The first snowfall has revealed its delicate beauty. A long shutter speed enhances the movement of the clouds in the sky around Mount Cimon de la Pala, in Paneveggio-Pale San Martino Natural Park in Italy. #
© Alessandro Gruzza / World Nature Photography Awards
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