The winners and runners up of the 2019 Nature Photographer Of The Year have recently been announced, and as always, the standards are incredibly high. The presentation of the award at the Nature Talks Photo Festival in the Netherlands marked the end of a competition at which over 14,000 images were submitted by photographers from 73 different countries.
Entries are divided into 11 categories including Birds, Mammals, Plants and mushrooms, Landscapes, Underwater and Man and Nature. Category winners are then pitted against each other to decide the Grand Prize: the prestigious title of Nature Photographer Of The Year.
This year's overall winner was Hungary's Csaba Daróczi, who scooped the prize with a beautifully-timed black and white capture of two rabbits leaping playfully through the air. Nature Talks explained that the jury chose this image because of the atmosphere, the timing, the beautiful light and the perfect sharpness and composition. “This photo proves once again that you don't have to put rare or exotic animals in front of the lens to make a perfect nature photo. If you have a good idea and a vision of nature photography, you can also make a great album close to home," said Keith Wilson, chairman of the jury. "It is also remarkable that it is a black and white photo, but it is precisely because of this that the energy pops out of the photo."
The photographer himself explained that while he is not particularly passionate about rabbits, he found their lively, leaping behavior to be well worthy of capturing. “This photo was taken in Kiskunsag, near the village of Bócsa in Hungary where I live,” he explained. “I had discovered a jump (colony) with rabbits there and I started photographing. Through my binoculars I regularly saw the rabbits jump up against each other, for example when they are fighting for food. I found this behavior very fascinating to see and I immediately knew I wanted to take a picture of it.”
Scroll down below to see a comprehensive list of the best winners and runners up of this year's competition, and let us know which ones you liked best in the comments below!
#1 Overall Winner And Black And White Category Winner: 'Jump' By Csaba Daroczi (Hungary)
Image credits: Csaba Daroczi
#2 Category Youth Winner: 'Symphony N°5' By Giacomo Redaelli (It)
Image credits: Giacomo Redaelli
#3 Category Birds Winner: 'Greeting The Sun' By Peter Cech (Cz)
Image credits: Peter Cech
#4 Category Mammals Winner: 'Under The Snow…' By Stefano Quirini (It)
Image credits: Stefano Quirini
#5 Category Mammals Highly Commended: 'Wolf Attack' By Martin Steenhaut (Be)
Image credits: Martin Steenhaut
#6 Category Mammals Highly Commended: 'Colorful Night' By Mohammad Murad (Kw)
Image credits: Mohammad Murad
#7 Category Mammals Highly Commended: 'Deer On The Crest' By François Nowicki (Fr)
Image credits: François Nowicki
#8 Category Man And Nature Winner: 'Lonely' By Luke Massey (Es)
Image credits: Luke Massey
#9 Category Birds Highly Commended: 'Fjord Fight' By Bernt Østhus (No)
Image credits: Bernt Østhus
#10 Category Other Animals Highly Commended: 'Hunt In Sun' By Wei Fu (Th)
Image credits: Wei Fu
#11 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#12 Category Plants And Fungi Winner: 'The Fallen Idol III' By David Frutos Egea (Es)
Image credits: David Frutos Egea
#13 Category Underwater Highly Commended: 'Duck Photo Bomb' By Paul Colley (UK)
Image credits: Paul Colley
#14 Category Man And Nature Highly Commended: 'Help Us' By Tom Svensson (Se)
Image credits: Tom Svensson
#15 Category Youth Highly Commended:'poplar Stars' By Carlos Perez Naval (Es)
Image credits: Carlos Perez Naval
#16 Category Other Animals Winner: 'Golden Rain' By Norbert Kaszás (Hu)
Image credits: Norbert Kaszás
#17 Category Man And Nature Runner-Up: 'White Rhino Trophies' By Britta Jaschinski (UK)
Image credits: Britta Jaschinski
#18 Category Man And Nature Highly Commended:'cub And Crab' By Noel Guevara (Ph)
Image credits: Noel Guevara
#19 Category Youth Highly Commended: 'Little Curious Learner' By John Peter Wewin Pandian (In)
Image credits: John Peter Wewin Pandian
#20 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#21 Category Birds Runner-Up: 'Golden Eagle Landing' By Audun Rikardsen (No)
Image credits: Audun Rikardsen
#22 Category Birds Highly Commended: 'La Dama Blanca' By Stanislao Basileo (It)
Image credits: Stanislao Basileo
#23 Category Mammals Highly Commended: 'Climbing To The Sweet' By José Juan Hernández (Es)
Image credits: José Juan Hernández
#24 Category Other Animals Highly Commended: 'Hunting Ants' By Petr Bambousek (Cz)
Image credits: Petr Bambousek
#25 Category Plants And Fungi Runner-Up: ' In The Forest Kingdom' By Juan Jesús González Ahumada (Es)
Image credits: Juan Jesús González Ahumada
#26 Category Landscape Runner-Up: 'Amoebe' By Luis Manuel Vilariño Lopez (Es)
Image credits: Luis Manuel Vilariño Lopez
#27 Category Underwater Winner: ' Up In The Air' By Alexey Zozulya (Ru)
Image credits: Alexey Zozulya
#28 Category Underwater Runner-Up: 'Dancing In The Light' By Domenico Tripodi (It)
Image credits: Domenico Tripodi
#29 Category Nature Highly Commended: 'Turned Waterwaves' By Jeroen Scheffers (Nl)
Image credits: Jeroen Scheffers
#30 Category Nature Highly Commended: 'Mid Winter Colours' By Staffan Widstrand ( Se)
Image credits: Staffan Widstrand
#31 Category Man And Nature Highly Commended:' Sunsets' By Pedro Narra (Pt)
Image credits: Pedro Narra
#32 Category Black And White Runner-Up: 'Exchange Wild' By Alain Ernoult (Fr)
Image credits: Alain Ernoult
#33 Category Black And White Highly Commended: 'Brothers' By Luke Massey (Es)
Image credits: Luke Massey
#34 Category Birds Runner-Up: 'Disagreement' By Francis De Andrés De Miguel (Es)
Image credits: Francis De Andrés De Miguel
#35 Category Birds Highly Commended: ' In A Dream' By Krzysztof Wojciechowski (Pl)
Image credits: Krzysztof Wojciechowski
#36 Category Mammals Runner-Up: 'Tapir Diver' By Marcio Esteves Cabral (Br)
Image credits: Marcio Esteves Cabral
#37 Category Other Animals Runner-Up: 'Gorgon' By Alena Shevtsova (Ru)
Image credits: Alena Shevtsova
#38 Category Other Animals Highly Commended: 'Fly' By Radomir Jakubowski (De)
Image credits: Radomir Jakubowski
#39 Category Plants And Fungi Highly Commended: 'Frozen Spring' By Csaba Daroczi (Hu)
Image credits: Csaba Daroczi
#40 Category Plants And Fungi Highly Commended: 'Survivor III' By David Frutos Egea (Es)
Image credits: David Frutos Egea
#41 Category Landscape Winner: 'A Stormy Day' By Ales Krivec (Si)
Image credits: Ales Krivec
#42 Category Landscape Highly Commended: ' Under Aurora Bridge' By Yevhen Samuchenko (Ua)
Image credits: Yevhen Samuchenko
#43 Category Landscape Highly Commended: 'Flower Power' By Brandon Yoshizawa (Us)
Image credits: Brandon Yoshizawa
#44 Category Nature Art Winner: 'Happiness Grows In Trees' By Simone Baumeister (De)
Image credits: Simone Baumeister
#45 Category Nature Runner-Up: 'Quassia Muse' By Bart Siebelink (Nl)
Image credits: Bart Siebelink
#46 Category Nature Highly Commended: 'Wings' By Bence Mate (Hu)
Image credits: Bence Mate
#47 Category Black And White Highly Commended: 'Reservoir_dogs' By Mario Suárez (Es)
Image credits: Mario Suárez
#48 Category Black And White Highly Commended: 'Passing Through' By Shane Kalyn (Ca)
Image credits: Shane Kalyn
#49 Category Landscapes Of The Lage Landen Winner: 'Galloways Under The Bridge' By Karin De Jonge (Nl)
Image credits: Karin de Jonge
#50 Category Landscapes Of The Lage Landen Highly Commended: 'Reflections' By Erik Steen Redeker (Be)
Image credits: Erik Steen Redeker
#51 Category Landscapes Of The Lage Landen Highly Commended: 'Thunderstorm At Schier' By Theo Bosboom (Nl)
Image credits: Theo Bosboom
#52 Category Youth Runner-Up: 'A Close Meeting Above The Treeline' By Tobias Gjerde (No)
Image credits: Tobias Gjerde
#53 Category Youth Highly Commended: 'Living On The Edge' By Carlos Perez Naval (Es)
Image credits: Carlos Perez Naval
#54 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#55 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#56 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#57 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#58 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#59 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#60 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#61 Category Plants And Fungi Highly Commended: 'Leverbloempjes' By Piet Haaksma (Nl)
Image credits: Piet Haaksma
#62 Category Underwater Highly Commended: ' Close Inspection' By Wade Hughes (Au)
Image credits: Wade Hughes
#63 Category Underwater Highly Commended: 'Jewel Fairy Basslet' By Gabriel Barathieu (Fr)
Image credits: Gabriel Barathieu
#64 Category Landscapes Of The Lage Landen Runner-Up: 'Snake' By Sam Mannaerts (Be)
Image credits: Sam Mannaerts
#65 Category Landscapes Of The Lage Landen Highly Commended: 'Erik Steen Redeker' By Michel Lucas (Nl)
Image credits: Michel Lucas
#66 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#67 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
#68 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: 'Cuejdel My Lake' By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)
Image credits: Gheorghe Popa
by Ilona Baliūnaitė via Bored Panda - Source
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