The 2023 International Photography Awards Has Revealed The Winning Nature Images

The 2023 edition of the International Photography Awards (IPA) has once again revealed an awe-inspiring collection of nature photography that has captivated viewers worldwide. These remarkable winning images transport us to the enchanting realms of the natural world, vividly portraying the beauty, diversity, and raw power of nature.

From breathtaking landscapes to intimate wildlife portraits, the winners in the 'nature photography' category of IPA 2023 showcase unparalleled skill, creativity, and a profound appreciation for our planet's remarkable ecosystems. Join us in celebrating the extraordinary talent displayed by the IPA 2023 winners in the realm of nature photography.

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12 PHOTOS

#1 2nd Place In Nature/Aerial/Drone: "33 Days Among The Bears" By Martin Gregus

"As the pandemic raged during the summer of 2020 and 2021, Martin decided to brave the mosquitoes and turn his attention to documenting and exploring new Hudson Bay areas. Utilizing drones and custom-built equipment allowed Martin to get up close and personal with the bears all the while staying invisible, often capturing intimate moments and unique hunting behaviors. Observing the polar bears’ curiosity and compassion changed the lives of Martin and his team forever."

This year, the IPA competition received a huge number of entries - tens of thousands, in fact. Many of the photographs focused on the environment and changes coming from climate change but also showed the resilience and beauty of nature.

#2 2nd Place In Nature/Landscape: "A Perfect Cloud" By Francisco Negroni

"The Villarrica volcano is the most dangerous volcano in Chile and one of the most active in America. In the photograph, a beautiful lenticular cloud moves over the crater while it is illuminated by the light emitted by the volcano's lava."

#3 1st Place In Nature/Macro: "Pretty With Pink" By Benjamin Salb

"Getting bored of a black background, which is typical when shooting macro in the field in the dark, I secured a pink background card behind this damselfly for some extra POP. The 63-image focus stack of a wild, living subject is one of my favorites of 2023."

The IPA competition undergoes an official judging process spanning several weeks, led by our esteemed panel of judges who are experts in the field from around the globe. Each entry is meticulously rated on a scale from 10 to 100, with 10 being the lowest score. The scores are aggregated, and the winners are determined by the overall score derived from the cumulative votes of the jury.

#4 2nd Place In Nature/Sunrise /Sunset: "First Light" By Aaron Lynto

"My flash illuminates an otherwise dark shore break barrel just before the first light of the morning. Chasing surf before the sun rises; there's not many better ways to start the day!"

#5 2nd Place In Nature/Animals/Pets: "Heather Coo" By Wesley Kristopher

"I Photograph this fold of Highland cattle frequently but tend to stick to longer telephoto portrait shots. For this Photograph, I experimented with my ultra-wide lens to give a distorted, exaggerated look to the cow. She looked so grand among the heather with the light shining through the clouds and I hope this captures that moment well!"

To uphold an impartial and unbiased voting process, the identities of all photographers are kept confidential from the judging panel. IPA mandates that each judge assess the images based on specific criteria, including originality, creativity, execution excellence, overall impact, and relevance to the designated category. This thorough evaluation ensures a comprehensive and fair assessment of each submission, upholding the integrity of the competition.

#6 3rd Place In Nature/Wildlife: "An Annual Feast" By Rayhan Mundra

"Every year hundreds of thousands of sockeye salmon head upstream, to spawn their next generation. This annual migration provides a carnivorous feast for brown bears, who rely on the fish to survive hibernation as well as bringing nutrients from the open ocean inland to support the greater ecosystem. As commercial fishing continues to take a toll on returning populations it is important to preserve this keystone species in order to allow future generations to witness the spectacle of the Alaskan salmon run and preserve the Alaskan organisms whose existence relies on this annual feast."

#7 1st Place In Nature/Underwater: "The Dentist" By Takayuki Toriumi

"A few years ago, I came across a cod enjoying the shrimp's cleaning service on a southern Japanese island. I captured this delightful scene as if he were being examined by a shrimp doctor."

#8 1st Place In Nature/Underwater: "The Hidden World" By Alexej Sachov

"The photographs capture the ethereal play of sunlight in unexplored, untouched underwater caves. They reflect the grace of wild fish in their dance with sunrays, illustrating a vibrant, undiscovered world. The stunning beauty of these remote places underscores their vulnerability. Each image serves as a plea for awareness and action - to protect these fragile ecosystems from the reach of human influence. Through my work, I aspire to inspire, to create a powerful connection between viewers and our incredible, yet injured, planet."

#9 2nd Place In Nature/Trees: "Trees In Water" By Jinyi Han

"In the heart of the tranquil lake, a marvel of nature blossoms. An old, withered log, once thought devoid of life, becomes the birthplace of a young sapling. Its roots dig deep into the hardened bark, drawing sustenance from what was once barren. Each new leaf echoes resilience, symbolizing a harmonious dance between past, present, and future. The reflection in the water below mirrors its growing silhouette, a testament to life's indomitable spirit of perseverance and rebirth."

#10 Nature Photographer Of The Year: "Ice Fantasy" By Barbara And Maciej Noskowski

"We are absolutely fascinated by these beautiful patterns on the frozen lakes we discovered in February this year. They are like flowers, branches, stars, abstract compositions, minimalistic, fantastic! You can only see them from above. As we later found out, these are holes created as a result of vegetation inside the lake. These sprawling cracks and surrounding shapes are a quite rare sight."

#11 3rd Place In Nature/Aerial/Drone: "Veins Of The Earth" By Robert Bilos

"The rivers of Iceland run from the glaciers to the oceans, creating paths across the volcanic earth which look like the veins of the land when seen from the air. Along the way, they transport vital nutrients for the ecosystem in the form of sediment, which is responsible for the sometimes very unusual colors of the water, which sometimes looks like another planet. It is a true paradise for all the photography lovers. When you shoot from the air, sometimes can be a big challenge to create a photograph in windy conditions and for short periods of time. Photograph from Iceland rivers and highlands."

#12 1st Place In Nature/Aerial/Drone: "The Torn Earth" By Liu Junye

"Due to industrial pollution, mining industrial waste is discharged on the ground, resulting in strange patterns."