From furry families to fungi: the World Nature Photography awards – in pictures

With entries from 45 countries, the World Nature Photography awards 2022 have left no corner of the Earth unexplored in the quest to capture nature with a fresh perspective. The grand prize winner was the German photographer Jens Cullman who captured a crocodile lurking in the mud in Zimbabwe

Main image: ‘Danger in the mud’ – a crocodile at Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
The grand prize winner. Photograph: Jens Cullmann/World Nature Photography Awards 2022

  • ‘Playgroup’ – Japanese macaques on Awaji Island, Japan

    The gold winner in the behaviour - mammals category.
    Japanese macaques on Awaji Island, Japan

  • Snow Leopard in the Indian Himalayas

    The gold winner in the animals in their habitats category.
    The gold winner in the category of Animals in their habitats. Snow Leopard. Indian Himalayas.

  • ‘Ride on you’ – a Japanese stream toad in the Owase Mountains in Mie, Japan

    The winner in the behaviour - amphibians and reptiles category.
    Winner in the category of Behaviour - Amphibians and reptiles titled ‘Ride on you’. Owase Mountains, Mie, Japan.

  • ‘I’m Coming for You’ – a Male Hooded Merganser in Huntley Meadows Park, US

    The winner in the behaviour - birds category.
    Winner in the category of Behaviour - Birds titled ‘I’m Coming for You’. Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA, USA. Male Hooded Merganser.

  • ‘The ghost of the rocks’ – a Red crab (Grapsus adscensionis) on La Gomera Island, Spain

    The gold winner in the behaviour - invertebrates category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category Behaviour - Invertebrates. Image by Javier Herranz Casellas titled The ghost of the rocks. La Gomera Island, Spain. Red crab (Grapsus adscensionis)

  • ‘Vulnerable’ – an iguana on Grenada Island, West Indies

    The gold winner in the black and white category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category Black and White. Photo by Alain ERNOULT titled VULNERABLE. Grenada Island, West Indies Iguana.

  • ‘Underwater colorful snowstorm’ – spawning coral in the Red Sea

    The gold winner in the nature art category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category Nature Art. Photo by Tom Shlesinger titled Underwater colorful snowstorm. Spawning coral Red Sea.

  • ‘Injured fur seal’ – an Australian fur seal off Port Kembla, NSW

    The gold winner in the nature photojournalism category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category Nature Photojournalism. Image by Nicolas Remy titled Injured fur seal. Australian fur seal Port Kembla, NSW, Australia.

  • ‘The guts’ – inside a glacier at Solheimajokull, South Iceland

    The gold winner in the people and nature category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category People and nature. Photo by Virgil Reglioni titled The guts. Inside a glacier. Solheimajokull, South Iceland.

  • ‘Tree of life’ – a fallen Eucalyptus tree in Mount Barker, Western Australia

    The gold winner in the plants and fungi category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category Plants and fungi. Image by Julie Kenny titled Tree of life. Eucalyptus Mount Barker, Western Australia.

  • Harlequin shrimps, Hymenocera picta, photographed with the snoot on the blue seastar, Linkia laevigata, in Lembeh strait, Indonesia

    The gold winner in the underwater category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category Underwater. Photo by Adriano Morettin Harlequin shrimps Hymenocera picta photographed with the snoot on the blue seastar Linkia laevigata in Lembeh strait, Indonesia.

  • The home of the kestrel a Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

    The gold winner in the urban wildlife category.
    World Nature Photography Awards 2022 GOLD winner in the category Urban Wildlife. Photo by Vladislav Tasev titled The home of the kestrel. Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

  • ‘The Grand Tetons’ – at Grand Teton Peak Wyoming, US

    The gold winner in the planet Earth’s landscapes and environments category.
    World Nature Photography Awards GOLD winner in the category Planet Earth’s landscapes and environments. Photo by Jake Mosher titled The Grand Tetons. Grand Teton Peak Wyoming, USA.
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