After taking a closer look at the Nature category of the 2025 Chromatic Awards last week, we’re continuing with another beautiful selection from the same competition. This time, the spotlight falls on the Wildlife And Animals category, where photographers captured creatures great and small through the powerful language of color.
As an international competition dedicated to color photography, the Chromatic Awards brings together both professional and amateur photographers from around the world. In this category, that variety is especially clear, with each image offering a different glimpse into the animal kingdom and the photographers’ ability to notice moments many of us would otherwise miss.
Scroll down to see the winning and honorable mention photos from the Wildlife And Animals category, and don’t forget to upvote your favorite shots along the way.
#1 “Catch Me Mom!” By Jim Guerard
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “In a game as old as time, a mother cheetah uses her hind feet to toss her cub into the air and then catch her again.”
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38points
#2 “The Wonderer” By Fabian Meckl
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “Beneath the trees that shroud the Sabi River, a male lion pauses, gazing into the canopy as if lost in thought. The yellow leaves of the dry season shimmer in the late morning sun, casting the scene in dusty gold. I cannot help but wonder: what goes through his mind?”
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36points
#3 “Sibling Rivalry” By Somdutt Prasad
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “In a burst of raw energy and youthful power, two sub-adult tiger siblings engage in a spirited play-fight on the forest floor. One tiger is airborne, muscles taut, all four paws lifted clear off the ground, its face turned toward the camera with an expression that is half play, half challenge. The other, seen from behind, rises on powerful hind legs, reaching up to meet its sibling’s leap — forepaws outstretched, tail arched in balance, every sinew alive with motion.
What might seem at first a playful dance is, in truth, a rehearsal for independence. As tiger cubs approach two years of age, their once carefree games begin to take on a sharper edge. The mock fights, the lunges and parries, are no longer just for fun — they are instinctive lessons in strength, dominance, and control. These moments foreshadow the inevitable separation to come, when each young tiger will carve out its own territory, staking claim to a domain where no sibling bond can soften the law of the wild.
Bathed in soft forest light, the scene brims with vitality and purpose. Every motion tells of transition — from cubs bound by affection to rivals shaped by nature’s design. "Sibling Rivalry" captures the precise moment where play meets power, where innocence gives way to instinct, and where the jungle begins to claim its next rulers.”
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35points
#4 “Sovereign Gaze” By Bingwen Ding
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “Photographed in the heart of Kruger National Park, South Africa, this portrait captures the raw majesty of an aging male lion as he meets the camera with an unwavering, sovereign gaze. His weathered fur and deep-set amber eyes tell a story of survival, dominance, and solitude—etched into every strand of his mane and every scar of his face. I waited for the light to sculpt his features just right, allowing the natural shadows to fall away into a near-black background, so that nothing would distract from the presence of this lion—silent, watchful, commanding.
For a fleeting moment, he was no longer just a wild animal, but a king—seen, and seeing.”
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32points
#5 “It Is Up To You” By Graeme Guy
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “Cheetahs are one of the most endearing African species. The females though generally have a tough life. A male will mate and then move on leaving the female to raise the cubs. Up to 8 cubs may be born but only 2-3 will survive to adulthood. The wellbeing of the cubs is entirely dependent of their mother and her hunting skills. While she is very fast they are easily out-muscled but a number of other species.....their kills may be stolen. She also must not sustain injuries that nullify her speed advantage. In the image shown the cub on the left looks up to her mother as if to say ....'it is all up to you Mom.”
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31points
#6 “House Owner” By Itamar Matsry
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “If you encounter a tiger in India's Ranthambore National Park, it will usually be on trails, near a water source or in the trees. But an unusual sight was caught on my camera when the Bengal tiger came to an abandoned colorful building and stood in its doorway, as if he were the owner of the house. Which is probably true, this is his territory.”
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30points
#7 “It's Behind You” By Susan Lang
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “Is this what dogs see in their nightmares?”
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29points
#8 “Mirror Reflection With Blanca” By Joyce Reinertson
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “A humorous and playful image of my cat Blanca having fun in this mirror studio set up especially made for her.”
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27points
#9 “Behind The Leaves” By Eva Karlowatz
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “Young fox behind the leaves near his fox den, watching something.”
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26points
#10 “Giraffes Drinking” By Seppo Tuomaala
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “This is a photo taken in November 2024 in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The two giraffes are drinking in symmetrical positions in front of a photo-hide. To fit the two in the photo with part of the reflections of the animals and the surroundings, a wide-angle lens of 18 mm was used.”
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26points
#11 “Radiance” By Remuna Beca
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “A solitary shark glides through the open ocean, framed by rays of sunlight that pierce the blue like a cathedral of light. Captured far offshore, this image strips away distraction, revealing the elegance and vulnerability of a species too often vilified. In reality, sharks are essential to healthy marine ecosystems—regulating populations, maintaining balance, and signaling the ocean’s overall well-being. Yet they face mounting threats from overfishing, bycatch, and a fear-driven narrative that undermines their protection. By portraying the shark as a serene presence—suspended in light, not shadow—I hope to challenge perceptions and inspire deeper respect for these guardians of the sea.”
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24points
#12 “Bowing To The Night” By Kinga Wnuk
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “Spain, sunrise on the road to the stable. Elgoriusz, a purebred Arabian stallion, bows to the night disappearing over the horizon.”
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24points
#13 “The Wild Horses Of Anatolia” By Athanasios Maloukos
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “Somewhere on the plains of Anatolia, Turkey, under the imposing Mount Erciyes, a herd of about 200 wild horses roam the plateau with thunderous stampede and captivating grace.”
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23points
#14 “When The Sky Is On Fire” By Aubois Valérie
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
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23points
#15 “Opayastin” By Dorota Senechal
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “Opayastin means "Great Wind" in the Indians Cree language.
Far away from any settlements and any human presence, with the help of Native American Indians, I explored by traditional sled on the snow, during several weeks, one of the most pristine, remote and wilderness places in Far North Canada in winter, in quest for wild grey wolves.
Never hunted, the wolves have no fear of humans. When we finally found them, they came to me by curiosity, at a distance of few meters only, allowing me to take some incredible close-ups of wolves in the wild, without any hide or baits.”
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23points
#16 “Sunflower” By Dong Zhu
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
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22points
#17 “Tiger: I See You” By Narayanan Iyer
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “Amidst Tadoba’s lush monsoon carpet, hope came alive when fresh pug marks led us to him, Shambu, a massive male tiger resting in the thickets. His eyes, framed by green, and the flash of orange fur made this close-up an unforgettable reward.”
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21points
#18 “Sea Puppy Gaze” By Remuna Beca
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “An Australian sea lion playfully engages with the camera with curiosity in South Australia’s kelp forests. Listed as Endangered, these rare sea lions face threats from habitat loss, fishing bycatch, and pollution. Protecting these gentle marine icons is vital to preserving ocean biodiversity.”
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21points
#19 “First Rays Of The Rising Sun” By Tomasz Bednarski
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Professional Division
Description: “Grey Wolf walking through the Finnish taiga in the first rays of the rising summer sun.”
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21points
#20 “Sunset Visitor” By Erik Roldán Ulles
Honorable Mention in the Wildlife And Animals Category, Amateur Division
Description: “I took this photo on a warm July afternoon in a place I often visit in Menorca. While photographing a friend, this curious cow peeked out from behind a wall, just as the sun was setting—an unexpected and gentle visitor in golden light.”
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20points