The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has unveiled a selection of this year’s remarkable, highly praised images in anticipation of the winner’s announcement in October. Featuring a jaguar hunting a caiman and an intimate glimpse of a David Bowie spider, these photographs celebrate the wonders of the natural world.

“Over the decades, Wildlife Photographer of the Year has pushed the boundaries of wildlife photography as the competition evolved alongside technological advancements,” says Museum Director Dr. Doug Gurr.

Among the featured works is Randy Robbins’ striking image of a frost-covered deceased doe, notable for being the first smartphone photograph recognized in the competition. The theme of life’s cycle is prevalent throughout the collection, highlighted by William Fortescue’s powerful black-and-white shot of mating lions and Tommy Trenchard’s poignant capture of a shark in distress as it is pulled onto a Spanish longliner. These images provide a glimpse into the 100 photographs that will be showcased at the upcoming Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

The 60th competition hosted by the Natural History Museum in London saw an unprecedented 59,228 submissions from photographers of all ages and skill levels across 117 countries and territories. A global panel of industry professionals evaluated the entries based on their creativity, originality, and technical skill.

“In this selection, you see species diversity, a range of behaviour, and conservation issues,” shares Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel. “These images represent the evolution of the competition through the years, from pure natural history to photography that fully embraces representation of the natural world—the beauty and the challenges. It is a powerful selection with which to kickstart a milestone anniversary.”

To commemorate the 60th anniversary, the Museum’s main exhibition will showcase a timeline highlighting significant events in the history of the competition. Continue scrolling to view additional highly praised images from the competition or check out other photography competitions such as the Close-up Photo Contest, National Geographic Photo Contest, and the Mobile Photography Awards.

Source: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy