A new photography competition has announced its first winners and finalists, and there's some stunning work among them. A portrait of a playful sea lion has won the first-ever nature photography competition showcasing animals, plants, landscapes and humans' impact on the environment.
The Nature Photography Competition was launched in 2023 by an international team of nature photographers to highlight the beauty of our planet - and what we might be losing. Entrants can submit images in 10 categories: Wildlife, Birds and Plants focusing on the creatures we share the earth with. Landscape photography captures large-scale scenery, while macro photography magnifies tiny features. Underwater photography and night photography show nature through different lenses. "Environmental Impact" and "Sharing the Planet" highlight how humans coexist with nature, both the good and the bad, while "Funny Nature" lightens the mood with those once-in-a-lifetime candid photos.
In addition to various awards, entries may also receive special recognition. Photography of the Year is awarded to a single image that stands out in any category, while Photographer of the Year is awarded to the outstanding person behind the camera based on the entire body of work submitted.
Glenn Ostle's work "Sea Lions of Los Islands" won the competition's first-ever Photography of the Year award. The photo, taken off the coast of La Paz, Mexico, shows a sea lion shyly turning sideways and looking at the camera before leaping into the water, presumably amid a school of fish in the background.
Belgian photojournalist Alain Schroeder won the first Photographer of the Year Award. His work includes a series of turtles in the Maldives and orangutans in Indonesia, one of which won an award in the Sharing the Planet category.
To view all works, please visit the competition website:
https://thenaturephotocontest.com/photo-contest-winners-2023