Untitled by Li Ping (China).
The 2022 Photo Contest saw the largest participation ever, with entries from 196 countries across six categories.
Two other photographers received special awards, as their images were singled out by Vitale and Peterson.
“Untitled” by Li Ping (China). Grand Prize Winner.“On either side of a highway, gullies formed by rainwater erosion span out like a tree in Tibet, an autonomous region in southwest China. To capture this image, photographer Li Ping slept alone in a roadside parking lot overnight before using a drone in the early morning hours to photograph this natural landscape.”
The well-framed photo gives a glimpse into the harsh realities of the natural world.
Peterson, instead, gave his prize to well-known photographerFlorian Ledoux.
Check out some of our favorite winners and finalists from the 2022 contest below.
“An Unforgiving kingdom” by Shafeeq Mulla (Zambia). Guest Judge Ami Vitale’s Choice.“A leopard known as Olimba carries the carcass of a female vervet monkey with its baby still hanging on for dear life.”
Enjoy the winners of The Nature Conservancy 2022 Photo Contest.
An Unforgiving kingdom by Shafeeq Mulla (Zambia).
Breastfeeding in town by Florian Ledoux (Norway).
“Breastfeeding in town” by Florian Ledoux (Norway). Celebrity Judge Coyote Peterson’s Choice.“A female polar bear breastfeeding her two cubs of the year in the harbor of the abandoned Russian settlement, Pyramiden. Often the bears here roam into the human infrastructure left behind with all sort of pollutants.”
Often the bears here roam into the human infrastructure left behind with all sort of pollutants.
Lizards and Windmills by Sandesh Kadur (India).
First Place, Climate.A vibrant Fan-throated Lizard (Sarada superba) stands guard over his territory.
“Lizards and Windmills” by Sandesh Kadur (India). First Place, Climate.A vibrant Fan-throated Lizard (Sarada superba) stands guard over his territory. This lizard was photographed in the Chalkewadi plateau in Satara district, which is the site of one of the largest wind farms in this region. Researchers believe that that windmills may affect predator behavior giving a chance for these tiny lizards to thrive in this rocky plateau.”
Braided River by Kristin Wright (USA).
First Place, Water.Brightly colored sediment paints the Icelandic landscape as at flows towards the ocean.
Over 100,000 photos from photographers in 196 countries were entered into the contest.
“Braided River” by Kristin Wright (USA). First Place, Water.“Brightly colored sediment paints the Icelandic landscape as at flows towards the ocean. The glacial river, Þjórsá, is the longest river in Iceland, originating at Hofsjökull glacier and meandering 230km to the Atlantic Ocean. The aerial perspective provided by a small airplane, reveals the bright and varied colored sediment tracing the river’s path towards the ocean.”
Giant in dust by Panos Laskarakis (Greece).
Second Place, Wildlife.The African dust around the supergiant is one of the best spectacles in wild Namibia!
Morani and Friend by Anup Shah (UK).
“Giant in dust” by Panos Laskarakis (Greece). Second Place, Wildlife.“The African dust around the supergiant is one of the best spectacles in wild Namibia!”
First Place, Wildlife.The sun breaks free of the horizon.
There is a hint of a faint breeze.
Otherwise, a pure stillness reigns.
“Morani and Friend” by Anup Shah (UK). First Place, Wildlife.“The sun breaks free of the horizon. There is a hint of a faint breeze. Otherwise, a pure stillness reigns. Then, a taut impala stares fixedly. Two moving objects. The lion on the right is distinctly older than its youthful companion. The old guy is one of the Four Musketeers that ruled Mara long time ago. Ruthlessly. And now, Morani has re-appeared out of nowhere.”
Then, a taut impala stares fixedly.
The lion on the right is distinctly older than its youthful companion.
The old guy is one of the Four Musketeers that ruled Mara long time ago.
“Making Paper”by Jassen Todorov (USA). Honorable Mention, Climate.“Wastewater ponds are necessary yet dangerous. The leaking or deliberate discharging of inadequately treated water has polluted freshwater and saltwater ecosystems and has caused disease and health problems in humans, fish, plants, and other wildlife. This aerial image was taken while I was flying my single-engine Piper Warrior plane.”
And now, Morani has re-appeared out of nowhere.
Making Paperby Jassen Todorov (USA).
Honorable Mention, Climate.Wastewater ponds are necessary yet dangerous.
“Difference” by Ivan Pedretti (Italy). Honorable Mention, Landscape.“Winter in Stokksnes in the beach with black sand and the majestic mountain called Vestrahorn, I like the difference in colors between the white mountains and the black dunes with the yellow grass.”
This aerial image was taken while I was flying my single-engine Piper Warrior plane.
Difference by Ivan Pedretti (Italy).
Thor’s Well by Tom Fenske (USA).
“Thor’s Well” by Tom Fenske (USA). Honorable Mention, Water.“Also known as the Drainpipe of the Pacific, this natural hole in the rock along the Oregon Coast is seen here at sunset. When the tide is just right the ocean seems to drain away through the hole.”
When the tide is just right the ocean seems to drain away through the hole.
ADI by Francisco Javier Munuera Gonzalez (Spain).
Rest by Janusz Jurek (Poland).
“ADI” by Francisco Javier Munuera González (Spain). First Place, Landscape.“We ascended through the forest immersed in fog, and when we reached the top for a few minutes in which the fog cleared we could enjoy the gales caused by the low temperatures.”
First Place, People and Nature.The photo was taken in Greece.
What I saw turned out to be more interesting.
A huge factory broke into the sea, taking the beach away from restful people.
“Rest” by Janusz Jurek (Poland). First Place, People and Nature.“The photo was taken in Greece. In the beginning, I wanted to photograph the sea landscape, as everyone does, only turned 180 degrees. What I saw turned out to be more interesting. A huge factory broke into the sea, taking the beach away from restful people. A simple, ordinary scene is very symbolic for me. Industry pushes people off the ground. It pushes more and more. We are taking more and more.”
A simple, ordinary scene is very symbolic for me.
Industry pushes people off the ground.
It pushes more and more.
“Jaring melimpah” by Komang Arnawa (Indonesia). Second Place, People and Nature.“Sorting activities of fishermen’s catches in the village of Kedonganan Bali.”
We are taking more and more.
Jaring melimpah by Komang Arnawa (Indonesia).
Second Place, People and Nature.Sorting activities of fishermens catches in the village of Kedonganan Bali.
“Cleaning the Lakes” by Amish Jain (India). Second Place, Climate.“A person cleaning the lakes of excessive sea vegetation due to hot climate as well as waste being dumped into the lake.”
This year’s contest included two new categories, Plants & Fungi and Climate.
Cleaning the Lakes by Amish Jain (India).
Untitled by Nick Leopold Sordo (Mexico).
“Untitled” by Nick Leopold Sordo (Mexico). Second Place, Water.“Las Coloradas salt mines in Yucatan. In these pink water lagoons is one of the most important salt-generating plants in the country. They directly adjoin the Río Lagartos natural park, which is an important site for the American flamingo.”
Second Place, Water.Las Coloradas salt mines in Yucatan.
In these pink water lagoons is one of the most important salt-generating plants in the country.
They directly adjoin the Rio Lagartos natural park, which is an important site for the American flamingo.
“Mystical Bromo” by Hendy Wicaksono (Indonesia). Second Place, Landscape.“Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) is one of the 10 priority tourist destinations in Indonesia. Bromo tourism can be a coveted tour for many people because this mountainous landscape that stretches around 50,276.3 hectares will greatly spoil the views of tourists with the splendor of Mount Bromo.”
Mystical Bromo by Hendy Wicaksono (Indonesia).
Balance by Patrick Krohn (USA).
A Giant’s Ballet by Torie Hilley (USA).
“Balance” by Patrick Krohn (USA). Honorable Mention, Plants and Fungi.“Dew drops balance on this purple heart flower on an early morning in the spring of 2022 in my front yard in Aiken, SC, USA.”
Untitled by Xiaoling Keller (USA).
Second Place, Plants and Fungi.Soaptree Yucca in White Sands National Park, New Mexico.
Untitled by Giovani Cordioli (Brazil).
“A Giant’s Ballet” by Torie Hilley (USA). Honorable Mention, Wildlife.“During my time studying the African painted dog in South Africa, we came across these two young bull giraffes “necking” – which is their form of sparring or fighting. Most people think when they see this photo that it is a sign of affection, but once they read the description, the context becomes very different.”
With a lot of lightning I took some shots of this amazing storm.
Ghost Mushrooms by Callie Chee (Australia).
The glow is very much visible to the naked eyes in complete darkness.
“Untitled” by Xiaoling Keller (USA). Second Place, Plants and Fungi.“Soaptree Yucca in White Sands National Park, New Mexico.”
They are found in certain forests in Australia.
Related Articles:
“Untitled” by Giovani Cordioli (Brazil). Honorable Mention, People and Nature.“I was at Varadero beach, Cuba when I saw this huge cloud coming, then I ran to the room and brought my camera to capture it. With a lot of lightning I took some shots of this amazing storm. In the original photo I captured the exact moment when the lightning strikes the sea, without using long exposure features in daylight. That’s it!”
“Ghost Mushrooms” by Callie Chee (Australia). First Place, Plants and Fungi.“Nicknamed ghost mushrooms due to its eerie green glow, the scientific names of these bioluminescent mushrooms are Omphalotus Nidiformis. The glow is very much visible to the naked eyes in complete darkness. They are found in certain forests in Australia. Finding them and photographing them can be challenging as they grow and glow for only a few weeks in a year.”
