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Winning Pics Of 2017 Nat Geo Nature Photographer Of The Year Contest Redefine Brilliance

byRachna Srivastava
16th December 2017
2 minute read
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A lot can be said about a single image. And, there’s always a story behind every time the shutter goes clickety click! We always wait for the unreal clicks that make it to National Geographic’s list of winners, because they are worth every wait. While the winning entries of 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year were breathtakingly beautiful, the results of 2017 Nature Photographer of the Year contest are out. And, brilliance has never looked this gorgeous.

What do we say further. It has been an enriching viewing experience, looking at them frame by frame, and reading about them word by word, trying to feel the exact emotions the photographer must’ve felt while capturing it. And, the feels are overwhelming, guys.

Without further ado, here, let the eye-feasting on brilliant captures of this year’s winning entries begin.

Wildlife:

1st Place and Grand Prize:

Face To Face In A River In Borneo by Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan

While looking for wild orang-utans in Tanjung putting national park, Indonesia, we witnessed this amazing sight of this huge male crossing a river despite the fact there were crocodiles in the river. Rapid palm oil farming has depleted their habitat and when pushed to the edge these intelligent creatures have learnt to adapt to the changing landscape, This is proof considering orang-utans hate water and never venture into a river. I got into the 5 feet deep river to get this perspective.

It was selected from over 11,000 entries, and Bojan has won $10,000 and will have his winning image published in an upcoming issue of National Geographic magazine.

2nd Place: Mother’s love by Alejandro Prieto

Pink flamingos feeding their young at a nesting area in RÃŒo Lagartos, Mexic.

3rd Place: White Fighters by Bence Mate

In winter when all waters freeze, water birds gather around the holes on the lake. Some of them would catch fish, while the rest are determined to steal fish from the others or even catch water birds. White-tailed Eagles are such birds, always looking for an opportunity to steal, and in the meantime they manage to confront and fight with everyone, even their conspecifics.

Honorable Mention: Macaque Maintenance by Lance McMillan

A macaque being groomed at the Jigokudani snow monkey park in Japan. The Jigokudani snow monkey park has become a major tourist hot spot, attracting visitors from all over the world hoping to get a glimpse of these amazing creatures huddled together in hot springs. But because of the warmer than usual weather during this time, the macaques were frequently found lazing about on some nearby rocks instead of spending much of their time keeping warm in hot springs.

People’s Choice: Great Gray Owl by harry Collins

A great gray owl hunting rodents in a field in New Hampshire, US. This bird was a rare visitor to this area and was worth the 7 1/2 hour drive to see it. The owl was not baited or called and this photo is during a natural hunt. Baiting has become a hot topic recently and it is very unfortunate that many people do it for the sake of a photo. With these owls in particular if you are patient enough you will see them hunt. They are not shy nor very intimidated by people.

Aerials:

1st Place: Rock Pool by Todd Kennedy

A rock pool in sydney, Australia at high tide. Waves crash over the edge. a long swimmer is undeterred.

2nd Place: From above by Takahiro Bessho

An aerial shot of Metasequoia trees.

3rd Place: Drip by Greg C.

Molten Earth meets the ocean on the flanks of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawai’i. A perspective not seen until the advent of drones, this interaction between lava, water, and time contributes to the buildup of an island chain.

Honorable Mention: Life after life by Agathe Bernard

AS I WAS EN ROUTE FOR A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY, I SAW THIS MAJESTIC CEDAR THAT HAD BEEN WASHED OUT BY A GLACIAL RIVER INTO THE OCEAN. I ASKED THE PILOT TO GET CLOSER AND TILT THE HELICOPTER SO I COULD TAKE A PHOTO LOOKING STRAIGHT DOWN. AS WE FLU OVER, A FLOCK OF WHITE BIRDS PASSED BY. TO ME, IT REPRESENTS, THE LIFE CYCLE PERPETUATING BEAUTIFULLY AND THE MAJESTIC STILL REMAINING LONG AFTER THE TREE HAS DIED.

People’s Choice: Meandering Canyon by David Swindler

Utah’s canyons are quite impressive as your walking through the bottom. But they are equally EXTRAORDINARY when viewed from above. On this image, you can see the many twists and turns this canyon has cut through the sandstone. The bottom of the canyon is full or riparian vegetation and is a whole different world from that above it.

Landscapes:

1st Place: Firefall by Karim Iliya

This is nature in its most raw form: Hot liquid rock from the belly of our planet spilled over the side of these sea cliffs, exposed to the air for a brief moment before plummeting through a lava tube under the ocean. There were hissing sounds and explosions as it hit the water. Cooler parts moved like melted candle wax and at one point a section of lava collapsed and the molten lava fanned out. Even at a distance you could feel the heat. This is how the Hawaiian islands are made

2nd Place: DUSHANZI Grand Canyon by Yuhan Liao

DUSHANZI GRAND CANYON. Different types of metallic minerals make the canyon so splendid.

3rd Place: Illuminate by Mike Olbinski Photography

Have tried and failed so many times trying to get lightning after dark at the Grand Canyon. Years of driving up there to only come home empty handed. It’s a 3.5 hour trip one-way to just sit in a spot and wait and wait and wait and not only hope for a storm to pop-up, but for it to be out over the Canyon and also to not rain on you. So many things have to come together for it to work out. And on this night, it did.

Honorable Mention: Cold and misty by Gheorge Popa

Dead trees in a natural dam, from an enchanted forest 🙂

People’s Choice: Kalsoy by Wojciech KruczyÅ„ski

Kalsoy island and Kallur lighthouse in sunset light, Faroe Islands

Underwater:

1st Place: Fluorescent Anemone by Jim Obester

Tube dwelling anemone that fluoresces when stimulated with blue light

2nd Place: In Your Face by Shane Gross

Typically a shy species, a Caribbean reef shark investigates a remote-triggered camera in Cuba’s Gardens of the Queen marine protected area.

3rd Place: Flying fish in motion by Michael Patrick O’Neill

A FLYING FISH SWIMS AT NIGHT IN THE GULF STREAM CURRENT FAR OFFSHORE PALM BEACH, FLORIDA.

Honorable Mention: Jennifer ONeil Predators on a Bait Ball by Jennifer O’Neil

Shot in Bonaire, this photo of tarpon hunting on a school of scad does not show the real predator lurking outside the shot. The real predator are the fishermen who were allowed to net this beautiful bait ball with the permission of the marine park. The netting practices need to be revised by the marine park and there needs to be more education for locals or pristine moments in the sea like this will not be here in another generation.

People’s Choice: Drift by Matthew Smith

A Pacific man of war navigates close to the beach on a summers morning breeze. thousands of these nautical sailors end up washed up on australia’s east coast every summer. they are my favourite shade of blue.

Can’t even explain how words are falling short to describe these phantasmagoric winning entries. BEAUTIFUL!

All the entries are available on Nat Geo’s website.

All images have been used after due permission from National Geographic.

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