Winter in the floodplain forest by Dieter Damschen.
A dreamy winter scene has earnedDieter Damschenthe title ofGDT Nature Photographer of the Year.
The competition is run by the Germany Society for Nature Photographers to highlight the talent of its members.
“Winter in the floodplain forest” by Dieter Damschen. Overall Winner and Second place, Special Category: Everything in flux – Germany’s River landscapes.“The inundated trees in the floodplain hardwood forest of the Mittel Elbe during a winter flood.”
This year, 481 members from 13 countries entered just under 8,000 images.
Scroll down to see some of our favorite winners and finalists from the 2024 contest.
They just might inspire you to get out and spend more time in nature.
“Bubble netting” by Scott Portelli. First place, Mammals.” Humpback whales spend the summer months in their Antarctic feeding grounds hunting energy-rich krill to build up sufficient blubber reserves for the long migration to their winter breeding grounds in the tropics. Using a technique known as bubble netting, several whales encircle a swarm of krill, crowd the swarm further by releasing a curtain of air bubbles, and then lurch in to feed effortlessly.”
Here are the winners of the 2024 GDT Nature Photographer of the Year contest.
Bubble netting by Scott Portelli.
First place, Mammals.
“Tasting the air” by Kai Kolodziej. Second place, Other Animals.” The diamondback rattlesnake uses its tongue to detect odors. My goal was to make this behavior visible.”
Tasting the air by Kai Kolodziej.
Second place, Other Animals.
The diamondback rattlesnake uses its tongue to detect odors.
“Thread-winged” by Dr. Gerald Haas. First place, Other Animals.“Thread-winged antlion in camp at night, Namibia.”
My goal was to make this behavior visible.
Thread-winged by Dr. Gerald Haas.
First place, Other Animals.Thread-winged antlion in camp at night, Namibia.
“Isar floodplain in morning fog” by Andreas Volz. Second place, Special Category: Everything in flux – Germany’s River landscapes.“The floodplain of Pupplinger Au is an invaluable and species-rich nature reserve. In this region, the streambed of the Isar is largely unregulated.”
Isar floodplain in morning fog by Andreas Volz.
In this region, the streambed of the Isar is largely unregulated.
Scenes from a marriage by Silke Huttche.
“Scenes from a marriage” by Silke Hüttche. Special category winner.
Eyes shut and waiting for spring by Flurin Leugger.
The contest is open to members of the German Society for Nature Photographers.
Arrowhead by Heike Odermatt.
“Eyes shut and waiting for spring” by Flurin Leugger. Second place, Mammals.“Alpine ibex are perfectly adapted to the inhospitable conditions at high elevations and can even survive severe winter storms.”
First place, Plants and Mushrooms.The small river Groote Aa flows past the outskirts of my village.
In the summer, this is the perfect habitat for arrowhead.
Flag tree by Marte Engelbrecht.
“Arrowhead” by Heike Odermatt. First place, Plants and Mushrooms.“The small river Groote Aa flows past the outskirts of my village. In the summer, this is the perfect habitat for arrowhead.”
Exposure with intentional camera movement (ICM).
Predator and prey by Jan Sohler.
Jury Prize.An eider drake tries in vain to snatch a mussel in Kieler Forde.
“Flag tree” by Marte Engelbrecht. First place, Atelier Nature.“A tree shaped by the wind in the grey dunes of the German barrier island Baltrum. Exposure with intentional camera movement (ICM).”
Surfing the wave by Levi Fitze.
First place, Birds.Gentoo penguin, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands.
Gentoos are the fastest swimmers among penguins and agile enough to surf breaking waves.
“Predator and prey” by Jan Sohler. Jury Prize.“An eider drake tries in vain to snatch a mussel in Kieler Förde.”
Birches in autumn by Felix Wesch.
Morning roll call by Jens Kahlert.
Third place, Birds.Black skimmers (Rynchops niger) on the east coast of Florida.
“Surfing the wave” by Levi Fitze. First place, Birds.“Gentoo penguin, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands. Gentoos are the fastest swimmers among penguins and agile enough to surf breaking waves.”
481 members from 13 countries entered just under 8,000 images into this year’s competition.
Frosty morning at Istein Cataracts on the Rhine by Karl Heinz Scheidtmann.
Third place, Special Category: Everything in flux Germanys River landscapes.
“Birches in autumn” by Felix Wesch. First place, Landscapes.“A section of one of my favorite woods in Wahner Heath on a rare mornings in autumn with both fog and sunshine.”
The Rhine flows over a limestone formation at Istein Cataracts.
Severe frost and soft morning light create a mystical scene.
Godafoss by Britta Strack.
“Morning roll call” by Jens Kählert. Third place, Birds.“Black skimmers (Rynchops niger) on the east coast of Florida.”
Fifth place, Landscapes.Godafoss is a waterfall in northern Iceland.
According to legend, it is known as the waterfall of the gods'.
Frosty bell(e) by Sigi Zang.
“Frosty morning at Istein Cataracts on the Rhine” by Karl Heinz Scheidtmann. Third place, Special Category: Everything in flux – Germany’s River landscapes.” The Rhine flows over a limestone formation at Istein Cataracts. Severe frost and soft morning light create a mystical scene.”
Second place, Plants and Mushrooms.Pasque flower on a frosty morning.
In the eye of the cheetah by Monika Morlak.
Eighth place, Mammals.But cheetahs don’t kill zebras!'
“Godafoss” by Britta Strack. Fifth place, Landscapes.“Godafoss is a waterfall in northern Iceland. According to legend, it is known as the ‘waterfall of the gods'.”
proclaimed our astounded guide in Madikwe, South Africa.
But this cheetah with three adolescents in tow managed to do just that.
Yellow sac spider by Christian Jakimowitsch.
“Frosty bell(e)” by Sigi Zang. Second place, Plants and Mushrooms.“Pasque flower on a frosty morning.”
Ninth place, Other Animals.A male yellow sac spider in its web.
Marble by Florian Smit.
Second place, Landscapes.This photograph was taken in Marble Castle, Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park, Norway.
“In the eye of the cheetah” by Monika Morlak. Eighth place, Mammals.“‘But cheetahs don’t kill zebras!' proclaimed our astounded guide in Madikwe, South Africa. But this cheetah with three adolescents in tow managed to do just that.”
The scene was illuminated with flashes from several perspectives.
Aerobatics in morning light by Christian Brinkmann.
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“Yellow sac spider” by Christian Jakimowitsch. Ninth place, Other Animals.“A male yellow sac spider in its web.”
“Marble” by Florian Smit. Second place, Landscapes.“This photograph was taken in Marble Castle, Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park, Norway. The scene was illuminated with flashes from several perspectives.”
“Aerobatics in morning light” by Christian Brinkmann. Second place, Atelier Nature.“In the warm glow of the morning sun in the Wadden Sea, a group of wagtails chases through the air; I captured two at just the right angle—a goosebump moment!”
