{"id":285065,"date":"2025-11-15T16:51:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-15T16:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/285065\/"},"modified":"2025-11-15T16:51:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-15T16:51:29","slug":"every-winning-photo-from-nature-photographer-of-the-year-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/285065\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Winning Photo From Nature Photographer of the Year 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Left:<\/p>\n

The Nature Photographer of the Year 2025<\/a> winners have been revealed, and acclaimed Norwegian photographer \u00c5smund Keilen has earned the prestigious title, \u201cNature Photographer of the Year,\u201d for his breathtaking, ethereal photo of a bird in flight against the glowing Sun. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe photo was taken just outside Oslo on a warm summer day. I was on my way to the store to buy groceries. I have a stubborn habit of leaving my coffee cup on the roof of our old Mercedes when I open the door. And then, more than once, I\u2019ve forgotten it there and simply driven away,\u201d the award-winning photographer, Keilen, recalls. <\/p>\n

\"A\u201cSundance\u201d by \u00c5smund Keilen, Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat day, as I was backing out of the driveway, the cup fell over, miraculously remaining on the roof. A little discouraged, I reached out to pick it up. And then I suddenly envisioned the kind of photo I was about to take. Tiny orange birch seeds had fallen overnight on the blue roof of the car, and the summer sun reflected in them, alongside swifts dancing in the sky. Freedom seemed to take shape in chaos.\u201d <\/p>\n

Keilen took his camera and used multiple exposures, seeking to \u201crecreate what my eyes saw and felt that day: an impression of a reflection \u2014 or perhaps a reflection of an impression.\u201d <\/p>\n

The photographer describes himself as impulsive, rarely planning shots far in advance. He instead prefers to use photography as a means of interacting with nature, \u201csharpening\u201d his senses. <\/p>\n

Keilen\u2019s incredible photo, \u201cSundance,\u201d struck a powerful chord with judges. The chairman of the committee, Tin Man Lee, describes Keilen\u2019s photograph: <\/p>\n

\u201cAt first glance, this mesmerizing image appears to depict leaves adrift in a cosmic sky \u2014 but on closer look, each shape reveals itself as a bird in graceful flight,\u201d Lee says. \u201cThe photographer\u2019s impeccable timing captured a single bird aligned against the glowing summer sun, transforming the scene into a breathtaking moment of stillness and motion intertwined. With its ethereal colors, perfect balance, and otherworldly atmosphere, the image evokes a dreamlike sense of wonder that feels both universal and timeless!\u201d <\/p>\n

With \u201cSundance,\u201d Keilen bested photographers from over 96 countries, who together entered a record-breaking 24,781 different photos into this year\u2019s Nature Photographer of the Year competition. <\/p>\n

Category Winners <\/p>\n

Alongside Keilen\u2019s title, \u201cNature Photographer of the Year,\u201d he also won the \u201cBirds\u201d category in the competition. The judges selected winners across a dozen categories in total, plus additional special prizes. Each of these winners is featured below, alongside selected comments from the judges. <\/p>\n

Mammals \u2014 \u2018Polar Meal\u2019 by P\u00e5l Hermansen <\/p>\n

Norwegian photographer P\u00e5l Hermansen\u2019s photo, \u201cPolar Meal,\u201d won the Mammals category in this year\u2019s Nature Photographer of the Year competition. The striking, visceral photo shows a polar bear and its large prey, a walrus. <\/p>\n

\"AerialMammals \u2014 \u2018Polar Meal\u2019 by P\u00e5l Hermansen | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe composition draws the eye through bold diagonals and leading lines, balancing raw power with quiet contemplation in the predator\u2019s pose. Beyond its technical mastery, the photo delivers a haunting reminder of the harsh realities of Arctic life and the urgent need for polar bear conservation,\u201d says chairman Tin Man Lee. <\/p>\n

Other Animals \u2014 \u2018Silent Scream\u2019 by Bence M\u00e1t\u00e9 <\/p>\n

Hungarian photographer Bence M\u00e1t\u00e9\u2019s photo depicts a gut-wrenching scene of two crabs pulling a baby bird in opposite directions. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Silent Scream\u2019 by Bence M\u00e1t\u00e9 | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cThrough this powerful image of the strange interaction between two groups of animals in a battle for life that usually goes in the opposite direction, we discover a natural world that surprises us every day and where the predator-prey roles can be reversed in curious ways, with crabs devouring a tern chick alive, whose only option is to accept its cruel fate. Wildlife never ceases to amaze us,\u201d remarks jury member Marlondag. <\/p>\n

Plants and Fungi \u2014 \u2018Inferno\u2019 by Tobias Richter <\/p>\n

Award-winning German photographer Tobias Richter\u2019s prize-winning shot, \u201cInferno,\u201d provides a startling, visually arresting look at the impacts of wildfires. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Inferno\u2019 by Tobias Richter | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cWith wildfires becoming increasingly frequent and devastating, Inferno by Tobias Richter immediately struck us with its raw intensity. Blazing flames, glowing tree trunks, and drifting plumes of smoke, this photograph captures both the beauty and the horror of nature in crisis. I remember during the judging session how deeply this image impressed us all,\u201d says jury member Kristel Schneider. \u201cThe illuminated patches of fire, surrounded by charred, still-glowing trunks, create a haunting contrast. When you take a closer look, the true scale of destruction and the photographer\u2019s ability to convey it, becomes powerfully clear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Landscape \u2014 \u2018Time For a Drop\u2019 by Alexander Hormann <\/p>\n

\u201cTime For a Drop\u201d by German photographer Alexander Hormann invites the viewer in through its cool tones and layer composition, showcasing a \u201cmoment held in ice,\u201d as the photographer puts it. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Time For a Drop\u2019 by Alexander Hormann | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe longer you look, the more the image reveals, faint shapes and textures begin to emerge, almost like imagined forms beneath the frozen surface. It\u2019s an intimate landscape, fragile yet timeless, shaped by the photographer\u2019s own creative vision, a fleeting moment that exists only for those who take the time to truly see,\u201d says Schneider. <\/p>\n

Underwater \u2014 \u2018Featherhome\u2019 by Luis Arpa Toribio <\/p>\n

In contrast to vast underwater scenes frequently seen at the top of photo competitions, Spanish photographer Luis Arpa Toribio zeroes in on the beautiful, intricate details of an underwater world. Each viewer can take something unique away from the image, seeing entirely different things hidden in plain sight. <\/p>\n

\"Close-up\u2018Featherhome\u2019 by Luis Arpa Toribio | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

For chairman Tin Man Lee, it\u2019s a futuristic city:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe perfect symmetry and three-dimensional depth evoke the feeling of a futuristic city bathed in shimmering blue light. With its harmonious colors and delicate details, the image invites viewers into a magical, dreamlike world that few ever witness firsthand.\u201d <\/p>\n

Nature Art \u2014 \u2018Moose in Snow\u2019 by P\u00e5l Hermansen <\/p>\n

Norwegian photographer P\u00e5l Hermansen took home top prize in two categories this year. This image, \u201cMoose in Snow,\u201d shows a moose amid a snowstorm in a fresh, unusual way. Hermansen used an infrared-triggered trail camera. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Moose in Snow\u2019 by P\u00e5l Hermansen | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a fantastic series of images we had to review in this category! The discussions were long and passionate, but \u2018Moose in Snow\u2019 truly captured our collective attention. Using carefully placed infrared-triggered cameras, invisible to wildlife, P\u00e5l Hermansen combined technical precision with artistic vision. The result is an abstract yet deeply evocative vision, almost like a watercolor painting, where the moose\u2019s silhouette emerges through the swirling snow. Nature itself adds the final brushstroke. The elegant form of a moose set against the purity of falling snow. A remarkable fusion of concept, technique, and subject,\u201d says jury member Kristel Schneider. <\/p>\n

Human and Nature \u2014 \u2018Difficult Crossing\u2019 by Xingchao Zhu <\/p>\n

Eagle-eyed viewers may recognize this incredible black-and-white portrait of a lynx traversing a barbed wire fence. It was recently featured in the 2025 Nature\u2019s Best Photography Awards<\/a>. This is not the first time Chinese photographer Xingchao Zhu has earned acclaim for photos of wild cats, either. Last year, the photographer was honored in Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/a> for a stunning nighttime Pallas\u2019s cat portrait. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Difficult Crossing\u2019 by Xingchao Zhu | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a heated discussion at the judging table about the powerful images and stories in this category, this image stood out from the rest due to its attention to detail in the composition, the simplicity, clarity and depth of the moment that reflects our intense pressure and limits that we impose as humanity on wildlife and that affect their behavior and territories, even in spaces as wild as the habitat of this lynx,\u201d adds jury member Marlondag. <\/p>\n

Black and White \u2014 \u2018The Way of the Ridge\u2019 by Sebastiaan van der Greef <\/p>\n

Dutch photographer Sebastiaan van der Greef\u2019s photo, \u201cThe Way of the Ridge,\u201d requires some time to appreciate fully. The main subject, an Arctic fox, occupies only a small portion of the frame, creating an overwhelming sense of space. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018The Way of the Ridge\u2019 by Sebastiaan van der Greef | NPOTY 2025<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exceptional black and white image capturing a species rarely seen in such unique environmental settings. This photograph truly demands viewing at a large scale to appreciate the intricate details and special qualities it presents fully,\u201d says jury member and award-winning nature photographer<\/a> Amit Eshel. \u201cThe photographer made an excellent choice in using black and white, which effectively eliminates any distracting colors and allows the viewer to focus on the textures and contrasts.\u201d <\/p>\n

Animal Portraits \u2014 \u2018Shared Wonder\u2019 by Mary Schrader <\/p>\n

American photographer Mary Schrader\u2019s portrait of a gorilla catches the giant primate calmly and carefully watching a butterfly in mid-flight, showing the powerful animal in an unusual, intimate way. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Shared Wonder\u2019 by Mary Schrader | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cA tender and poetic moment unfolds as a butterfly flutters gracefully beside a gorilla\u2019s face, its golden hues mirroring the warmth in the animal\u2019s eyes. The contrast between the fragile insect and the powerful primate evokes a delicate balance between strength and gentleness. This imaginative composition captures a fleeting instant of harmony,\u201d comments Tin Man Lee. <\/p>\n

Nature of \u2018De Lage Landen\u2019 \u2014 \u2018Bike Tides\u2019 by Sam Mannaerts <\/p>\n

How did a bike wind up here? That\u2019s the question viewers face after seeing Belgian photographer Sam Mannaerts\u2019 winning photo. <\/p>\n

\"Aerial\u2018Bike Tides\u2019 by Sam Mannaerts | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cAn almost abstract drone shot that beautifully and harmoniously combines the contrasting textures and subtle colors of mud and snow with a delicate touch of red. The bicycles, so characteristic and emblematic of the area, serve as the focal anchor of the photograph, drawing the viewer\u2019s eye immediately toward them,\u201d comments Eshel. <\/p>\n

Youth 10-17 Years Old \u2014 \u2018Panning Bobcat\u2019 by Leo Dale <\/p>\n

Young American photographer Leo Dale captured this incredible panning portrait of a bobcat as it scurries across a field, prey in its mouth. It is an exceptional capture that exemplifies a very talented young photographer\u2019s creativity and technical abilities. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Panning Bobcat\u2019 by Leo Dale | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis image surprised us with the execution of the technical control to create a stunning panning image of this bobcat, and above all, with the perfect timing of the connection of gazes, which made us feel invited to share its moment of successful hunting. A rarely seen mastery, surprising to come from such a young talent,\u201d says Marlondag. <\/p>\n

Dale says he was lucky to be able to spend dozens of hours out in the field in California with bobcats. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs with any subject, there are certain highly improbable shots you dream of but never succeed in capturing. This photo, a sharp panning shot of a bobcat with prey, was one of those dreams,\u201d Dale says. \u201cSo, when I managed to get into position with this bobcat on this overcast evening and all the details above went according to plan, I was thrilled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred Hazelhoff Award (Portfolio) \u2014 \u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom <\/p>\n

Dutch photographer Theo Bosboom\u2019s series of beautiful flower and plant portraits captured the jury\u2019s attention. <\/p>\n

\"Low-angle\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025
\n \"Close-up\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025 \"Close-up,\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025 \"Close-up\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cA series of carefully composed photographs that offers an innovative and original perspective on the intricate plant world, immersing the viewer deeply among and beneath the flowers, as if seeing through the eyes of an insect,\u201d notes Eshel, adding that the entire series is \u201cexceptionally meticulous and stylistically consistent, with the photographer\u2019s distinctive artistic fingerprint clearly visible in every single photograph.\u201d <\/p>\n

The photographer describes his series as answering the question, \u201cWhat would an ant see if it looked up while walking through a field of flowers?\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Close-up\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025 \"Tall\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025
\n \"Close-up\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025 \"Low-angle\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025 \"White\u2018Flowerscapes\u2019 by Theo Bosboom | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

Capturing these striking images was made possible by a new rotating macro lens that was physically narrow and wide-angle. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was as if I had been given the key to a wonderful secret world \u2014 I felt very privileged and excited!\u201d the photographer exclaims. <\/p>\n

The Rest of the Winning Images From Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 <\/p>\n

\u201cEvery photo competition brings its own challenges, and some categories spark more debate than others. This year, our discussions touched on impact, originality, and the very definition of nature photography. I\u2019m delighted that many winners this year pushed boundaries \u2014 through creative vision, innovative technique, or the courage to show nature from a fresh perspective,\u201d says jury member Kristel Schneider. <\/p>\n

The judges had a monumental task before them. Nonetheless, they selected incredible winning photos from a massive pool of superb images, including category winners, runners-up, and highly commended entries. All the runners-up and highly commended photos from throughout the competition\u2019s dozen categories are featured below. <\/p>\n

\"A\u2018Blue Army\u2019 by Imre Poty\u00f3 | NPOTY 2025 \"Close-up\u2018Unique Home\u2019 by Vidyun Hebbar | NPOTY 2025 \"An\u2018A Curious Nose\u2019 by Laura Dyer | NPOTY 2025 \"An\u2018Above the Parapet\u2019 by Phil Hall | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Air Bubbles\u2019 by Lars Beygang | NPOTY 2025 \"Two\u2018Beast in Black\u2019 by Daniela Graf | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Chamois\u2019 by Jakubowski Radomir | NPOTY 2025
\n \"Large\u2018Climate Protection Measurements\u2019 by Tobias Buettel \"A\u2018Coup de Grace\u2019 by \u00c5smund Keilen | NPOTY 2025 \"Two\u2018Couple\u2019 by Andres Luis Dominguez Blanco | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Cono de Arita\u2019 by Igancio Palacios | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Echolocation\u2019 by Lana Tannir | NPOTY 2025 \"Frost-covered\u2018Fallen Beauty\u2019 by Simon Booth | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Fantasy Tree\u2019 by Mathijs Frenken | NPOTY 2025
\n \"A\u2018Flock of Gold\u2019 by Alex Pansier | NPOTY 2025 \"Four\u2018Gone\u2019 by Jan Smit | NPOTY 2025 \"Close-up\u2018Ice Channels\u2019 by Susanne Barkmann | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018In Mother\u2019s Arms\u2019 by Dvir Barkay | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018In the Flow of Time\u2019 by Balazs Ravasz | NPOTY 2025 \"Aerial\u2018In the Shadow of the Fire\u2019 by Philipp Egger | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Infernal Beauty\u2019 by Jason Mirandi | NPOTY 2025
\n \"Close-up\u2018Injured Guillemot\u2019 by Knut Sverre Horn | NPOTY 2025 \"Silhouetted\u2018Jackdaws at Dusk\u2019 by Mathijs Frenken | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Jellyfish Watercolor\u2019 by Alex Varani | NPOTY 2025 \"Aerial\u2018King Penguins by the Pond\u2019 by Renato Granieri | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Life In a Box\u2019 by Sarthak Agrawal | NPOTY 2025 \u2018Lioness Eyes Behind Birds\u2019 by Willem Kruger | NPOTY 2025 \"Two\u2018Newt Embrace\u2019 by Anton Sorokin | NPOTY 2025
\n \"Five\u2018Night Swan Lake\u2019 by Mateusz Matysiak | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018No Fear No Mercy\u2019 by Tomasz Szpila | NPOTY 2025 \"Close-up\u2018On Gulliver\u2019s Back\u2019 by Merennege Chamathki Induwara Ferando | NPOTY 2025 \"Close-up\u2018Peekaboo\u2019 by Paul Eijkemans | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Picasso\u2019s Elephant\u2019 by Ilse Koks | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Shadow and Light\u2019 by Harry Sedin | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Stern Gaze\u2019 by Tibor Litauszki | NPOTY 2025
\n \"Aerial\u2018Stranded Survivors\u2019 by Octavio Campos Salles | NPOTY 2025 \"Two\u2018Tails and Paws\u2019 by Dvir Barkay | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring\u2019 by Liron Gertsman | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018The Hidden Grail of Sumatra Island\u2019 by Vladimir Cech Jr. | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018The Long Journey\u2019 by Joan de la Malla | NPOTY 2025 \"Black\u2018The Swan Lake\u2019 by Terje Kolaas | NPOTY 2025 \"Close-up\u2018The Underside of Wonder\u2019 by Julius Kramer | NPOTY 2025
\n \"Abstract\u2018Third Eye\u2019 by Marcin Giba | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Two Giants\u2019 by Richard Peters | NPOTY 2025 \"Sunlight\u2018Whoosh\u2019 by Geo Cloete | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Winter Wolf\u2019 by Noelle Zweers | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Wobbegong Shark\u2019 by Nicolas Remy | NPOTY 2025 \"A\u2018Quetzalquoti\u2019 by Miguel Jose Avalos Gonzalez | NPOTY 2025 <\/p>\n

More award-winning photos and remarks from winning photographers are available on the Nature Photographer of the Year website<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 competition will open in just over three weeks, so inspired photographers should start preparing now. Perhaps next year, they will be named \u201cNature Photographer of the Year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Image credits: Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 (NPOTY 2025). All individual photographers are credited in the image captions. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 winners have been revealed, and acclaimed Norwegian photographer \u00c5smund Keilen has…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285066,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[2837,76,354,355,49,48,23512,6806,356,75,33922,4779,129432,129433,129434,129435,47932,323],"class_list":{"0":"post-285065","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-animals","9":"tag-arts","10":"tag-arts-and-design","11":"tag-artsanddesign","12":"tag-ca","13":"tag-canada","14":"tag-competition","15":"tag-contest","16":"tag-design","17":"tag-entertainment","18":"tag-landscape","19":"tag-nature","20":"tag-naturephotographeroftheyear","21":"tag-naturephotographeroftheyear2025","22":"tag-npoty","23":"tag-npoty2025","24":"tag-photocontest","25":"tag-wildlife"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285065\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}