10 Mesmerising Nature Photos That Won The 2023 Nature inFocus Photography Awards (Part2)

The Nature inFocus Photography Awards saw a surge in captivating and contemplative natural environment photographs, thanks to the introduction of a fresh category. This new category, Photographer of the Year – Portfolio, encouraged photographers to present compelling narratives through a series of images capturing memorable animal moments.

In addition to this exciting category, this year’s awards expanded in other ways as well. The number of accolades grew, with three winners and approximately five jury selections revealed for each category. Check out some of the best photos that won this year in the gallery below.

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10 PHOTOS

#1 “Refuge In Sponge”, Jury Selection, Creative Nature Photography

A Black-spotted Porcupine Fish uses a Giant Barrel Sponge as a harbor away from the current. The swirling effect is created by spinning the camera while exposing and using strobe lights to freeze parts of the frame.

By Magnus Lundgren.

#2 “Cloaked In Lilac”, Jury Selection, Wildscape & Animals In Their Habitat

Yes, this is a pretty image with the tiger’s stripes standing out in the middle of the purple water hyacinth flowers. However, these invasive plants are notorious for displacing native plant species within water bodies while reducing oxygen levels. As seen in the image, even protected areas like national parks and tiger reserves are not immune to their impacts.

By Sanjay Nair.

#3 “Tranquillity”, Jury Selection, Wildscape & Animals In Their Habitat

If you ever decide to capture serenity in one frame, here it is! Whooper Swans need ample space and spend a lot of their time swimming and foraging for food. But don’t be fooled by the calmness that the image exuberates. These large birds are equally boisterous.

By Lakshitha Karunarathna.

#4 “Let It Snow”, Jury Selection, Wildscape & Animals In Their Habitat

The winter wonderland is vastly different from what the Sika Deer ideally prefers: forest areas with dense understories. Nevertheless, the image is striking for several reasons—the thick blanket of snow that turns everything it touches to white and a lone deer gently seated on what looks like soft pillowy snow.

By Philippe Ricordel.

#5 “A Croc’s World”, Jury Selection, Animal Portraits

This high-contrast, half-and-half image of an American Crocodile in an archipelago in southern Cuba captures the reptile in its element. Massimo spent days with a bask of crocodiles near a mangrove forest to study the currents, the light in the region, the water clarity, and for the perfect opportunity to shoot a close-up against the backdrop of a blazing sun.

By Massimo Giorgetta.

#6 “Where The Giants Roam”, Winner, Animal Portraits

Elephants are a common sight along the river and in the paddy fields of Sri Lanka’s north-central province. The farmers are happy to allow these gentle giants to enter their paddy fields after harvest. But they do everything possible to chase away the pachyderms during the crop season. This aerial shot of a massive tusker beautifully captures its larger shadow against the riverbank decorated with the footprints of his herd.

By Lalith Ekanayake.

#7 “Heart Of Pink”, Jury Selection, Creative Nature Photography

A bird’s eye view of a wetland shows a large colony of flamingos shaped almost like a heart as it charges back and forth in a tight-knit formation—a courtship dance known as marching. Alongside the busy flamboyance are quickly accumulating algal populations that rob aquatic life of precious oxygen.

By Raj Mohan T.

#8 “Ka-Pow!”, Jury Selection, Animal Behaviour

Here’s how it works in the world of the Grey-headed Swamphen. When breeding groups encounter an intruder in their territory, the first displays of threat include raising wings, bending down, and flapping tails. If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to be a bit more dramatic. The opponents fly at each other feet-first and peck their way to victory.

By Karthikeyan Ponnambalamoorthy.

#9 “Balam—the Endangered King Of The Mayan”, Winner, Photographer Of The Year – Portfolio

In Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the Maya jungle is undergoing massive deforestation, forcing its endangered apex predator, the Jaguar, to move into human settlements.

By Fernando Constantino Martinez Belmar.

#10 “Jailbreak”, Winner, Wildscape & Animals In Their Habitat

Barn Owls on window sills, inside abandoned buildings, chimneys or even in a mall! We have seen them all. The most widespread land bird species does not take its title lightly. But here, the bird seems to be seeking refuge in a rather unusual location. The camera trap image shows a Barn Owl flying into an abandoned Mumbai Police van. Well, if you are looking for a safe habitat!

By Kapil Sharma & Yogendra Satam.