Wildlife photography shows us just how fascinating the natural world can be. Whether it captures animals in their natural habitats or the incredible life hidden beneath the ocean's surface, these images showcase moments we might never witness ourselves.
The Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) celebrates photographers from around the world, and its 2026 competition includes some truly powerful shots of wildlife and underwater life. We've selected some of our favorites, featuring animals in their environments and the beauty of the world beneath the waves.
Scroll down to explore these captivating wildlife photos, and tell us which ones caught your attention the most!
#41 A Rare Moment By Adam Horvath
A marten runs across the image against the night sky, glowing red due to the white balance settings. The ornate pattern of acacia leaves creates a delicate frame for the scene.
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#42 The Bear And The Volcano By Kesshav Vikram
A lone brown bear strolls along the desolate shore of Kuril Lake, its stark silhouette set against the water, as the Iliinsky volcano emerges from the clouds and a slaty-backed gull flies past, perfectly aligned with its summit. Generally solitary, the bear is heading to join its kind in feasting on the sockeye salmon migrating upriver from July to September to spawn—a seasonal abundance that draws bears from across the remote wilderness of the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia's Far East. Kurile Lake, a caldera formed by the collapse of a volcanic crater, is the largest sockeye salmon spawning ground in Eurasia; its deep, cold waters serve as a vital cradle for life in this untamed landscape.
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#43 Commotion In The Ocean By Nur Tucker
A chaotic underwater struggle unfolds as northern gannets compete fiercely for discarded fish. What begins as a frantic aerial dive quickly transforms beneath the waves into a violent battle for survival. This intense feeding frenzy exposes the unseen consequences of human fishing activity—an artificial abundance that distorts natural behavior, pushing these seabirds into dangerous and exhausting competition.
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#44 On The Edge By Alessandra Meniconzi
Transhumance in the Swiss Alps is an age-old tradition, a cyclical seasonal journey of livestock between high-mountain pastures and the valleys. During the summer, animals graze in the highlands under open skies, returning to the valleys as temperatures drop and pasture becomes scarce. In this vertical world, narrow and dizzying trails carved directly into sheer rock faces become vital arteries for the herd—a testament to the resilience required by such an ancient way of life. This seasonal migration continues to shape the cultural and natural landscape of the region, preserving a way of life that honors the cycles of nature.
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#45 Look At Me By Reiko Takahashi
Clownfish usually live inside sea anemones to protect themselves from predators. In return, clownfish help sea anemones by improving water circulation and providing nutrients.
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