The winning images of the Nature Photographer of the Year 2026, organized by the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) are a celebration of the extraordinary beauty, diversity and fragility of the natural world.
From a perfectly camouflaged snow hare high in the Swiss Alps to a misty, frozen forest that looks almost otherworldly, this year’s selection highlights both artistic excellence and urgent environmental storytelling.
The competition drew nearly 9,000 entries spanning seven categories: Birds, Mammals, Other Animals, Plants and Fungi, Landscapes, Nature’s Studio, and a new 2026 category, Biodiversity: The Beauty and Significance of Natural Diversity.
The GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year contest is a members-only association founded in 1971 that currently includes members from Germany and 26 other countries.
The overall winner is Berlin-based photographer Luca Lorenz, a member of the GDT Youth Group, for his striking image White on White. The photograph captures an Alpine mountain hare standing almost motionless at the entrance of a rocky shelter, its white winter coat blending seamlessly into the snowy landscape.
Lorenz spotted the animal roughly 30 meters below him and aimed to document its near-invisibility in the harsh alpine environment. The result is both visually minimal and technically impressive — an image that rewards careful observation.
But beyond its beauty, the photograph carries a deeper message about climate change. The Alpine mountain hare relies on seasonal camouflage, changing its fur from brown to white in winter. As snowfall becomes less predictable, hares are increasingly left exposed against snowless terrain, a phenomenon scientists call “color mismatch.” This makes them more vulnerable to predators such as foxes and birds of prey.
“In light of the significant challenges facing the species, raising awareness and supporting research into these extraordinary animals is more important than ever,” Lorenz said.
The GDT’s annual competition not only celebrates technical and artistic achievement but also aims to highlight environmental issues and promote conservation.
“Our aim is to safeguard biodiversity while making it tangible and accessible for present and future generations,” the organization said in a statement.
Taken together, the winning photographs serve as a powerful reminder: Nature’s beauty is inseparable from its vulnerability and photography remains one of the most compelling ways to bring that message to a global audience.
Overall Winner Nature Photographer Of The Year
White on White, Overall winner, Mammals category
Luca Lorenz , Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
Find the bunny: High above the treeline in the Alps, a mountain hare sat still for hours at the entrance to a small cave, only partially sheltered from the icy winds.
Nature Photographer: Tender, Funny, Dramatic Moments
Shelter, Runner-up and 2nd place Mammals category; Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Preeti John, United Arab Emirates – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
An elephant calf seeks shelter from the blazing sun in the only available shade: the protective body of its mother in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.
Black-headed gull, Category winner, Birds
Radomir Jakubowski, Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
A black-headed gull is showcased in backlight during its landing approach in France’s Camargue.
Shoebill, 4th place, Birds category
Jenny Loreen Zierold, Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
Jenny Loreen Zierold created a studio-like poortrait of a shoebill, photographed from a small wooden boat in the Mabamba Swamp of Uganda.
Practice makes perfect, Category winner, Other animals
Jens Cullmann, Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
A young African bullfrog fails to catch its prey. Better luck next time.
Nature Photographer’s Wildlife Beauty and Drama
Mosquitoes on Fire, 2nd place /Runner-up, Other Animals category
Noah Marcheel | Germany – GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2026
As mosquitoes perch on a stone along a stream the reflected sunlight in the background resembles a blazing fire.
Rich in structure, Winner, Biodiversity, Special category
Dieter Damschen, Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
Like a squadron on patrol, cranes take off from their roosting site on the German side of the Lower Oder Valley National Park – a park it shares with neighboring Poland.
Ancient rivals, 2nd place | Runner-up | Special Biodiversity category
Amit Eshel, Israel – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
An Arctic wolf bears the bloody traces of a recent hunt. Meanwhile, a wary herd of musk oxen nearly stands in alert in its iconic defensive formation.
A pollinating carnivore, 4th Place, Special Category Biodiversity
Amit Eshel, Israel – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
An Ethiopian wolf feeds on the nectar of a red hot poker. This is the first large carnivore species ever to be documented eating the nectar of a plant and potentially acting as a pollinator.
Awe-Inspiring Nature
Green lines, Category winner, Plants and Fungi
Tobias Richter, Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
Spring fever brings out the beauty of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Saxony, Germany, when mosses, ferns, and wood sorrel create symmetrical art on the rock ledges of a cool, dark gorge.
Frozen forest, Category winner, Landscapes
Eike Christian Wolff , Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
This ‘frozen forest’ natural spectacle happened after a river flooded the forest, the water surface froze, the water underneath retreated and the ice then broke up.
The Breath of Winter, 4th place, Landscapes category
Sandra Westermann, Germany – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
A narrow band of frost-covered reeds stands out against patterns in the ice in the vastness of northern Germany.
Lava dragon, 2nd place/Runner up, Atelier Nature, Nature’s Studio category
Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove – GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year 2026
An aerial view of an eruption on an active lava field resembles a dragon on it sway to slay anything in its path.
All the winning images in the seven categories of the GDT Nature Photographer Of The Year can be seen here.
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This article was originally published on Forbes.com