National Geographic has just announced the results of its prestigious 2017 Nature Photographer of the Year photo contest (2016 here), and the best photos are the perfect celebration of Mother Earth. 11,000 stunning pictures were submitted from amateur and professional photographers, competing in four nature photography categories: wildlife, landscapes, aerials, and underwater.
The grand-prize winner will receive $7,500 and their winning image will appear in an upcoming issue of National Geographic magazine. Also, one first-place winner will be selected from each of the four categories, all of them earning $2,500. To feed your passion for the living world, Bored Panda has collected some of the amazing photos from the photography contest, presenting them together with its prizewinners. Scroll down to take a closer look at nature and upvote the beautiful photos you liked most.
More info: nationalgeographic.com
#41 People's Choice: Kirkjufell Spirit, Johns Tsai
I lost everything the first time traveling to Iceland because of a thief stole my camera. I didn't give up but a successful crowdfunding made me able to go back once again to gather the lost pieces of my memory. This day I drove half circle of the Iceland in order to see the light, otherwise the weather is not permitted to see the northern light for the rest of my journey. All the blood and tears, painful and joy, I devote all my spirit in this photo, I believe the nature do hear my voice.
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66points
#42 Arctic Majesty, Frank Joa
FRANK JOA, FRANK JOA
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#43 People's Choice, Aerials: Meandering Canyon, David Swindler
Green vegetation blooms at the river’s edge, or riparian, zone of a meandering canyon in Utah.
64points
#44 Alien, Adam Silverman
This is one of my favorite photos of my favorite critter. Shot with a +25 magnifier, it really brings out the detail in this otherwise very small skeleton shrimp. It's face is clear, it's reddish eyes are visible, and the way it faces my camera with it's arms wide makes it almost symmetrical. It's clear color matches the hydra that it is living on. Plus the colors in the background really make this an interesting and beautiful photo. Don't think there are aliens on earth? Look no further!
64points
#45 First Place Winner, Aerials: Rock Pool, Todd Kennedy
In Sydney, Australia, the Pacific Ocean at high tide breaks over a natural rock pool enlarged in the 1930s. Avoiding the crowds at the city’s many beaches, a local swims laps.
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63points
#46 Three White Rhinos, Alan Smith
Unknown, Unknown
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#47 Sunset On The Savanna, Holly-Lynn Latimour
My tour group was about to head back to our lodge for the evening when we came upon two giraffes courting during this incredible sunset. I was lucky enough to capture the two giraffes at the same time as a flock of birds took flight from a tree in the background.
60points
#48 People's Choice: Volcano, Vladimir Voychuk
There is a rumor that you can watch forever on two things: fire and water, but when it comes to exploding lava fountains, - it is sempiternity multiplied to infinity. The eruption of Klyuchevskaya sopka. Kamchatka.
58points
#49 Third Place Winner, Wildlife: White Fighters, Bence Mate
Two grey herons spar as a white-tailed eagle looks on in Hungary.
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56points
#50 People's Choice: Kayakers On The River, Karim Iliya
Look closely and you will see two Kayakers. The smooth misty water is a result of a long exposure, yet it is a single image. It is one of the most challenging photos I have ever taken. Just after sunset when the light was balanced, between rain showers they set off and stopped in the eddy current and held their position for as long as they could while I took long exposure photos. As I was flying the drone back to change battery, the rain returned and darkness consumed the valley.
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55points
#52 Flight Of Angels, Vikram Ghanekar
While on safari in mana pools national park, zimbabwe, i was following a bull elephant on foot with my guide. the idea was to photograph him in the beautiful golden light of the setting sun. there was a flock of egrets feeding on insects disturbed by the elephant. suddenly they took flight and as they crossed the elephant, i could take a picture with the birds in flight on a beautiful backdrop.
54points
#53 Snow Cranes, Kenny Chen
A pair of Japanese cranes dancing in the snow.
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49points
#54 California Spider Web, Michael Cukr
MICHAEL CUKR
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#55 River Crossing - Bike Bridge, T. Sweetman
As I flew my drone over the ping river I caught this moment of two elderly people take the scooters home over the bridge in chiang mai.
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46points
#56 Totem Stargazer Fish, Sylvie Ayer
SYLVIE AYER
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#57 Guidance, Zach Parker
Mother and calf humpback whale cruising through the deep blue waters off tonga
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42points
#58 Highlander, Andro Loria
Highlander... a lone hiker on the top of the hill in the midst of the beautiful geothermal Kerlingarfjöll area, 🇮🇸 Iceland'17
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41points
#59 Smile For The Camera, Gary Peart
GARY PEART
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#60 Honorable Mention, Aerials: Life After Life, Agathe Bernard
Migratory gulls take flight from a cedar tree being washed downstream by a glacial river in British Columbia, Canada.
40points