“Dancing White Tips” by Eduardo Labat. Overall Winner and Winner, Black & White
Location: Roca Partida. Revillagigedo, Mexico
“It was our last dive of the day, in the afternoon with sunlight fading. At Roca Partida, most white tip sharks congregate in small groups at various ledges throughout the rock formation. On this particular afternoon, a large aggregation of white tips started forming some distance from the rock. Dozens of sharks formed a tight group at an approximate depth of 25 feet. The sharks were not hunting or exhibiting aggressive behavior. After witnessing this rare event from the periphery of the formation, I slowly ascended to hover just above it. That is where I took this picture. From above, the sharks seemed to be swimming in synchrony in a circular motion. It was beautiful to witness. I decided to use black and white for this picture both because of how the geometry of the formation looked in this style and also because of the natural contrast one can appreciate in black and white regarding the shark tips in relation to the rest of their bodies.”

“Exceptional Shipping” by Stefano Cerbai. Winner, Portrait
Location: Australia
“I was on my honeymoon in Australia, and among the many incredible places we visited was Southern Australia, where I had the chance to dive and search for the elusive sea dragon – an animal I had dreamed of seeing for years. I was incredibly lucky not only to find and observe one but also to capture a photograph of it carrying its eggs, which it was protecting on its back near its tail. This unforgettable experience was truly a dream come true.”

“Blue Sun Rising” by Julian Gunther. 2nd Place, Wide Angle
Location: Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina
“This photo was taken under a professional photography permit issued by the Argentine government and under direct supervision of Argentine authorities. This was shot using ambient light as strobes can disturb the animals and often will blow-up suspended particulate anyway. For this particular shot, I was free-diving in about 30ft (9m) of water looking for whales to photograph when this adult took a keen interest in me. It spent well over 30 minutes with me, doing a few close passes, but mostly swimming around me and doing underwater acrobatics such as going inverted or swimming around me while at a 90-degree angle to the seafloor. I wasn't sure if it was doing it for fun or to amuse/impress me (I'm probably anthropomorphizing, but I like to think that's what I might have been doing).”

“Juvenile Batfish” by Adam Martin. Winner, Macro
Location: Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
“This juvenile batfish was found at 85′ depth in Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. A snoot was used to try and isolate the flash to the subject, without lighting up too much of the background. The lighting highlights the texture and structure of the fish's body, emphasizing its graceful lines and vivid coloration.”

“Light” by Hwanhee Kim. Winner, Wide Angle
Location: Mexico, Rancho Viejo, Carwash
“LIGHT is nature's greatest gift. The week before I captured this shot, heavy rains fell in Cancun. Sediment and nutrients from the nearby CARWASH were washed into the cenote, creating stunning colors due to the difference in concentration. Rain is typically a challenge for underwater photography, but in this instance, it produced vibrant hues rarely seen underwater. Sunlight, with its strong vitality, pierced through the reddish waters, revealing a magical moment. The light served as a connection between the land and the underwater world, as well as between nature and humans. I felt privileged to witness this beauty and fortunate to have been able to document it.”

“Patterned Safe Haven” by Imogen Manins. 2nd Place, Macro
Location: Rye Pier, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
“In the cold, dark of night mid-winter waters of Port Phillip Bay, I decided to go in search of small creatures that may be living on sessile invertebrates. On examining a Ladder Ascidian I found this Pygmy Leatherjacket of approximately 20mm, its highly compressed body with cryptic pattern of ocelli matching perfectly to its host. Most often I have seen these timid fish residing close to similarly colored sargassum seaweeds, so this was a special sighting for me.”

“Born From Mouth” by Yoichi Sato. Winner, Marine Life Behavior
Location: Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima, Japan
“I was fortunate to capture the irreplaceable moment of a tiny creature hatching. On a midsummer night, while most creatures were fast asleep, a male Ostorhinchus properuptus, having completed a week-long incubation period, summoned all its energy and, with a trembling motion, released a swarm of larvae from its mouth. To minimize stress on the fish, I observed the process under a dim red light. During the hatch-out moment, I used red lighting with a special setting that turned off the red light as soon as the strobe's pre-flash was detected. This setup effectively eliminated red light interference in the photograph, ensuring the image captured the moment as naturally as possible.”

“Hunting” by Kyungshin Kim. Winner, Blackwater
Location: Anilao, Philippines
“I captured this shot during a blackwater dive in Anilao last November. At first, I noticed two squids stuck together and assumed they were mating. However, upon closer inspection, I realized they were not mating, one squid was eating the other, a smaller squid. Squids are known to engage in cannibalism, but it's rare to witness small squids eating each other during a blackwater dive. I carefully followed and observed them, managing to capture a few photos. After about 10 minutes, the color of the smaller squid, which was being consumed, began to fade. Finally, it released a spurt of black ink. Shortly after, the squid that had finished eating slowly disappeared into the distance, while the squid that became its prey sank into the dark depths of the sea.”

“Turtle Consevation” by Tom Vierus. 2nd Place, Underwater Conservation
Location: Dravuni Island, Kadavu Province, Fiji
“As part of a photographic assignment to document the turtle conservation program implemented by WWF Pacific in Fiji, I joined WWF staff & turtle monitor volunteers at three locations in the country. Besides monitoring and recording data from known nesting beaches, the teams also monitored adult turtle populations in the waters surrounding the islands. During one such scouting trip through the waters near Dravuni Island in Fiji's southern part, one of the villagers spotted a green turtle from the boat at about 20m depth. He was a skilled freediver and carefully slid into the water. I joined him shortly after and followed him down with my housing, freediving as far as I could with my skills and the housing with attachments. It was impressive to witness: He dove down, approached the turtle, caught it with his hands, and brought it to the boat, where he passed it to the team for a number of measurements. This is the moment you see in this photo. Time is of the essence, and everything has to go as fast as possible, so I knew I didn't have a lot of chances to capture this moment. I tried to get as close as possible while framing an over/under shot, minding the wave action, making sure the settings were on point and everything was in focus. After a few minutes, the turtle was released back into the water unharmed and swam off. The data will help to formulate robust conservation plans for the turtles in the waters of Fiji, an urgent necessity given that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies green turtles as' Endangered'.”

“Longnose Hawkfish” by Naomi Springett. Winner, Compact Macro
Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
“For our honeymoon, we joined a liveaboard dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef. This photo was taken on one of the nicest dives of the trip; a thriving coral bommie with abundant macro life. Perched proudly on the Black Sun Coral (Tubastraea micranthus), this Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) was not too concerned with my presence and, much to my delight, sat still long enough for me to get a few photos before it swam away. With so many tropical fish being camera shy, this was a rare treat. Black Sun Coral is among my favourite corals; the rich green colours provided a contrasting background for this striking fish, making this one of my favorite moments from a very special diving trip.”

“Face to Face” by Sylvie Ayer. 2nd Place, Black & White
Location: Alimatha in Vaavu Atoll, Maldive
“One of my favorite place in the Maldives is Alimatha. This is a great place to do a night dive with a lot of nurse sharks. I could spend hours to dive there. This nurse shark was just laying on the floor and I moved the slowest I can to approach a maximum to this shark. It took time but at the end I was really close to it.”

“Fight” by Reiko Takahashi. 2nd Place, Marine Life Behavior
Location: Japan, Area Kitakoura, Sado, Nigata dive site – Akaiwa
“I took this photo in Sado, Japan. This diving point is called “Akaiwa” and is a sacred place for the Asian Sheepshead Wrasse. This photo shows two males fighting over territory. On the right is the winner with a wider mouth, the boss of this Akaiwa. He has a name and is called “Yamato.””

“Feast and Fornication” by Jenny Stock. 2nd Place, Nudibranchs
“Here, two nudibranch use their extended gonophors to mate, whilst simultaneously enjoying the delights of a good meal of green tendrils. Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs but they can't fertilize themselves, so they need to find a partner to mate with. After cross-fertilisation (and finishing their meal) they would both go onto lay their own egg spiral. Thanks to dive guide Regie Casia and Rutherford Parutanin for their assistance with this dive at Kirby's Rock.”

“Long Live the Queen!” by Lucie Drlikova. Winner, Underwater Fashion
Location: Swimming pool, 8 meters deep, Aquapalace Praha, Czech Republic, Europe
“Long Live the Queen: Underwater Photography of Evil Queen, lifted by her demons, from Snow White fairytale. This photo is part of my personal project Once Upon a Dream in Waterland, which I've been working on for 7 years. This project represents a return to my childhood dreams. All costumes, scenes and props are hand made by myself.”

“Hooded nudibranchs” by Borut Furlan. Winner, Nudibranchs
“This was my first visit to Vancouver Island in October 2024 and my first visit to Canada at all. I didn't have much knowledge about the area; therefore, I decided to use a wide-angle zoom lens on most of my dives because of its diversity. It turned out that this was a good idea since I had the opportunity to photograph a wide selection of objects (except the smallest ones). When I reached the kelp forest with hooded nudibranchs, I was simply shocked. I have never before seen so many nudibranchs in one spot. There were many thousands of them and they were everywhere, on the bottom, on the kelp and they were even swimming. I shot hundreds of various images of them and this one is one from this series.”

“Hunting in the Night” by Marco Lausdei. Winner, Compact Wide Angle
Location: Maldives – Fish head dive site
“We are at one of the most famous night dive sites in the world: Maya Thila. I noticed a whitetip reef shark moving in cyclical patterns, visibly attracted to a cloud of silverfish positioned along the Thila drop-off. Using a nearby boulder for cover, I carefully hid and minimized my bubbles, trying to get as close as possible without disturbing the predator's behavior. Once the shark grew accustomed to my presence, I waited for one of its cyclical movements to bring it within flash range. I timed the shot to capture not only the shark but also the evasive motion of the cloud of potential prey. The shot was taken from a bottom-to-top angle, intentionally including the surface of the sea to add depth and dimension to the image. Understanding the subject's habits and behavior was essential to the success of this shot.”

“Curious Cormorant” by James Emery. Winner, Cold Water
Location: Metridium Fields, Monterey, California
“During a dive in Monterey, I was photographing the Metridium fields when I noticed a cormorant swimming down towards us. To my surprise, it began pecking at my wife's head, but she was completely unfazed. I quickly swam over to get a few shots, and then the cormorant's attention shifted to the reflection in my camera's dome port. It stayed with us for about 20 minutes, swimming up for air before returning to check us out again. It was a unique and playful moment that gave me a glimpse into the curiosity of the cormorant, and I was lucky enough to capture it.”

“Fire Babies” by Jenny Stock. 2nd Place, Underwater Digital Art
“Cardinalfish are mouthbrooders. Females release an egg mass close to her chosen male. The male fertilises these eggs, then takes them into his mouth for incubation. Fathers are then unable to eat during the incubation period, although research has shown that they may partake in partial brood cannibalism – eating up to thirty percent of his brood.
On a dive at Atlantis Dumaguete, I slowly approached this egg laden male. I waited patiently until he opened his mouth and aerated his babies. Later, in photoshop, I felt the bright orange of the cardinalfish would work well as licking flames. I got to work and made a smokey fire creation. Many thanks to Norway Luardo for his guiding skills at Atlantis Dumaguete.”

“Blue Face” by Eduardo Acevedo. 2nd Place, Portrait
Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
“Some days in September and October offer the best opportunities to capture great images of pilot whales. However, it's essential to wait until they are truly calm and relaxed. When the sea is like glass, the sun is in the perfect position between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., there's zero wind, and the pilot whales are cooperative, it becomes possible to take an exceptional photo. But believe me, achieving all these conditions in the wild is incredibly challenging. I truly appreciated this rare moment as a photographer. This photo was taken with special permission from the Ministry of Ecological Transition in Spain.”

“Blanket Reflection” by Kat Zhou. 2nd Place, Blackwater
Location: Anilao, Philippines
“I spent a week diving in Anilao, hoping to get the chance to photograph an adult female blanket octopus. One of my final nights, we ended up finding two octopuses! One of them swam away when we saw it, but this one stayed around for quite some time. Of course, we found her at the very end of the dive, and I had exactly 0 air left in my tank when she fully unfurled her cape, but luckily she was right at the surface – I keep a snorkel in my pocket when I dive, and this was the first time I've actually had to use it!”

“The Golden Yawn” by Nemer Chua. 2nd Place, Compact Behavior
Location: Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines
“A once-in-a-lifetime chance and pure luck! After more than 500 dives, I never imagined capturing such a rare moment a yawning Plotosus lineatus, commonly known as the striped eel catfish. I did't even realize it was yawning at first. It was a breathtaking moment, and I felt incredibly fortunate to witness it. This photo was taken in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines, using my compact Olympus TG7 and MF2 Snoot. It's a testament to the power of luck, patience, and perseverance!”

“Drowning in Plastic” by Kimber Greenwood. Winner, Underwater Conservation
Location: USA, High Springs, Florida, Jonathan Springs
“This image was created as part of an awareness project for the Florida Springs Council about the impacts of water bottling on the local Florida Springs. Over 300 bottles of water are produced every minute at water bottling plants such as the ones located just minutes from the Spring this image was shot at. Not only are these bottles ending up in landfills and introducing micro-plastics into our environment, the bottling of “Spring Water” is causing a loss of water from the Floridian Aquifer which is reducing water levels and water flow, allowing for deterioration of the Springs and rivers. The bottles used for this image were donated from a local conservation activist who pulled them off the production belt of a local bottling plant. The images created from this campaign are used in on-going social media and print advertising campaigns to encourage individuals to make a better choice to use reusable water bottles over plastic bottles that harm the local Florida environment in many significant ways.”

“Desire” by Unkoo Kim. Winner, Underwater Digital Art
Location: Seogwipo, Jeju Island, South Korea
“The sea at Seogwipo, where I captured this image, is a place close to my heart, filling me with warmth and cherished memories. However, it is far from an ideal environment for underwater photography. The water is often murky, and the currents are strong. While other locations may face similar challenges, Seogwipo's waters have been further impacted by rising sea temperatures, a lack of subjects, and other factors that make photography particularly difficult. I wondered, how could I create images that truly capture the beauty of the sea creatures inhabiting Seogwipo's waters? The idea of using light as a background to highlight these creatures came to mind, and I set out to convey the stunning beauty hidden within Seogwipo's challenging waters. I took this image during the best season of the year. To capture a front-view image of the main subject, the Blue hana goby, I spent countless hours observing and getting close to them. Many shots had to be discarded along the way. Imagining the dynamic interplay of the Blue hana goby with bokeh lights, I used tools I had prepared in advance and a modified vintage lens to combine multiple exposures with firework bokeh images. While capturing firework images is not particularly difficult, it requires meticulous preparation, effort, practice, and, most importantly, time to build a connection with the subjects.”

“Mutualism” by Naomi Springett. Winner, Compact Behavior
Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
“This Bluestreak Cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) and Variegated Lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) were spotted on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. These fish are an example of mutualistic symbiosis, this means that both species benefit from their association with one another. The cleaner wrasse nibbles dead skin and parasites off the larger fish, providing the cleaner fish with food and leaving the lizardfish clean and healthy. Usually Lizardfish are quite skittish, not tolerating photographers to get too close, but this individual was quite content to pose for photos during its clean. I was amazed to watch the smaller fish dart all over the Lizardfish, even into its mouth, demonstrating incredible trust on the part of the smaller fish, eventually settling right on top of the Lizardfish's head!”

“Juvenile Pike” by Enrico Somogyi. 2nd Place, Compact Wide Angle
Location: Lake Kulkwitz, Leipzig, Germany
“Last summer, I was snorkeling in Lake Kulkwitz, located near my home. In the shallow water, I discovered many juvenile pikes. This particular pike was very relaxed and allowed me to approach closely. For this shot, I used a macro wide-angle lens from Nauticam with a 160-degree field of view. I zoomed out until I achieved this circular perspective and captured some beautiful shots of the pike near the surface.”

“Plunge” by Kat Zhou. 2nd Place, Cold Water
Location: Shetland, UK
“I took this photo during a trip to dive with Northern Gannets in Shetland. Gannets can hit the water at speeds of up to 60mph, making the experience both exciting and chaotic. The gannets were diving from all directions, and it was hard to choose where to aim my camera! I tried to photograph any bird that zoomed by, and I liked how this photo showed the motion of a gannet slowing down its dive.”

“Hearts Content Road, Gianna” by Logan White.
International Photographer of the Year and Professional Winner, Portrait.
“Hearts Content Road refers to a series of surreal and allegorical portraits taken in Upstate New York, exploring the dual nature of fantasy—a realm that provides both escape and excitement, yet harbors its own shadows of uncertainty.”

“Buried Car, CA” by Matthew Portch.
International Discovery of the Year and Winner, Non-Professional, Landscapes.
“From an ongoing series, Lost America examines a quiet stillness in a forgotten landscape that is, in a sense, ‘on pause’. Places appear frozen in time, their inhabitants absent or long since departed. Ardently stagnant in appearance, the spaces yearn to instill a melancholic feeling of familiarity.”

“Cold Square” by Dominik Gottwald.
Winner, Professional, Film:Analog.
“Because of the polar bears, space of movement in Longyearbyen was a limited. I don't feel like carrying a gun, which would have given me more freedom. But on the other hand, it gave me a different freedom. To concentrate on a defined area. So I walked around in a cold, but colourful square.”

“A Dog's Life” by Alicia Rius.
Winner, Professional, Domestic Animals.
“Like humans, dogs form attachments to their personal belongings, offering a glimpse into their identity.The objects they carry, keep, & even eat shape their daily lives, revealing their happiness, pride, and vulnerability. Capturing these cherished items in one image exposes the dog's heart and life.”

“Crosswalk” by Yongseok Chun.
Winner, Professional, Aerial.
“The camera captured various images of citizens crossing the pedestrian crossing.”

“Circus” by Algis Griskevicius.
Winner, Professional, Conceptual.
“Cirkas, a photographic series that might look full of absurd components at first: the bulky bodies of the models stuck in poses defying gravity, sculptures of titans replaced by real people holding the roof of a Lithuanian farmhouse, or the first Lithuanian cosmonaut flying his wicker rocket.”

“An Office with a View” by Christiaan Van Heijst.
Winner, Professional, Event.
“Long exposure, wide-angle shots taken from the flightdeck of the Boeing 747, cruising along the upper atmosphere.”

“The Great North” by Enrico Curti.
Winner, Professional, Landscapes.

“Galactic Bee” by Pedro Luis Ajuriaguerra Saiz.
Professional, Winner, Macro.
“Bee Close Up.”

“Singing Bird” by Ching Kai Lee.
Professional, Winner, Minimalism.
“The bank is clothed in verdure, but it is the bird, singing loudly upon the rock on the surface of the river, that catches the eye.”

“Desert Drag” by Katelin Kinney.
Winner, Professional, People-Culture.
“This project is a collaboration with local Drag Queens & Kings in Arizona. I wanted to bring attention to drag as an art form and celebrate that it has stretched far and wide even to the edges of the southwest desert.”

“Cafuné” by Rafael Fabrés.
Winner, Professional, Photojournalism.
“A group of teenagers having fun in a soccer field at Complexo da Penha, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 07th, 2015.”

“Honey Hunters of Nepal” by Andrew Newey.
Winner, Professional, Travel.
“High in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal Gurung honey hunters gather twice a year, risking their lives to harvest the honey from the world’s largest honeybee. For hundreds of years, the skills required to practise this ancient and sacred tradition have been passed down through the generations.”

“Whale Dreams” by Remuna Beca.
Winner, Professional, Underwater.
“A baby humpback whale pauses at the surface in a graceful upside-down ballet in the South Pacific. A dream-like scene, which I hope inspires a greater fascination for the wonders of our ocean and the dream to experience and protect it.”

“Wishes” by Geert Weggen.
Winner, Professional, Wildlife.
“Red squirrel with dandelion seeds blowing in the wind.”

“By the Ocean” by Mykola Myronov.
Winner, Non-Professional, Film:Analog.
“It doesn't matter how rich you are, what car you drive and how many friends you have in your life. We are all naked and alone by the ocean. Going to the coast, we become naked and find ourselves one on one with the ocean. Only in such moments we can stop and see who we really are.”

“Jump!” by Yevhen Kostiuk.
Winner, Non-Professional, Travel.

“Tunnel view” by Ross Steensland.
Winner, Non-Professional, Landscapes.
“When planning a trip across the Western United States, I based my route and timelines on my astrophotography bucketlist. And the top of that list was Yosemite. Planning showed that the Cygnus region with all of its red Hydrogen Alpha nebula and the Great Rift would line up right above Tunnel view.”

“I.D.” by Evan Murphy.
Winner, Non-Professional, People-Portrait-Storytelling.
“‘I.D.' emphasizes on queer youth; displaying stories of modern day romantic connections, societal impacts, and self liberation. Through a series of subjects, each frame narrates the journey of an LGBTQ individual navigating the intricate landscape of self and society.”

“The Taste of Memory” by Astrid Reischwitz.
Winner, Non-Professional, Still Life.
“The series explores personal and collective family narratives woven through still life compositions, intertwining threads of home, heritage, and identity. Embroidered fragments from old dish towels from my village in Germany now speak of loss and the gradual disappearance of cultural rites.”

“Sport. Colors & Shades” by Yevhen Kostiuk.
Winner, Non-Professional, Minimalism.

“Dreamtime” by Michael Potts
Winner, Non-Professional, Underwater.

“Dinner is Served” by Reed Fowler.
Winner, Non-Professional, Wildlife.
“This photo was taken at Brooks Falls in Alaska. The salmon were not jumping much that day, but I managed to capture the perfect shot when one did. From the color of the salmon to the way the bear is lunging with its mouth wide open, there is nothing I would change about my dream shot.”

UNICEF Photo of the Year Winners (Left: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv (Israel), for The New York Times | Right: Samar Abu Elouf (Palestine), for The New York Times)

Avishag Shaar-Yashuv (Israel). UNICEF Photo of the Year 2024. Photo taken for The New York Times.
“They survived the horrors of the Hamas massacre in their kibbutzim on October 7, 2023. They are four, ten, and 13 years old, or 17, and taken hostage for 51 days. Their faces, such as that of eight-year-old Stav, are a window into their souls: they show confusion, desolation, and anguish. Israeli photographer Avishag Shaar-Yashuv portrayed them in a hotel that was temporarily used as emergency shelter by many of the victims of the Hamas attack. As can be seen in Stav’s face, Avishag Shaar-Yashuv has hauntingly captured the look of children who see their previous lives lie completely in ruins.”

Samar Abu Elouf, (Palestine). UNICEF Photo of the Year 2024. Photo taken for The New York Times.
“They survived the bombing of residential areas in Gaza by the Israeli air force. They are two, four, five, nine, 13 or 15 years old. They have been dug out from under rubble. They are paralyzed and have lost their eyesight, arms, legs, hands, often their parents and sometimes even their entire family. Their faces show confusion, desolation, and anguish. Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf portrayed these children in a hospital in Qatar, where they were brought to safety. Among them are Dareen, 11, and her brother Kinan, five years old, the only survivors of a family wiped out by an air strike. This picture, reminiscent of old master still life paintings, vividly shows the dignity of children even in the worst emotional distress.”

Pascal Maitre (France). 2nd Place. Photo taken for the VII Foundation, for Paris Match.
“Formerly known as monkeypox, a rare viral disease known as mpox has been on the rise in parts of Africa for some time. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the worst affected countries with approx. 40,000 suspected cases, more than 8,000 confirmed cases and over 1,000 deaths so far. For the second time since 2022, the WHO has declared the highest alert level for the virus. There have also been confirmed cases of mpox in the USA and Germany. Although there is a vaccine against mpox, the supply is insufficient, especially in poorer countries. Children are particularly at risk. The symptoms include a rash with blisters or sores (ulcers) and pneumonia, brain inflammation, eye infections and even loss of sight. French photographer Pascal Maitre went to the most affected areas and documented the treatment of children at Kavumu Hospital in the Kivu region in eastern Congo. One of them is seven-month-old Japhet, whose blisters are being treated with the antiseptic dye ‘Gentian Violet.’ His 19-year-old mother Christevi cares for and looks after the little one. The health station where adults are also treated is only sparsely equipped. Nevertheless, it is still better there than the mud floor of their huts or in camps like the one in Busharaga. There, the virus can easily spread among the 16,000 internally displaced people.”

Maylis Rolland (France). 3rd Place. Photo taken for Agency Hans Lucas.
“According to a WHO study, one in ten children worldwide is born before the 37th week of pregnancy, meaning three weeks prematurely. Every missing week makes their start in life that much more difficult. This is especially true for extremely premature babies who sometimes have to take their first breaths after less than 32 or even 26 weeks of pregnancy, mostly the effect of insufficiently developed lungs and reduced kidney function. Worldwide, death resulting from premature birth is the second most common reason for not reaching the age of five. Even in industrialized nations, there are more and more premature births, which is mainly because mothers are increasingly older at birth. However, medical care for premature babies has made great progress, at least in rich countries. It has even been possible to save a premature baby who was born at just 22 weeks, measuring only 26 centimeters and weighing a mere 245 grams. French photographer Maylis Rolland’s photo series shows the wonderful moments at the University Hospital of Rennes, where the fragile lives of tiny babies are stabilized with the help of medical equipment and intensive human care. Like, for example, the moment when tiny Gabin, born after 25 weeks of pregnancy and still wearing a breathing mask, touches the face of his mother Doriane.”

Saher Alghorra (Palestine). Honorable Mention. Photo taken for ZUMA Press.
“Adults started the war – only they can finish it. Until they do so one day, even the most innocent suffer: the children. And in Gaza, their suffering is especially brutal. The UN Human Rights Office verified more than 8,100 deaths between November 2023 and the end of August 2024. According to its numbers, 70 percent of them were women and minors, most between five and nine years old, followed by children between 10 and 14 years. Thousands are believed to be buried under the rubble of bombed residential buildings or in mass graves. Countless children have been injured and mutilated in the war. Palestinian photographer Saher Alghorra has captured the horrors of war in heartbreaking images: children fleeing on dusty roads, reduced to mere skeletons; bleeding on the tiled floor of a hospital, standing in line for food or drinking water; saying goodbye to their dead parents, or lying on the deathbed themselves. In some of his pictures, however, Alghorra also documents how children have the power to teach us hope, even amid chaos and horror.”

Ivor Prickett (Ireland). Honorable Mention. Photo taken for Panos Pictures, for The New York Times.
“Far from the headlines, one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of our time is unfolding in Sudan. More than eight million people in the East African country are believed to be fleeing from the front lines of a conflict that has been raging since 2023. The lives of around 730,000 children are in immediate danger due to severe malnutrition. The warring parties deliberately use hunger as a weapon by plundering farms, stealing animals, and controlling vital water sources. They are destroying schools and health posts, recruiting children as soldiers, and committing sexual violence against women and girls. Irish photographer Ivor Prickett wants to draw international attention to this drama by documenting the misery, malnutrition, displacement, and despair in Sudan. Despite all the difficulties, UNICEF is working hard to deliver medicines, medical equipment, clean water, and other relief supplies, as well as special therapeutic food for the exhausted children of this war-ravaged country. UNICEF’s teams are on site despite all the dangers.”

Ziv Koren (Israel). Honorable Mention. Photo taken by Polaris Images.
“When Hamas fighters invaded Israel on October 7, 2023 and murdered more than 1,200 people, they also attacked the Golan family home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Elai Hogeg and her husband Ariel tried to hide there with their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Yael; all in vain, because they, too, were not spared. The terrorists set fire to a room and threw an open butane gas cylinder into the fire, which quickly spread to the entire house. With serious skin injuries, the couple and their toddler escaped from a window, fled on foot and were finally picked up by a car and driven to a helicopter landing pad. In a clinic in Tel Aviv, all three were placed in a medically-induced coma: the girl, whose skin is 30 percent covered in burns, for eight days; her father, even more seriously injured, for ten. And her mother, who suffered the worst injuries, was there for 53 days. Israeli photographer Ziv Koren documented the family’s struggle for survival in painful detail: the time in hospital when grandparents had to look after little Yael because her parents were unable to. And then the time when the family gradually overcame their physical trauma – until the moment when they returned to their completely destroyed house for the first time and found little more than a picture from happier days. It is the story of a healing that is far from a happy ending: one of how people somehow survived, but nothing more.”

Jérôme Gence (France). Honorable Mention. Photo taken for Panos Pictures.
“For some time now, science and medicine have also been dealing with the omnipresent smartphone, coveted even by small children. And rightly so. There is largely consensus about its negative effects on the psyche, social and communication skills as well as on the ability to learn. Some neuroscientists are already talking about ‘digital dementia,’ while others advocate banning cell phones at least at primary school age to focus on analog, namely direct human contact. French photographer Jérôme Gence did a little research on this: Children and young people in France spend three hours a day staring at their cell phones, on which they receive over 230 messages every day. 50 percent of French families even use their cell phones during meals together. Even the WHO warns against putting smartphones in the hands of children under the age of three, as this can lead to sleep disorders. However, only 13 percent of parents heed the recommendation. And cellphone mania has now even spread to countries like Nepal. Jérôme has captured moments of this addiction in his photo series ‘The screen generation.'”

Valerio Bispuri (Italy). Honorable Mention.
“The United Nations estimates there are around 140 million of them worldwide. Perhaps their number is even higher. However, no reliable information on the number of orphans exists, as many countries lack reliable statistics on those children who bear the stigma of abandonment. It is not always just the loss of a father or mother or both that makes children half or full orphans, as was the case for a while in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly due to the HIV epidemic. Broken families with neglect, violence, abuse, poverty or simply a lack of attention also turn children into outcasts, into lost ones. For his photo series, Italian photographer Valerio Bispuri repeatedly visited orphanages in Africa and Latin America, first in Kenya, then for longer periods in Zambia and in his second home country of Argentina. He was the first photo reporter to visit the ‘Home of Happiness’ in Zambia’s capital Lusaka. This institution was founded a few years ago for orphans with severe physical and mental disabilities. His pictures also show two orphanages in Buenos Aires. In both countries, he additionally portrayed street children who are completely homeless. Bispuri deliberately works beyond the 24/7 news cycle. He is more concerned with the ‘invisible ones’ – the unnoticed and forgotten – who live as if they were never born.”

Vincent Boisot (France). Honorable Mention. Photo taken for Riva Press.
“Proud dancers can not only be found on the polished floors of ballet schools in big cities but also in places where the average monthly income is around 200 euros. In Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, there are also girls and boys who practice elegant pirouettes and defy gravity in graceful leaps. There, around 20 girls and boys aged between 10 and 22 have gathered under the guidance of their ballet teacher, Daniel Ajala, to become a classical dance ensemble. They practice outdoors, in a yard protected by barbed wire on uneven and bumpy ground, exposed to blistering heat and torrential rains alike, and surrounded by chickens. Ajala, a graduate of Lagos State University, launched his ‘Leap of Dance Academy’ in Nigeria’s capital with five children from the neighborhood. They come from a district that has electricity only for a few hours a day, inhabited by poor families where dancing in a ballet was a distant luxury. And yet the idea of creating new perspectives for children through dance caught on. Daniel is not the only one who is convinced that dancing helps the children to “stand up, speak up, and defend themselves!””

Patricia Krivanek (Canada). Honorable Mention.
“Ever since he could speak, Milo has talked to his parents and his brother. Outside his family, however, he turned totally silent. At the age of six, he was diagnosed with selective mutism, a presumably genetically caused, anxiety-related loss of speech in all situations outside the safety of the family. While he was cheerful and talkative at home, Milo suddenly became unable to utter a word every time he met other people. It is estimated that around one percent of all children are affected by selective mutism. Shocked and shaken by the diagnosis, Milo’s mother, Canadian photographer Patricia Krivanek, thought about how she could build bridges for her son and help him open up. She gave Milo a simple Instax camera as a novel way to show his emotions and express himself visually. At the same time, she also took his pictures and asked him to write down his thoughts. She calls this photo project ‘Between the Silence,’ as they navigate the path “between the light and the dark, the joy and despair, the sound and the silence.” It genuinely helped Milo get rid of a fear that often accompanies affected children well into their school years. Krivanek describes the project as “therapeutic practice for both me and my son;” she ‘armed’ Milo with the camera to combat his anxiety and understand him better.”

“Golden Moment” by Jerome Brouillet. Overall Winner and Gold, Aquatic

“Heaven” by Petr Slavik. Overall Runner-up and Gold, Winter Sports

“Zebra Crossing” by Anton Anestiev. Third Place Overall and Gold, Motor Sports

“Winfred Yavi, Olympic Gold” by Daniel Sannum Lauten. Gold, Athletics

“To The Pylon” by Kevin Sabitus. Gold, American Football

“Push with Lights” by Thomas Lam. Gold, Formula 1

“Untitled” by Romain Perrocheau. Gold, Rugby

“The Winning Point” by Peter Szalmas. Gold, Other

“The Shadow” by Bruce Bennett. Gold, Ice Hockey

“Seeing Double” by Andrew Hancock. Gold, Basketball

“Super Dre” by Darrian Traynor. Gold, Cricket

“Double Gymnastics” by Tom Weller. Gold, Gymnastics

“Diving at the Aspire Dome” by Shinya Tanaka. Gold, Swimming & Diving

“Dove of Peace” by Max Krause. Gold, Football

“Victory and Defeat” by Mike Carlson. Gold, Baseball

“Winter in Lambourn” by Edward Whitaker. Gold, Equestrian

“The Last Salute” by Lionel Hahn. Gold, Tennis

“Icarus” by Marton Monus. Gold, Urban & Extreme

“Eyeing a Punch” by Mohd Rasfan. Gold, Boxing

“Olympic Moonlight” by Loic Venance. Gold, Venues & Views

“Octagon under Sphere” by Christian Petersen. Gold, Martial Arts

“Bryson De Chambeau US Open” by David Cannon. Gold, Golf

“The Butchers” by Gaetan Flamme. Gold, Cycling

“Forehand” by Tom Weller. Gold, Racquet Sports

Hira Punjabi, 1st Place
“This image was taken in Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, in January 2024.
This is a bird sanctuary where many migratory birds comes here in winter and some residents birds breeds here, January is very cold month and many times there is a mist and fog, I has observed this behavior if birds attacking snake and lizards, as they feed on bird eggs, last 30 years I am going here, but this time I was lucky, for continues observing 4 days the same dry tree, one morning a pair of Parakeets along with some 10 or 12 birds started attacking the lizards, the whole drama lasted for an hour or so, I had managed to shoot many images, but this one is my favorite.”

Thomas McDonnell, 2nd Place
“The Photo of the Red Grouse was taken in the North Antrim Hills near the town of Ballycastle.
A friend of mine told me he had seen grouse in the area so I decided to use my free time to look for the grouse. Over a period of a few months of looking I eventually came across two males and a female. The males were calling at one another and flying across the road where I was parked, I watched them for an hour or so taking photos from the car, I decided to get out off the car as I was restricted in my movements, the birds seem to not care of my presence so I stood beside the car as one of the birds came right at me to go across the road to investigate the other bird, luckily I was able to to get the shot as it flew across the road.”

Maggie Bullock, 3rd Place
“This shot of a Great Grey Owl was taken in Finland, near Kuusamo. The bird flew down to take a dead mouse and I managed to take a few shots of it approaching and landing. It was wonderful to see this wild bird in its natural environment against a snowy background. Taken from a raised path, where a step to either side would have resulted in sinking into deep snow, the shot was handheld using a fast shutter speed to capture the action.”

Arne Bivrin, Judge's Choice Award

Thomas McDonnell, Judge's Choice Award

Sue Morris, Judge's Choice Award

Mike Rowe, Very Highly Commended

Gary Neville. Very Highly Commended

Bruce Hargrave, Very Highly Commended

Louise Skelly, Very Highly Commended

John Ellingsen, Very Highly Commended

John Ellingsen, Very Highly Commended

Beverley Thain, Very Highly Commended

Khalid Al-Wdaihi, Very Highly Commended

Mark Meth-Cohn, Very Highly Commended

Mike Rowe, Very Highly Commended

Beverley Thain, Very Highly Commended

Bjorn Stuedal, Very Highly Commended

“Bath Time,” Pepe Manzanilla. International Photographer of the Year.

“Swallow,” Tania Barrenetxea. International Discovery of the Year.

“Barcelona's Timeless Heart,” Henry Do. Photographer of the Year: Aerial.

“The Don Steppe,” Misha Maslennikov. Photographer of the Year: Film/Analog.

“Blending In,” Gillian Shark. Discovery of the Year: Underwater.

“CHILDREN OF THE WALL,” Alonso Oliveros. Photographer of the Year: Street.

“Dancer in the Light,” James Whittlesey. Discovery of the Year: Sports.

“P-opular & I-gnored,” Yevhen Kostiuk. Discovery of the Year: Aerial.

“East Los Angeles,” Kristine Vann. Discovery of the Year: Domestic Animals.

“Three color,” Piotr Werner. Photographer of the Year: Fashion & Beauty.

“Symbiosis,” Li Tung. Discovery of the Year: Fine Art.

“THE RIGHT TO KNOW,” Roberta Vagliani. Photographer of the Year: Photojournalism.

“What's love got to do with it?,” Elisa Miller. Photographer of the Year: Conceptual.

“Deliverance,” Thomas de Franzoni. Photographer of the Year: Minimalism.

“One morning in Varanasi,” Ngar Shun Victor Wong. Discovery of the Year: Travel.

“Double Chin,” Bernard Sim. Photographer of the Year: Domestic Animals.

“Peaceful mind,” Ann Nguyen. Photographer of the Year: Architecture.

“NOSE TO NOSEHORN,” George Dian Balan. Photographer of the Year: Wildlife.

“Underwater Multiverse,” Gabriel Holguín. Photographer of the Year: Sports.

“The Butcher,” Robert Lie. Discovery of the Year: Street.

A female Arabian leopard at the Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Centre in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Scientists estimate that only 120 Arabian leopards remain in the wild. The Royal Commission for AlUla, with the help of Panthera, is conserving the Critically Endangered species and working toward its eventual reintroduction into the wild. (Photo: Frederic Uhel)

A male lion rests in the grass in South Africa's Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.
Many argue that lions receive the lion's share of conservation attention when it comes to Africa's wild cats, but in this region of the continent, Panthera's Sabi Sands Leopard Project proudly stands as the lengthiest and most comprehensive leopard research study ever undertaken. It encompasses three private reserves (the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve, and Sabie Game Reserve), where Panthera researchers have studied, monitored, and gained a better understanding of leopard behavior using this unique population since 2009.
Due to the well-protected environment and sensitive viewing practices, leopards in the reserve have become comfortable around vehicles. Because of this, leopard sightings are frequent, and safari guides can identify and monitor up to 85 resident leopards using their unique spots and established territories. Panthera has trained safari guides to act as citizen scientists, using their photo-tourism sightings as biological data that ultimately inform the conservation of at-risk leopard populations in other regions. (Photo: Panthera/Nikki Balme)

A female cougar nicknamed Genevieve stands behind her nearly one-year-old kitten on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. In this landscape, high-definition remote cameras and GPS collars provide a window into the secret world of cougars, unveiling where the species travels and why, what they eat, how they raise their young, interactions between pumas and bobcats and how the species navigates through a mosaic of human-dominated lands.
The Olympic Cougar Project (OCP) is a large-scale, multi-national collaborative effort to assess and increase cougar connectivity in western Washington State where these big cats have lower genetic diversity than in other areas of the state. Given conflict over livestock is the biggest source of cougar deaths in the region, the OCP also aims to facilitate co-existence between cougars and human communities through various education and community outreach initiatives.
Adopting a community approach rarely seen in the United States that extends across state and tribal nation boundaries, the OCP is carried out by Panthera and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe alongside multiple other tribal nations. (Photo: Matt Mahen)

An adolescent leopard rests on a fallen tree trunk in South Africa's Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.
Panthera's Sabi Sands Leopard Project proudly stands as the lengthiest and most comprehensive leopard research study ever undertaken. It encompasses three private reserves (the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve, and Sabie Game Reserve), where Panthera researchers have studied, monitored, and gained a better understanding of leopard behavior using this unique population since 2009.
Due to the well-protected environment and sensitive viewing practices, leopards in the reserve have become comfortable around vehicles. Because of this, leopard sightings are frequent and safari guides can identify and monitor up to 85 resident leopards using their unique spots and established territories. Panthera has trained safari guides to act as citizen scientists, using their photo-tourism sightings as biological data that ultimately inform the conservation of at-risk leopard populations in other regions.
Mgiba was born in July 2023 to the Ntsumi female in southern Sabi Sands. She was part of a litter of two, and both her and her sister Kurhula reached independence a few months ago, which is noteworthy in the reserve as leopard cub mortality is high. Although they are independent of their mother, they are still found in her natal territory, sometimes together and sometimes apart, as they begin to support themselves. Their father is likely the Nweti male, as he is the dominant territory holder in the area and was seen mating with Ntsumi prior to the birth of the cubs. (Photo: Panthera/Nikki Balme)

An endangered flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) roams the swampy area of the Tangkulap Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
On the island of Borneo, Panthera works through Project Dupot to monitor and protect the Sunda Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Diardi) and other Bornean wild cats and their prey in the Deramakot Core Area, a mixed-use landscape in Sabah. Using counter-poaching strategies developed for this region, we work closely with the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, as well as the Keramuak Community Rangers to increase the level of security across the Deramakot landscape. (Photo: Sabah Forestry Department/Sabah Wildlife Department/Panther)

A cheetah cub seeks shelter from the wind in Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa. (Photo: Alexander Botha)

Taken less than two weeks before the start of 2024 in Thailand's Dong Phayayen Khao Yai Forest Complex, we snuck this camera trap shot of a tigress and her cub into our 2024 collection due to its raw beauty and the significance of new life for the future of the Endangered tiger. This cub is estimated to be two to three months old – an exciting time of life when cubs begin to explore the world with their mothers. (Photo: Thailand DPKY/Panthera)

A collection of skins of pumas and culpeo fox killed in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Sport hunting of pumas and foxes in this Province of Argentinean Patagonia is legal, allowing hunters to take a puma per week. On the other side of the border in Chile, pumas are legally protected, although retaliatory killing is still a common management strategy among ranchers as a way to protect their livestock.
In Chile, Panthera works to resolve human-cat conflicts that have persisted for more than a century in the Magallanes Region, with a replicable model for other ranches in Patagonia. Amongst other conservation efforts in country, our approach involves the use of non-lethal alternatives for the protection of domestic livestock, such as light deterrents and livestock protection dogs. (Photo: Nicolas Lagos/Panthera)

Phu Teoy National Park rangers, equipped with natural umbrellas, are conducting a survey as part of ongoing wild cat conservation efforts between Panthera, the government of Thailand and other partners. Despite being a protected area at the edge of the forest complex and serving as a buffer zone, Phu Teoy has remarkably recorded tigers in the area. The discovery of the first tiger in this area is an exceptional and noteworthy case.Phu Teoy National Park rangers, equipped with natural umbrellas, are conducting a survey as part of ongoing wild cat conservation efforts between Panthera, the government of Thailand and other partners. Despite being a protected area at the edge of the forest complex and serving as a buffer zone, Phu Teoy has remarkably recorded tigers in the area. The discovery of the first tiger in this area is an exceptional and noteworthy case. (Photo: Panthera Thailand)

An adult bobcat examines Panthera's camera trap on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. (Photo: Matt Mahen/Panthera)

A sleepy clouded leopard ambles in front of our camera traps in Malaysia's Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve. En route to catch the next catnap! (Photo: Panthera/Pahang Biodiversity Council/DWNP/Enggang)

A melanistic leopard in Malaysia's Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve. Nearly all leopards on the Malay Peninsula are black. Their color comes from a genetic mutation that causes an overproduction in the dark pigment melanin, which results in black fur coats.
The Malay Peninsula is one of the last strongholds for the Indochinese leopard. Some believe that black leopards (or panthers) are better concealed than lighter-colored leopards in the dense canopies of the region’s rainforests, making them more effective at stalking prey.
We’re monitoring the black leopard's population trends in the landscape, and working alongside the Malaysian government to improve protection measures. These leopards are highly sought after by the illegal wildlife trade and often fall prey to poachers' wire snares. (Photo: Panthera/Pahang Biodiversity Council/DWNP/Enggang)

One of the jaguars initially discovered in 2020 now makes up a previously unknown population in the proposed La Danta Wildlife Refuge, Honduras. During the past two years, the Honduran government (ICF), Municipalities of Jutiapa and Olanchito, SERSO, BTSA, Panthera and Re:wild have been working alongside local communities to establish La Danta Wildlife Refuge as a protected area. Below this region lives a community of 100,000 people who are fed water from the rivers in La Danta. There’s no question that protecting wild cats like jaguars, their prey and their habitats can help keep ecosystems safe and help protect the quality of critical ecosystem services, like water, benefitting the health of people and so many other living beings. (Photo: Panthera-Re:wild)

A tiger carries prey, a sambar deer, in the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex of Thailand. Sambar deer are among the most favored prey of tigers. Tigers often bypass smaller prey in favor of these larger animals, maximizing energy efficiency in their hunting efforts. Tigers play a vital role in maintaining the health of deer populations by preying on sick individuals. This natural selection process helps strengthen the genetic traits of the deer population over time. (Photo: Thailand DPKY/Panthera)

Immersed in the raw wild of the Brazilian Pantanal, a female jaguar known as ‘Saseka' rests. This photo was taken during wildfires in the Pantanal, which have become an annual ‘new normal' for the region. At least 17 million vertebrates are estimated to have been killed immediately by wildfires that burned a quarter of the Brazilian Pantanal in 2020, according to a study from the Mogu Mata Network, coordinated by Embrapa Pantanal and ICMBio/CENAP, in which Panthera actively participated. Immersed in the raw wild of the Brazilian Pantanal, a female jaguar known as ‘Saseka' rests. This photo was taken during wildfires in the Pantanal, which have become an annual ‘new normal' for the region. At least 17 million vertebrates are estimated to have been killed immediately by wildfires that burned a quarter of the Brazilian Pantanal in 2020, according to a study from the Mogu Mata Network, coordinated by Embrapa Pantanal and ICMBio/CENAP, in which Panthera actively participated. Immersed in the raw wild of the Brazilian Pantanal, a female jaguar known as ‘Saseka' rests. This photo was taken during wildfires in the Pantanal, which have become an annual ‘new normal' for the region. At least 17 million vertebrates are estimated to have been killed immediately by wildfires that burned a quarter of the Brazilian Pantanal in 2020, according to a study from the Mogu Mata Network, coordinated by Embrapa Pantanal and ICMBio/CENAP, in which Panthera actively participated. Immersed in the raw wild of the Brazilian Pantanal, a female jaguar known as ‘Saseka' rests. This photo was taken during wildfires in the Pantanal, which have become an annual ‘new normal' for the region. At least 17 million vertebrates are estimated to have been killed immediately by wildfires that burned a quarter of the Brazilian Pantanal in 2020, according to a study from the Mogu Mata Network, coordinated by Embrapa Pantanal and ICMBio/CENAP, in which Panthera actively participated. (Photo: Panthera/Raissa Sepulvida)

A startled marbled cat hisses at the camera in Malaysia's Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve.
Mostly arboreal and often only detected by our cameras on trails along high-elevation ridgelines, the marbled cat is among some of the more elusive cat species. This individual is challenging the Pallas' Cat for the title of World's Grumpiest Cat. (Photo: Panthera/Pahang Biodiversity Council/DWNP/Enggang)

As part of a remarkable program fusing faith and conservation, Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, has joined forces with the one-million-member African Congregational Church (ACC) to expand the Furs for Life program (FFL) – a decade-long initiative to reduce the killing of wild leopards in southern Africa. Representing the third FFL partnership with a Church or Royal Establishment, the latest alliance will reduce demand for authentic leopard skins, save significant leopard lives and bring economic benefits to local women often income-dependent on the illegal wildlife trade.
The new initiative will replace the Church’s ceremonial regalia – hats traditionally made from authentic leopard fur – with a synthetic, longer-lasting and cheaper alternative known as “Heritage Fur.” One significant goal is to provide an alternative source of income for women reliant on tailoring illegally sourced wildlife products and increase their skills training, including business management, that will enable independent operation of tailoring micro-enterprises. Thus far, Panthera has provided 20 sewing machines and tables, equipment and 280 hours of training to twenty women from the South Africa-based African Congregational Church to tailor thousands of Heritage Fur hats and other garments, including school uniforms, in high demand outside of the Church. (Photo: Jabulani Mkhize)

Part of Panthera's Thailand team support the #WildatHeart campaign to spotlight wild cats and the incredible impacts they have on our shared ecosystems. (Photo: Panthera)

A howler monkey bravely challenges a camera trap in Costa Rica, where Panthera works to connect and protect wild cats in and beyond the nation's borders – including jaguars, pumas, ocelots, jaguarundis, margays, and oncillas.
As part of Panthera's Wild Cat Friendly Roads Project, camera traps are placed both in trees and in and around roads to assess how wildlife are using natural and manmade arboreal crossings, underpasses and culverts. These data help inform the construction of structures like underpasses in wildlife crossing hotspots, saving the lives of wildlife and reducing collisions. (Photo: Panthera/Inter-American Development Bank Ministry of Transportation)

‘Akira' is a female ocelot that has been monitored for several years in the Andes region of Colombia where Panthera carries out a multitude of wild cat conservation initiatives. In 2023, she was fixed with a GPS collar to study her movements, and in 2024 we obtained camera trap photos of her activities. Photos show her to be in good health and even captured her carrying a rodent in her mouth. (Photo: Panthera)

An Asian golden cat battles a snake in Malaysia's Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve. This species is classified as ‘Vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature while its cousin, the African golden cat, is considered Endangered. (Photo: Panthera/Pahang Biodiversity Council/DWNP/Enggang)

Two male lion cubs, estimated to be 12-18 months old, inspect a camera trap in Mufunta Game Management Area (GMA) bordering the western boundary of Zambia's Kafue National Park. These two males were photographed with a lioness, which is likely their mother.
In 2023, Panthera was thrilled to share that counter-poaching operations and innovative technological advances, including ‘vulture sentinels,’ have helped triple leopard density and increase lion numbers in parts of Kafue. (Photo: Panthera)

Panthera K9 Research Assistant Fatima Germani and her 6-year-old male Belgian Malinois, Phiri, (also known as Phiri Dog and Baby) admire the view after successfully completing a training exercise. Phiri is a tracking dog trained to detect snares and camps of poachers in Terengganu Forest, Malaysia, where Panthera carries out antipoaching and monitoring efforts on behalf of tigers and other wild cats. He had just successfully found a day-old mock poacher's camp when this photo was taken. (Photo: Ben Riopelle)

Students of the Jaguar School in Colombia roar for the camera.
The Jaguar School, or La Escuela Jaguar, is a remarkable learning project in Colombia dedicated to inspiring children to appreciate jaguars. By engaging them through various interactive activities such as art, music, games, and even statistics lessons, our young students learn why jaguars are so crucial to Colombia’s ecosystems and the world at large. The Jaguar School is implemented where people live in close proximity to jaguars and other wildlife. The Jaguar School is creating new opportunities for vulnerable jaguars and the surrounding community through its efforts.
Since 2009, more than 1,300 children and youth have been taught the importance of wild cats and their conservation. (Photo: Panthera)

Bettina Vass, Overall Winner & Winner, Epic Location & Emerging Talent.
“In August 2024, I photographed Mauli and Christian during their elopement inside a small, blue ice tunnel on Katla Glacier. Despite recent flooding, we were lucky to have a clear day to hike to this location, we were guided safely through the glacier's challenging terrain by their wedding officiant and guide.
The tunnel's icy floor and narrow space made it difficult for the couple to pose and for me to shoot with two cameras hanging from my shoulders and a 12 kg backpack. Yet, the vibrant blue glow of the ice and its natural backlighting provided a stunning visual for an amazing shot.
I had less than 5 minutes to create photos and videos of the couple, as one hiking group was just leaving the tunnel and another was approaching us. I asked Christian to sway Mauli slightly, capturing her ponytail in motion to add a subtle element of movement to the photo, all while they were surrounded by thousands of years of glacier ice. There is a volcano beneath Katla Glacier that typically erupts every 20-80 years. It has been over 100 years since its last major eruption, which always makes it thrilling to hike there, knowing the power that rests just below the surface.”

Ewelina Puk, Overall Runner-Up & Winner, Dance Floor / Party Time.
“The couple was the obvious star of the frame, but the room deserved its moment, too. One half of the shot was alive – music, smoke, dancing. The other half – calm and candlelit, like nothing could disturb it. I used a 35mm lens to let both sides tell their story.”

Ted Kim, Winner, Break the Rules.
“While photographing this couple's wedding, I noticed their deep love for nature and how they found comfort in constant touch—holding hands, hugging, and simply being close. Their connection taught me an important lesson about capturing meaningful moments: focusing on touch and intimacy.
I aimed to reflect their unique bond—their love for nature and their tender gestures—in a single photograph. My goal was to tell their story authentically, creating an image that truly embodies the love they share.”

Andri Tei, Winner, Couple Portrait.
“The photograph was taken at teamLab Future World at Singapore Art Science Museum. Those who have been to this gallery knows that it's extremely difficult to get a clean shot here with all the crowd, and to top that off the timing of the lighting has to be just right to have all the right element fall in place to create that magic. I was glad to be able to make it happen on that special day with this memorable couple.”

Tinted Photography, Winner, Engagement Category / Pre-Wedding.
“We had been adventuring with our couple all day for their engagement shoot, and they invited us to join them for a BBQ and a few beers. A ‘few' beers later, the stars were out, and we all thought it would be fun to take some shots with the night sky to complete their engagement adventure with us. To get away from the street lights, we set up near the edge of the town where we were staying, incidentally, by the side of a long highway. Off in the distance, we could see a bright light heading our way, so we set up for this shot and waited for the truck to roll on past! 30-second exposure, with one off-camera flash.”

Angel Yamil Calderon Tellitud, Winner, From Above.
“The place is a hotel boutique in the middle of the forest, the couple love Asian culture so it was the perfect spot for them.”

Kemran Shiraliev, Winner, Lit!
“I was shooting the bride's gathering and the groom was running late, so we had plenty of time to experiment. Knowing how to work with light sources is one of the most important skills of a photographer. I shot this shot at a slow shutter speed using a “mixed light” technique where I use both constant light and flash.”

Kemran Shiraliev, Winner, B&W
“I shot the bride with her grandmother and took some casual photos. I always think about keeping the photography interesting not only for my clients, but also impressing other photographers, so that it can be considered art. My vision made this shot possible, the hands of an elderly grandmother on the young face of the bride. There is something symbolic about it.”

Hollie Mateer, Winner, Solo Portrait.
“The bride transforms the scene, filling the ordinary street with her energy, her style. Capturing it was all about anticipating what was happening, running ahead into the road (the road was usually quiet), getting into position and waiting for the moment to develop, waiting for the wind to catch the dress. It all happened naturally, in a second or two.”

Hollie Mateer, Winner, Single Capture.
“I used perspective and scale to tell a joke with this photograph – waiting for the exact moment I needed to bring the different elements together. Whenever I’ve shown this image to other people, they’ve always laughed. So I knew this was an image that resonated – but to win this, it’s mind-blowing. To win the Single Capture category is especially meaningful. The Single Capture category celebrates documentary photography and that’s exactly what I specialize in.”

Chris Perkins, Winner, I-Do-Crew.
“When Alex and Bridget approached me to be their Wedding Photographer, they told me about this cute old theatre they had found in a small town called Dungog in the Hunter Region of NSW that they had fallen in love with. They straight away had the idea to use the theatre for their Wedding and to create a day and experience for their guests that was totally unique. They already had the idea for a group photo straight after their ceremony with everybody wearing 3D glasses and them eating popcorn but just weren't sure how well it would photograph technically in such a dark space. When I arrived at the theatre, I found that the little light that was available was obviously pointing towards the stage and so wouldn't illuminate the guests. I decided to place two flashes at the back of the auditorium to add some theatrical ‘pop', to separate the subjects from the background and to enable me to get more of the guests evenly lit and in focus. I was really happy with the way it came out. The day was full of interesting little elements, revolving around theatre and the movies and if you look closely at the image you might be able to spot a few famous faces in the crowd!”

Gabrielle Fox – The Foxes Photography, Runner-Up, Couple Portrait.

Salien Van Hauwaert, Runner-Up, Dance Floor / Party Time & Emerging Talent.

Tinted Photography, Runner-Up, Epic Location.

Justyna Bedford, Runner-Up, Solo Portrait.

Megan Kelly, Third Place, From Above.

Vlad Solomon, Runner-Up, Single Capture.

Divyam Mehrotra, Runner-Up, Break the Rules

June Richards, Runner-Up, From Above

Taylor Dawning, Runner-Up, Engagement Category / Pre-Wedding.

Daniel Kuang, Runner-Up, Lit!

Ben Connolly, Runner-Up, I-Do-Crew.

Ankita Asthana, Runner-Up, B&W

“Games between siblings” by Paolo Della Rocca (Italy). Overall Winner.

“Besties” by Marcia Walters (USA). Animal Portraits, Winner

“Giant Octopus Dofleini” by Andrey Shpatak (Russia). Underwater, Winner

“Ocean Dance” by Junqi Peng (USA/China). Plants and Fungi, Winner

“My Pet Tiger” by Aaron Gekoski (UK/Philippines). Humans and Nature, Winner

“Disturbing Shadow” by Sebastien Blomme (France). Other Animals, Winner

“Golden Eye” by Luca Lorenz (Germany). Birds, Winner

“Brace!” by D'Artagnan Sprengel (New Zealand). Youth, Winner

“Black lava beach” by Baard Næss (Norway). Landscapes, Winner

“Cross to bear” by Paul Goldstein (United Kingdom). Black and White, Winner

“Colorful seagull” by Mathijs Frenken (The Netherlands). Nature of “De Lage Landen,” Winner

“Amino acids mimicking nature” by Dirk Vermaire (The Netherlands). Nature Art, Winner

“Glenmalure Waterfall” by Ciaran Willmore (Ireland). Landscapes, Runner-Up

“Another perspective” by Oscar Diez Martinez (Spain). Animal Portraits, Runner-Up

“Old and wise surrounded by treefield and melting snow” by Jarno Artika (Finland). Plants and Fungi, Winner

“Milky Way” by Ismael Domínguez (Spain). Youth, Runner-Up

“March of the Mussels” by Theo Bosboom (The Netherlands). Other Animals, Runner-Up

“The Path to Bath” by Lakshitha Karunarathna (Sri Lanka). Mammals, Runner-Up

“A Dangerous Addiction” by Lakshitha Karunarathna (Sri Lanka). Humans and Nature, Runner-Up

“Observed” by Luca Lorenz (Germany). Black and White, Runner-Up

“Love in the Deep” by Luca Luigi Mario Ghezzi (Italy). Underwater, Runner-Up

“Shorebird Hunt” by Nick Dunlop (USA). Birds, Runner-Up

“Sanderling Siesta” by Mathijs Frenken (The Netherlands). Nature of “De Lage Landen,” Runner-Up

“Invisible killers – The impact of light and glass on migratory birds” by Hector Cordero (Spain). The Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award
A volunteer is holding a bunch of dead migratory birds after hitting the glass in buildings of downtown Manhattan, New York, USA

“Invisible killers – The impact of light and glass on migratory birds” by Hector Cordero (Spain). The Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award
Two migratory bird species (Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush) were found dead together after a collision with a building in downtown Manhattan, New York, USA.

“Stuck squirrel” by Milko Marchetti. Overall Winners & Mammals Winner.
“The photo was taken on April 23, 2022, in the “Podere Pantaleone” park in Bagnacavallo, Ravenna, Italy. It is a park open to the public and schools, but from October to March, it is closed to visitors. I am allowed (in exchange for photographs for educational and promotional purposes) to use a fixed photographic hide to photograph passerines, woodpeckers, hawks, and even 3-4 squirrels that come to visit the photographic set consisting of a small lake and the surrounding vegetation. Generally, in Italy, especially in the area where I live, in the Po Delta Regional Park, it is very difficult to see and photograph squirrels (they are very rare), but here in the park, they are quite confident. A few meters from the hide, an old cut tree has a hole (an old woodpecker's nest), and here, the squirrels (two years ago, there were 4 specimens) sometimes come out of curiosity to check out the old hollow tree. I have taken several photos of squirrels in many situations, but the shot I chose to participate in the Nikon Comedy Wildlife immediately struck me for the strange position assumed by the squirrel that seems to be stuck halfway in the hole in the tree, but in reality it is the moment in which it is detaching the support on its hind legs and enters the hole. This photo had an effect on me and made me smile a lot in that moment that I clicked the button, and during my evenings of slideshows and nature videos that I often hold at photography clubs and theaters, the audience always explodes in energetic laughter when I show this photo. I knew I had to enter it into the competition.”

“Mantis Flamenca” by Jose Miguel Gallego Molina. Insect Winner.
“On my way back from my photo walk in a swamp near my town (Pantano el Sitjar), I suddenly stopped my car on the road when I saw someone ordering me to stop. This was when I saw my friend the Flemish Mantis for the first time. You can imagine the faces of the other cars passing by, seeing a car with the indicators on and the door open, stopped on the roadside and a madman lying on the ground with his camera in his hand.”

“Shake ruffle rattle and roll” by Tapani Linnanmäki. People's Choice Winner.
“In the picture, a white-tailed eagle is ruffling its feathers. The picture was taken with the Nikon Z9's autocapture feature. The camera is placed on top of the sea ice on top of a bag of nuts at the level of the ice. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this picture. There were more than ten funny poses and expressions in the photo series.”

“Awkward smiley frog” by Kingston Tam. Nikon Young Photographer Winner (25 and Under).
“I’ve always been interested in photography since I was about 10. And I started out just taking snapshots of little things like flowers and pretty skies on my cousin’s point-and-shoot, just like any other 10-year-old would. When I was about 16, I got super interested in star trail photography and started doing it on the Nikon p900 since it has a star trail mode for dummies. Slowly, it evolved to proper wide-angle landscape and astrophotography (Milky Way and deep sky), and that’s when I invested in a bit of gear and really dived into learning about the technical and creative side of photography, trying to do better every time I go out shooting. I also decided to pick up photography for my high school art class and dabbled in some street photography. In 2022 I moved to Australia from Hong Kong to study wildlife science and my friends got me into ‘herping’ (looking for reptiles and amphibians in the wild) and through that, I met a bunch of amazing photographers who specialise in taking photos of these critters and I started doing it as well. And that’s how I ended up photographing critters. My goal for my images is to bring attention to our scaly or moist friends, showing that not only fluffy animals can be cute and beautiful. Ultimately, I wish my work could bring more conservation awareness to these amazing reptiles and amphibians, and that’s been my motivation to keep doing what I’m doing.”

“Unexpected role swap” by Przemyslaw Jakubczyk. Aquatic Animals Winner.
“Every annoyed and overtired fish needs to de-stress by hunting for a bald eagle.”

“Whiskered Tern crash on landing” by Damyan Petkov. Bird Winner.
“A whiskered tern head hit the rock when try to land.”

“Frog in a balloon” by Eberhard Ehmke. Reptile Winner.
“During a photo shoot at the pond I discovered this frog with its head in a bubble. This resembles a tree bell.”

“Smooching owlets” by Sarthak Ranganadhan. Nikon Junior (16 and Under) Winner.
“Our parents always find a way to embarrass us, I guess that's also true in the case of spotted owlets. It was truly a funny sight to see two owlets trying to get some privacy as their little offspring stood next to them with a grin shut eyes.”

“The Rock Star” by Sanjay Patil. Highly Commended.
“Fan-throated lizards are found only in the Indian subcontinent, where they have evolved under the influence of changing climates. These lizards are colorful and belong to the category of reptiles. Female Lizards do not display fan as they do not have. Male lizards inflates its attractive neck pouch to attract the female in hot summer season. Here is the female lizard standing upright to escape the summer heat.”

“You're not my mother” by Randy Herman. Highly Commended.
“This female Red-bellied Woodpecker had been investigating this Screech Owl nest for a couple of days; perhaps it was her nest last year? This little owlet was definitely startled, and didn't seem to know what to make of this intruder. The woodpecker moved on, and the owlet fledged with its two siblings about an hour late.”

“Alright Mate Back off- this is my bird” by Andy Rouse. Highly Commended.
“This image was taken in South Georgia, it really does show a male king penguin trying to make a move on a female who has already paired up with her male. The body position and wing posture make the message clear—”back off!””

“I'm too sexy for my love” by Artur Stankiewicz. Highly Commended.
“One of the ‘lazy' mornings we have decided to stop by the pool with hippos while in Mana Pools NP. My idea was to try and catch fighting hippos, yet, they all were quite peaceful. I have positioned on the bank, safely from the potential charge and waited. Some of them raised their heads in curiosity or when proximity to the other individuals was too close. Then I got this idea to catch the portrait with water plants decorating he head, It looked like the guy just got our of the hairdresser with a big smile on his face.”

“I'll tell you a secret” by Jan Piecha. Highly Commended.
” A tiny raccoon is telling a secret to its mum while whispering in her ear.”

“Hide and seek” by Leslie McLeod. Highly Commended.
“We were on safari in Kenya and happened upon this beautiful female who was looking for a mate. A group of topi were also keeping a pretty close eye her as she left messages for a potential partner on various trees. This shot makes me think that the cheetah is just about to shout out, “ready or not, here I come!””

“Are you kidding” by Marti Phillips. Highly Commended.
“Two Cape Fur seals having a laugh.”

“Mafia Boss” by Takashi Kubo. Highly Commended.
“It looked like he was sucking a cigar, and he looked like a mafia boss.”

“Gang of four” by Ralph Robinson. Highly Commended.
“On the penguin highway, these rockhoppers are moving into town, and this town ain't big enough for all of them! I set up my camera a good distance from this ridge, where rockhopper penguins were returning from feeding in the southern Atlantic ocean in the Falkland Islands. The long lens pulled them into the frame without disturbing their return to nests on the hill. I love photographing penguins after they've been in the water as they are cleaner! These birds look like they are ready to kick some penguin ass!”

“The Contemplative Chimpanzee” by Arvind Mohandas. Highly Commended.
“Shot in the jungles of Uganda, following a group of around 50 chimpanzees. This one was obviously comtemplating an important issue, on a day of realization and reaffirmation of how close chimpanzees are to humans!”