” More than 22,000 entries were submitted from over 150 countries, with professional photographers and amateur photo enthusiasts across the globe participating. Photographs were submitted in three categories: people, places and nature. The competition was judged on creativity and photographic quality by a panel of experts comprised of natural history photographer Christian Ziegler and documentary photographers Gerd Ludwig and Debbie Fleming Caffery . ”
Photo and caption by Ulrich Lambert Stilt fishing is a typical fishing technique only seen in Sri Lanka. The fishermen sit on a cross bar called a petta tied to a vertical pole planted into the coral reef. This long exposure shot shows how unstable their position is.Midigama, Sri Lanka
Photo and caption by Fransisca Harlijanto “I was surrounded by thousands of fish that moved in synchrony because of the predation that was happening. It was an incredible experience.”Komodo, Indonesia
Photo and caption by Nenad Saljic The Matterhorn 4478 m at full moon. Zermatt, Switzerland
Photo and caption by Adam Coish Chipping ice off an iceberg is a common way for the Inuit community to retrieve fresh drinking water while on the land. During a weekend long hunting trip, we came upon this majestic iceberg frozen in place. It was a perfect opportunity to grab enough ice and drinking water for the remainder of the trip.Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
Photo and caption by Sanjeev Bhor Everyday in mara starts with something new and different and day ends with memorable experiences with spectacular photographs. I was very lucky of sighting and photographing Malaika the name of female Cheetah and her cub. she is well known for its habit to jump on vehicles. She learned that from her mother Kike, and Kike from her mother Amber. Like her mother she is teaching lessons to her cub. Teaching lessons means addition of another moment for tourist. This is one of the tender moment between Malaika and her cub. I was very lucky to capture that moment.Masai mara National Reserve, Kenya
Photo and caption by Ashley Vincent The subject’s name is Busaba, a well cared for Indochinese Tigress whose home is at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Thailand. I had taken many portraits of Busaba previously and it was becoming more and more difficult to come up with an image that appeared any different to the others. Which is why I took to observing her more carefully during my visits in the hope of capturing something of a behavioural shot. The opportunity finally presented itself while watching Busaba enjoying her private pool then shaking herself dry. In all humility I have to say that Mother Nature smiled favourably on me that day!Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi, Thailand
Photo and caption by Eric Guth Glacial ice washes ashore after calving off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier on Iceland’s eastern coast. During the waning light of summer this image was created over the course of a 4 minute exposure while the photographer backlit the grounded glacial ice with a headlamp for 2 of those 4 minutes.Just east of Jökulsárlón lagoon. Along Iceland’s eastern coast.
Photo and caption by Micheal Eastman With his exceptional hearing a red fox has targeted a mouse hidden under 2 feet of crusted snow. Springing high in the air he breaks through the crusted spring snow with his nose and his body is completely vertical as he grabs the mouse under the snow.Squaw Creek, Park Country, Wyoming
[Via National Geographic ]