Winners of the 2022 Nature Conservancy photo contest – in pictures

Here are some of the top images in the global photography competition which attracted more than 100,000 entries from 196 different countries and territories. The competition is divided into six categories: people and nature, landscape, water, wildlife, climate, and plants and fungi

Main image: First Place – water. Braided River by Kristin Wright, United States
Brightly coloured sediment paints the Icelandic landscape as it flows towards the ocean. Photograph: Kristin Wright/Courtesy TNC Photo Contest 2022

  • Grand prize winner. Branching Out by Li Ping, China

    On either side of a highway in Tibet, gullies formed by rainwater erosion span out like a tree.
    Branching outGrand prize winner. On either side of a highway, gullies formed by rainwater erosion span out like a tree in Tibet.

  • Honourable mention – people and nature. The Passage of the Mayan Train by Francesca Franchini, Mexico

    The jungle of the Yucatán peninsula protects a great biodiversity of species. The Mayan Train will be built here, affecting the best preserved jungle in Mexico.
    The passage of the Mayan Train The jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula protects a great biodiversity of species. The Mayan Train will be built here, affecting the best preserved jungle in the country.

  • Honourable mention – landscape. Mangrove Tree by Waluya Priya Atmaja, Indonesia

    This photo was taken in Lamongan, East Java at sunset. Mangroves were planted to reduce the impact of abrasion around this area.
    Honourable Mention, Landscape Waluya Priya Atmaja, IndonesiaMangrove tree. This photo was taken in Lamongan, East Java at sunset. Mangroves were planted to reduce the impact of abrasion around this area.

  • Honourable mention – wildlife. Himebotaru by Masahiro Hiroike, Japan

    ‘Himebotaru’ is a small firefly that lives in the forest and emits a short and powerful light like a flash. This photo was shot with a single shutter, 60-second exposure time and no compositing. When a firefly passes near the camera, it becomes a big bokeh.
    Himebotaru“Himebotaru” is a small firefly that lives in the forest and emits a short and powerful light like a flash.This photo was shot with a single shutter, 60 second exposure time, and no compositing. When a firefly passes near the camera, it becomes a big bokeh.

  • Guest judge Ami Vitale’s winner. An Unforgiving Kingdom by Shafeeq Mulla, Zambia

    A leopard known as Olimba carries the carcass of a female vervet monkey with its baby still hanging on for dear life in South Luangwa national park in Zambia.
    Guest Judge Ami Vitale’s Winner Shafeeq Mulla, ZambiaAn unforgiving kingdom.A leopard known as Olimba carries the carcass of a female vervet monkey with its baby still hanging on for dear life.

  • Honourable mention – plants and fungi. Crocus Wave by Tibor Litauszki, Hungary

    Crocuses in the twilight. The crocuses were lit with a flashlight from behind. The undulating effect is due to the long shutter speed and the movement of the camera.
    Honourable Mention, Plants and Fungi Tibor Litauszki, HungaryCrocus wave.Crocuses in the twilight. The Crocuses were lit with a flashlight from behind. The undulating effect is due to the long shutter speed and the movement of the camera.

  • Honourable mention – climate. It’s Dry and Dangerous Out West by Jassen Todorov, US

    This image portrays the devastation caused by the Dixie fire, California’s largest single wildfire.
    Honourable Mention, Climate Jassen Todorov, United StatesIt’s dry and dangerous out west. Trees are glorious. Countless beautiful creatures, small and large, reside in forests. This image portrays the devastation caused by the Dixie fire, California’s largest single wildfire.

  • Celebrity judge Coyote Peterson’s winner. Breastfeeding in Town by Florian Ledoux, Norway

    A female polar bear breastfeeds her two cubs in the harbour of the abandoned Russian settlement of Pyramiden.
    Celebrity Judge Coyote Peterson’s Winner. Florian Ledoux, NorwayBreastfeeding in town. A female polar bear breastfeeding her two cubs of the year in the harbour of the abandoned Russian settlement, Pyramiden.

  • Honourable mention – water. Sea Waves by Dasun Nirmala Malaarachchi, Australia

    Bluewater, golden sand, white foam mixed with bright sunlight paints gorgeous design under the Sea Cliff bridge in New South Wales.
    Sea wavesBluewater, golden sand, white foam mixed with bright sunlight paints gorgeous design under the Seacliff bridge in NSW. Australia

  • Honourable mention – wildlife. Stalking by Fabio Saltarelli, Argentina

    An elephant seal defends her calf from the stalking of a striated caracara in the Falkland Islands.
    StalkingScene where a specimen of Elephant Seal defends her calf from the stalking of a striated caracara in the Falkland Islands.

  • First place – climate. Lizards and Windmills by Sandesh Kadur, India

    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 windfarms in this region of Maharashtra.
    Lizards and windmillsFirst 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.

  • First place – landscape. Adi by Francisco Javier Munuera González, Spain

    The slope of Mount Adi in Navarra, Spain.
    AdiFirst place, Landscape. The slope of Mount Adi, in Navarra, Spain.

  • Honourable mention – people and nature. Faith Above Everything by Amish Jain, India

    A man stands in freezing-cold water waiting for Sun God to arrive during the Chhath Puja festival.
    Faith above everythingA man standing in freezing cold water waiting for Sun God to arrive during the Chatth Puja Festival.

  • Honourable mention – wildlife. The Battle by Rick Dowling, US

    Eagles fight over a piece of salmon in Alaska.
    The Battle The eagles were fighting for a piece of salmon. The eagle on top flew on top of the second eagle to try and get the salmon. Alaska.

  • First place – plants and fungi. Ghost Mushrooms by Callie Chee, Australia

    Nicknamed ‘ghost mushrooms’ due to its eerie green glow, the scientific names of these bioluminescent mushrooms are Omphalotus nidiformis. The glow is visible to the naked eye in complete darkness. They are found in certain forests in Australia.
    Ghost MushroomsFirst 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
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