The Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Awards has released the winning images from the Nature Photographer of the Year 2021 contest. Now in its second year, the competition is organized by the online nature photography resource Nature TTL and has brought forth the splendor of the natural world.
Over 8,000 images were submitted by photographers across the world to compete in eight categories – Animal Behavior, Camera Traps, Landscapes, Small World, The Night Sky, Underwater, Urban Wildlife and Wild Portraits. The title of “Nature TTL photographer of the Year 2021” also earns the overall winner a grand prize of $2,120.
Sleepy Sleeperson here is enjoying a sunbath in Svalbard, Norway, after climbing a ridge.
Wild Portraits, Category Winner | Image: Dennis Stogsdill
This mother rhino and calf are on their way to a watering hole after resting in the scorching heat of the day.
Wild Portraits, Runner-Up | Image: James Gifford
Titled “A Predator’s Playground” – A lion cub playing on the carcass of a giraffe.
Wild Portraits, Highly Commended | Image: Charl Stols
A Western lowland gorilla at the Lesio-Louna Wildlife Reserve, Republic of the Congo.
Wild Portraits, Highly Commended | Image: Tomasz Szpila
An orangutan climbs a tree trunk in Borneo, while the sky and canopy is mirrored in the water below.
Animal Behaviour, Winner & Overall Winner | Image: Thomas Vijayan
A little crimson sunbird taking a bath in the dew captured by a banana flower.
Animal Behavior, Highly Commended | Image: Mousam Ray
To capture this image, the photographer stayed flat on the sand, watching one Manta consumed large amounts of plankton and crustaceans.
Underwater Category, Winner | Image: Grant Thomas
A playful Steller sea lion plays with a starfish near Hornby Island, Canada.
Underwater Category, Highly Commended | Image: Celia Kujala
The photographer took multiple shots to capture the fungus-growing termite colonies leave their nest on a nuptial flight.
Small World Category Winner | Image: James Gifford
This acorn weevil readies itself to take flight from a flower petal.
Small World Category, Highly Commended | Image: Christian Brockes
Also Read: World Nature Photography Awards 2020 Gives Stunning Glances into Planetary Beauty
This highly commended photograph from the Small World category shows the attention to detail.
Small World Highly Commended | Image: Fabian Dubessy
A beewolf wasp, which is also known as bee-killer wasps, grasps yet another honeybee.
Small World, Highly Commended | Image: Simon Jenkins
Silhouetted wood mouse captured by a camera trap earned the category winner position for John Formstone.
Camera Traps Category Winner | Image: John Formstone
A family of foxes was regularly passing through the photographer’s garden, giving him a perfect opportunity to capture this shot.
Camera Traps Category, Highly Commended | Image: Thomas Cawdron
The shadow of an ancient Camel Thorn tree reaches out, to the delicate tracings of Namibia’s Tsauchab River in this barren landscape.
Landscapes Category Winner | Image: Jay Roode
Patterns formed by mineral deposits trapped in lagoons won Fanny Reed the runner-up position.
Landscapes category Runner-up | Image: Fanny Reed
These barn swallows building their nest right inside this shop in the Himalayas, shows that wildlife and humans can indeed live in harmony.
Urban Wildlife Category Winner | Image: Kallol Mukherjee
A barn owl playing peek-a-boo through the door of an abandoned house.
Urban Wildlife Category, Highly Commended | Image: Jose Luis Ruiz
13-year-old Thomas Easterbrook of the UK won the title of the Young Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2021 with this image of a peregrine falcon tackling a starling murmuration.
Under 16 Category Winner & Young Overall Winner | Image: Thomas Easterbrook
Geological strangeness on Uttakleiv Beach, Norway, with rocks looking like eyes in this picture creates a whimsical vibe.
The Night Sky, Category Winner | Image: Ivan Pedretti
Wading birds illuminated by flashes of forked lightning makes up for a brilliant shot.
The Night Sky Category, Highly Commended | Image: Bence Mate