Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025: winners capture hidden beauty

[Celerity]

The results of the 61st edition of the awards have been announced by the Natural History Museum. Which is your favourite?

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/photography-uk/article/wildlife-photographer-2025-awards-results-pictures-2s2mkjtnx

https://archive.ph/Z9YPQ


A brown hyena lurks in the ruins of an abandoned diamond-mining town in Kolmanskop, Namibia WIM VAN DEN HEEVER (SOUTH AFRICA; URBAN WILDLIFE)


The dewy web of an orb weaver spider in central Wales JAMIE SMART (UK; 10 YEARS AND UNDER)


Synchronised fishing in the once-polluted Yudlang Lake, southeast China QINGRONG YANG (CHINA; BEHAVIOUR: BIRDS)


A caracal clutches a lesser flamingo snatched from Ndutu Lake in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania DENNIS STOGSDILL (USA; BEHAVIOUR: MAMMALS)


A shadowy Eurasian pygmy owl in Germany LUCA LORENZ (GERMANY; RISING STAR AWARD)


Another orb weaver spider is caught in a kaleidoscope of headlights in Ibbenbüren, north Germany SIMONE BAUMEISTER (GERMANY; NATURAL ARTISTRY)


In the Lepini Mountains, central Italy, a longhorn beetle keeps watch over an abandoned logging machinery ANDREA DOMINIZI (ITALY; 15-17 YEARS)


Carnivorous pitcher plants lure in their prey by reflecting UV light in Kuching, Borneo CHIEN LEE (MALAYSIA; PLANTS AND FUNGI)


An Alpine ibex observes the sunrise over the foggy mountain pass of Col de la Colombière, France LUBIN GODIN (FRANCE; 11-14 YEARS)


A tiny red springtail among peat-bog algae in Platzertal, Austria SEBASTIAN FRÖLICH (GERMANY; WETLANDS: THE BIGGER PICTURE)


Three peppered moray eels hunt for dead fish at low tide off D’Arros Island, the Seychelles SHANE GROSS (CANADA; ANIMALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT)


Lesser tree frogs gather for a rain-triggered breeding event on Kaw Mountain, French Guiana QUENTIN MARTINEZ (FRANCE; BEHAVIOUR: AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES)


The egg case of a swell shark tethered to a giant kelp off Monterey Bay, California RALPH PACE (USA; UNDERWATER)


Western diamondback rattlesnakes at the annual rattlesnake round-up in Sweetwater, Texas JAVIER AZNAR GONZALEZ DE RUEDA (SPAIN; PHOTOJOURNALIST STORY AWARD)


The head capsules of a gum-leaf skeletoniser caterpillar block the sun setting over Torndirrup National Park, Western Australia GEORGINA STEYTLER (AUSTRALIA; BEHAVIOUR: INVERTEBRATES)


Feeding time for the gulls as they raid the nets of a fishing vessel in Kvaenangen Fjord, Norway AUDUN RIKARDSEN (NORWAY; OCEANS: THE BIGGER PICTURE)


Sphagnum moss rests on one of the icy northern swamps of Russia ALEXEY KHARITONOV (ISRAEL/RUSSIA; PORTFOLIO AWARD)

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is at the Natural History Museum, London, SW7, from October 17. Visit https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy

[Ocelot II]

1. Fascinating photos! Thanks for posting this.

[SARose]

2. Oh wow!

Just the lift I needed this morning. Thank you!

[UpInArms]

3. Incredible photography

Thank you for posting

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Loved them all except for the snakes. I screamed.

[popsdenver]

11. You would really scream

if you saw one in person......Many are 6-8 feet long, and as big around as your forearm or more.......One of the most poisonous snakes, if not THE most poisonous snakes in the U.S.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. I once had a manager in Tucson, AX that decided to hang a rattlesnake skin in his office. I refused to enter.

[Nittersing]

5. Ooooh a pitcher plant? Never seen that before!

And the owl photo made me chuckle.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. 📌 TY Wildlife Photo bookmark.

❤️

[Cirsium]

7. Disturbing

I find most of those images very disturbing for a variety of reasons. I do think they reflect our dysfunctional relationship with the natural world and with other life forms.

[Auggie]

8. "Sphagnum Moss" resembles an Impressionist painting. Van Gogh, for instance.

I see a moon in the night sky and trees below.

[KT2000]

9. Thanks for posting this

So many worlds we are barely aware of - surviving.

[ultralite001]

10. Absolutely brilliant...

Thank you for lifting our eyes... our hearts + minds...

May photos like these be a reminder that the world
we live in is a remarkable place... + we should strive
to keep it so...

[JMCKUSICK]

12. These are absolutely stunning! Thank you Celerity

[chouchou]

14. Love them all ! (Ah..snakes..not so much)

[Ilsa]

15. The Rattlesnake Roundup gave me the willies.

No thank you, sir!

The colorful orb weaver spider pic was beautiful. The synchronized fishing pic was engaging and incredible. The pitcher plants were absolutely new for me and make me appreciate the wonders of our incredible planet all over again.

The phrase "rain-triggered breeding" got my imagination stirred up.

[Celerity]

17. "rain-triggered breeding"

sounds like fun!!!

[Ilsa]

18. Doesn't it? And don't forget

some messy mud afterwards!

[flashman13]

19. All of the photos were exceptional.

However, I really can't say I think a photo of a public event that exploits rattlesnakes belongs in a wildlife photo contest. Of course that's just the opinion of a crotchety old dude. Feel free to disagree.

[democrank]

16. Fantastic photographs

Such talent….

[snot]

20. Amazing!

Thanks!