17 Of The Most Impressive Images From The 2024 Nature “inFocus” Photography Contest

The winners of the 2024 Nature inFocus Photography competition were announced on February 12th, following a record-breaking 14,180 entries from 42 countries. This annual competition honors photographers who capture rare moments in nature and highlight important conservation issues.

Nature InFocus, founded in 2014 by Rohit and Kalyan Varma in Bangalore, has grown into a platform that brings together wildlife photographers, filmmakers, conservationists, and nature lovers. The organization is dedicated to sharing stories that celebrate nature and raise awareness about its preservation.

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17 PHOTOS

#1 Winner In Young Photographer: "Through The Looking Leaf" By Salahuddin Ahmed

Location: Sundarganj, Bangladesh

"A damselfly peers through a hole in a vibrant green leaf, offering a glimpse into its delicate world. The contrast between the insect’s form and the leaf’s texture highlights the small yet intricate wonders hidden in the undergrowth."

This year, the Photographer of the Year Portfolio award went to Supun Dilshan for Trapped Between Worlds, a captivating visual story that highlights the struggles of Sri Lankan elephants as they face increasing challenges in landscapes altered by human development.

Anish Andheria, President of the Wildlife Conservation Trust, remarked, "It’s heartbreaking to see development at loggerheads with the places these wild animals call home. Their habitat is already shrinking at an alarming rate due to multiple anthropogenic factors. But with the rise of linear infrastructure, especially in regions like India and Sri Lanka, we’re only going to see more of these come up. This is one of the greatest threats to wildlife today."

#2 Special Mention In Animal Behavior: "The Final Act" By Anirudh Laxmipathy

Location: Kolsa, Tadoba

"Kuwani, the legendary tigress of Kolsa, still reigns at 14. A wild boar strays too close, unaware of the danger nearby. In a flash, she launches forward, muscles tensed, claws unsheathed. The jungle falls silent as she makes her move."

#3 Runner-Up In Animal Portraits: "On Thin Ice" By Philippe Ricordel

Location: Hokkaido, Japan

"In the icy waters of Japan’s Nemuro Strait, a Steller’s sea eagle teeters on a drifting ice floe, wings spread wide to steady itself. A sudden wave nearly topples the bird, highlighting the risks of winter life at sea. If submerged, the weight of wet feathers could make escape nearly impossible, turning a simple misstep into real danger."

The photography contest is open to both adults and young photographers, with winners selected in categories such as Animal Portraits, Animal Behavior, Conservation Photography, Creative Nature Photography, Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat, and Photographer of the Year – Portfolio. The "Young Photographer" award is specifically for participants aged 17 and under, celebrating emerging and passionate young talent.

According to the organizers, this year's winners were selected by a 6-member jury, which included wildlife photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee, President of the Wildlife Conservation Trust Anish Andheria, filmmaker and TV presenter Malaika Vaz, wildlife biologist Nandini Velho, and wildlife photographer Shivang Mehta. The jury and the awards were curated by Kalyan Varma, co-founder of Nature inFocus.

#4 Special Mention In Animal Behavior: "Time To Run" By Merche Llobera

Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico

"Mobulas scatter in all directions as a killer whale cuts through their ranks, looking for its next meal. In the chaos, the photographer becomes part of the frenzy, feeling the brush of fins as the rays rush past."

#5 Special Mention In Young Photographer: "Escaping The Smoke" By Seyan Hirani

Location: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

"Midday in the savanna, a leopardess named Kazuri rested in the shade before climbing a hill to scan for prey. As she moved toward a tree, a perfectly positioned frame captured her against a smoky backdrop, creating a striking and dramatic scene."

Pictolic spoke with Saloni Sawant, Content Curator at Nature inFocus, to learn more about this year’s competition. She explained that the judging process for the Nature inFocus Photography Awards is a thorough, three-month journey with several rounds.

"It begins with the Nature inFocus team reviewing all submitted images, where nearly 50% are filtered out due to technical inconsistencies or failure to meet the competition’s specifications.

The shortlisted images then move to the next stage, where the jury conducts two independent rounds of evaluation, reviewing each image before selecting the top 40–50 entries per category.

The final three rounds are the most intensive—jury members and curators come together to discuss every image in detail. Each juror champions their favorite, presenting arguments for why it deserves recognition. These deliberations ultimately determine the winning images."

#6 Runner-Up In Animal Portraits: "Crowned By Nature" By Prashanthan Yogendranathan

Location: Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka

"In the still waters of Wilpattu National Park, a water buffalo rises from its swim, crowned with a garland of floating weeds. This fleeting adornment adds an unexpected touch of elegance to the buffalo’s rugged presence."

#7 Winner In Animal Behavior: "Sharks In School" By Angela Albi And August Paula

Location: Athuruga, Maldives

"A school of hardyhead silversides moves in perfect sync, twisting and turning to escape a squad of blacktip reef sharks. The fish react in waves, each shift an attempt to stay just out of reach. But the sharks are relentless, weaving through the silvery mass, waiting for a mistake to strike."

According to Sawant, one of the most remarkable aspects of the 2024 competition has been the sheer diversity of images submitted. "Even after a decade of running this contest, we continue to be amazed by fresh perspectives, innovative storytelling, and the evolving ways people document nature. This year, we've seen a surge in photographers using accessible technology, such as mobile phones, to capture stunning imagery. In fact, the winning image in our Young Photographer category was taken on an iPhone!"

#8 Special Mention In Animal Portraits: "Symmetry" By Lukasz Gwizdziel

Location: Northern Poland

"For years, a quiet pool has been the setting for countless bird encounters. One autumn, a photographer dedicated weeks to observing cranes, approaching only under the cover of night to avoid disturbance. On a morning when the forecast promised perfection, the rising sun remained hidden, its light diffused by mist. The cranes, enveloped in this ethereal glow, stood in perfect harmony against the backdrop."

#9 Special Mention In Young Photographer: "Tangled Meal" By Tinnapat Netcharussaeng

Location: Koh Losin, Thailand

"A sea turtle glides through vibrant blue waters, its beak wrapped around a delicate jellyfish. The jellyfish’s long tentacles resemble strands of spaghetti, adding to the visual drama of this underwater encounter—an age-old dance between predator and prey."

As wildlife conservation becomes an increasingly urgent issue, photography has proven to be a powerful tool in raising awareness. We asked about the impact the Nature inFocus Photography Awards hopes to make in inspiring action for wildlife conservation.

"For conservation to be effective, it needs a strong emotional connection; people must feel before they act. Photography has the power to bridge that gap. The images showcased in the competition are not just visually striking; they tell urgent stories about our natural world, its beauty, and its fragility. When people see powerful imagery, whether it’s of breathtaking landscapes, rare species, or the devastating consequences of environmental destruction, it compels them to care, engage, and, hopefully, take action."

#10 Runner-Up Of Ramki Sreenivasan Conservation Photography Award: "An Unlikely Refuge" By Chaitanya Rawat

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

"A leopard peers from behind a window frame in an abandoned Jaipur building. While a testament to its adaptability, this scene also underscores the loss of natural habitats. As forests shrink, leopards venture into human settlements, increasing the risk of conflict between humans and wildlife."

#11 Special Mention In Animal Behavior: "Drifting Universe" By Massimo Giorgetta

Location: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

#12 Special Mention In Animal Portraits: "Beneath The Surface" By Amith Kiran Menezes

Location: Mangalore, Karnataka

"Hidden in the soil, a tiger beetle larva lay in wait, its burrow both shelter and hunting ground. Anchored by tiny hooks on its back, it remained motionless until the perfect moment. Then, in a flash, it struck, pulling its unsuspecting prey underground."

#13 Special Mention In Young Photographer: "Split Worlds" By Tinnapat Netcharussaeng

Location: Raja Ampat Regency, Indonesia

"Two blacktip reef sharks cruise through the shallow waters of the Raja Ampat Archipelago. Above them, the jagged islands rise in the distance, completing a striking scene that captures both the land and the life beneath the surface."

#14 Runner-Up In Animal Behavior: "Midnight Predators" By Tibor Litauszki

Location: Germany

"As darkness settles over the water, alpine newts begin their silent hunt. They drift between clusters of frog eggs, each one angling for a meal before the night ends. Competing with one another, they move deliberately, their sleek forms illuminated by a faint glow, revealing the quiet but ruthless nature of their feast."

#15 Special Mention In Animal Portraits: "Deadly Grasp" By Roman Willi

Location: Lucerne, Switzerland

"A wasp spider holds its struggling prey, its intricate web a trap woven with precision. Captured with a custom-built CCTV macro lens, this image offers an intimate, wide-angle view of a hunter at work."

#16 Special Mention In Wildscape & Animals In Their Habitat: "The Watchful Hunter" By Prashanthan Yogendranathan

Location: Kuman National Park, Sri Lanka

"A leopard’s gaze cuts through the dappled light of Kumana National Park. Perfectly concealed against the rough bark of a tree, it waits, watching quietly before vanishing into the forest once again."

#17 Special Mention In Animal Behavior: "Desert Duel" By Pradyut Kumar Das

Location: Tal Chhapar, Rajasthan

"In the arid expanse of Rajasthan, two spiny-tailed lizards engage in a battle of strength and strategy."