Shaking off the Snow. Runner-up, Mammals. "This picture was taken in Wapusk National Park on the coast of Hudson Bay, Canada, during a heavy snowstorm in November 2022. With a single vigorous movement, the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) shakes off the powdery snow that has accumulated during the storm. A gust of wind picks up the snow and forms a decorative veil around the animal." #

In the Forest of the Monarchs. Overall Winner. "Streaked with sunlight and crowded together for warmth in winter, monarch butterflies blanket fir trees in El Rosario Sanctuary. I requested special permits to work outside the sanctuary’s operating hours and made this photograph shortly before sunset. Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Michoacan, Mexico." #

Affection. Highly Commended, Mammals. "Of all the animals that roam the savanna, spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) get the most 'bad press.' They are often derided as one of the 'ugly five' and viewed as scavenging opportunists. For me, however, hyenas are extremely interesting creatures. Over the years, I have taken countless wonderful pictures capturing many different aspects of their behavior. In this photo, we see the gentle side of these often misunderstood, highly social animals: a hyena cub snuggles up lovingly to its disheveled and battered-looking mother." #

King of the East. Highly Commended, Rewilding Europe Award. "This photograph shows one of the numerous European bison (Bison bonasus) reintroduced to Poland's Białowieża National Park, near the border with Belarus. In 1927, the last free-living bison in the Caucasus was shot and the species was considered extinct in the wild in Europe. With the help of a small group of animals from zoological gardens and private owners, the European bison was saved from extinction. As of 2023, about 7,200 individuals exist in Europe. However, habitat fragmentation and low genetic diversity continue to pose challenges to the survival of this species." #

Instant of Eternity. Highly Commended, Man and Nature. "The Aiguille du Plan, in the Mont Blanc massif, stands in the shadow of the Aiguille du Midi. The photograph was taken shortly after a thunderstorm, just as sunlight burst through the clouds, revealing the icy majesty of the mountain." #

Water and Light. Highly Commended, Nature's Studio. "Over thousands of years, the astonishing power of a steep mountain stream has carved deep furrows into the landscape. Copious meltwater from the last winter thunders down the valley. At a waterfall, the force of the falling water creates a strong wind that blows mist into the forest. The light of the setting sun breaks through the trees, casting beautiful rays. A slow shutter speed imparts a sense of movement to the still image." #

Too Many Dolphins?. Highly Commended, Underwater World. "The encounter with this superpod of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. It was impossible to keep track of the number of individuals. There were dolphins everywhere; their vocalizations filled the ocean. Some of them stoically passed by, while others eyed me with curiosity." #

Approach. Winner, Birds. "After observing a pair of nesting black woodpeckers (Dryocopus martius) for several days, I decided to set up a camouflage hide at a suitable distance. I installed the hide behind a fir tree so as not to disturb the birds and at the same time make my image visually more exciting by photographing through the branches. Once I had found a good angle, I just had to wait for the adult birds to appear. Here, you can see the male approaching with food for the hungry offspring in the brood cave." #

Night Crawler. Winner, Underwater World. "A common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) crawls across the seabed at night in search of prey. Thanks to a sophisticated combination of tactile abilities and nocturnal vision, octopuses are among the most effective nocturnal hunters in the sea." #

New World. Runner-up, Man and Nature. "For common mergansers (Mergus merganser) in Warsaw, the breeding season has become rather stressful. Ducklings hatch in a park about one kilometer away from the Vistula river. Each female duck has to relocate her ducklings to the river as quickly as possible because this is the only place in the park with food and shelter. To get to the river, the ducks must cross two canals and go through three underground passages created especially for this purpose. The final obstacle is a six-lane motorway. Every year, a group of volunteers helps the ducks cross this dangerous road by holding up traffic. This image shows a duck crossing a smaller road because it refused to use the nearby dark underground passage. The volunteer blocks traffic while the cameraman captures the scene." #

Arctic Tern. Highly Commended, Birds. "Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) patrol along the front of a mighty glacier in search of food. Their hunt is particularly successful after the glacier has calved, dropping large chunks of ice into the sea and stirring up the marine plankton. The image was taken in July 2023 from a Zodiac in front of Monaco Glacier in Liefdefjord, northwestern Svalbard." #

Blood of the Earth. Highly Commended, Landscapes. "A huge stream of lava flows from an eruptive fissure into the deserted Valle del Bove in the southeastern crater of Mount Etna, Italy. Sulfurous vapors color the surrounding rocks bright yellow. Positioned at a distance away from the intense heat, I extended my tripod with the camera already mounted, held it up as far as I could above the glowing lava lake, and then took this shot with a remote shutter release." #

Bee Wolf. Highly Commended, Other Animals. "A female bee wolf (Philanthus triangulum), or digger wasp, returns to its burrow with a honey bee (Apis mellifera) that it has paralyzed and will place in the burrow as a food source for its emerging offspring. Bee wolves lay their eggs in burrows that they dig in sandy soil." #

As Time Goes By. Highly Commended, Landscapes. "The Debagoiena Valley lies in the heart of the Basque Country. Although perhaps best known for its industry, the valley also offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. The sun had not yet risen when I arrived, and low-hanging clouds were slowly drifting by. Using a long focal length and an extended exposure time, I tried to capture the smooth movement of the clouds by focusing on the treetops." #

The Night of the Lynx. Highly Commended, Mammals. "I have been using camera traps and flashes to photograph lynx (Lynx lynx) in southern Sweden for more than six years. After many attempts with classic image composition, I tried to rethink my approach. My aim was to photograph a backlit lynx on a tree trunk at night as a silhouette with a 'golden edge.' A softened main flash, whose light was bundled through a narrow tube about 40 cm long, was intended to simply reflect the animal's eyes. The gentle rain that night was a welcome bonus." #

Alpine Contrasts. Highly Commended, Landscapes. "Lush green grass grows high up in the mountains flanked by the shimmering blue ice of the jagged Aletsch Glacier in the background. The glacier once covered this entire landscape, but year after year the ice retreats farther and farther. Unfortunately, it will not take long for the glacier tongue to melt back so far that this picture will no longer be possible. In 2022 alone, the Aletsch Glacier lost 6 percent of its total volume." #

Bad Hair Day. Highly Commended, Mammals. "During my visit to Svalbard, I was able to observe numerous Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), a small subspecies of the reindeer common in Northern Europe. During the summer months, these animals lose their thick winter coat. On a hike, I watched as a strong gust of wind blew off a large part of this reindeer’s winter coat. Even the reindeer looks a little surprised." #

At Peace. Highly Commended, Underwater World. "A playful young California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) strikes a peaceful pose in an underwater cave. This spot is particularly popular among juvenile seal lions, who dart through the water with enviable agility. As I was taking this photograph, there were other sea lions behind me, nibbling on my flippers, hair, and camera. Los Islotes, where this image was taken, is home to the southernmost breeding colony of California sea lions, and, despite the threat of climate change, it is the only colony in the Gulf of California with a growing population." #