These Absolutely Stunning Nature Photos Are All You Need To See Today

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year award has delivered another set of awe-inspiring images.
Karine Aigner/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media

The image of a buzzing ball of cactus bees spinning over the hot sand of a Texas ranch has seen its creator win the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year for 2022.

The bee-level close-up was captured by US photographer Karine Aigner and makes her the fifth woman in the competition’s 58-year history to claim the grand title award.

Aigner’s image was praised for its “sense of movement and intensity” by the judges at London’s Natural History Museum, who produce and host the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

All except one of the bees in the close-up are males, who are intent on mating with the single female at the centre.

Like most bees, they are threatened by habitat loss, pesticides and climate change, as well as farming practices that disrupt their nesting grounds.

Chairwoman of the judging panel, Roz Kidman Cox said: “Wings whirring, incoming males home in on the ball of buzzing bees that is rolling straight into the picture.

“The sense of movement and intensity is shown at bee-level magnification and transforms what are little cactus bees into big competitors for a single female.”

The other main title of Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 was won by 16-year-old Katanyou Wuttichaitanakorn, of Thailand, for his image of a baleen whale in close-up.

The beauty of baleen by Katanyou Wuttichaitanakorn, winner of the Young Wildlife Photography of the Year 15-17 years category.
Katanyou Wuttichaitanakorn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
The beauty of baleen by Katanyou Wuttichaitanakorn, winner of the Young Wildlife Photography of the Year 15-17 years category.

When a Bryde’s whale surfaced close to his boat, the Thai teenager was intrigued by the contrasting colours and textures of its dark skin, pink gum and the brush-like feeding mass that hung from its top jaw.

Wuttichaitanakorn, who has been a keen naturalist and a photographer since he was 12, managed to capture the moment in incredible detail, including some tiny anchovies, in what the judges ruled was a “dynamic composition”.

Cox said: “Out of the jaws of a Bryde’s whale comes this dazzling creation.
“The pin-sharp detail of the tiny anchovies is set against an abstraction of colour with the weave of brown baleen hair rimmed by a cascade of water drops.”

The two grand title awards were picked from the winners of 19 categories which highlighted the natural world in all its wonder and diversity.

For 2022, there were some 38,575 entries from 93 countries which were judged for their originality, narrative, technical excellence and ethical practice.

Among the other images are a portrait of a bear in a disappearing habitat, a dying lake, the courtship display of a Canary Islands houbara bird and the electrifying reproductive dance of a giant sea star.

Spectacled bear's slim outlook by Daniel Mideros, winner Animals in their Environment category.
Daniel Mideros/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
Spectacled bear's slim outlook by Daniel Mideros, winner Animals in their Environment category.

The bears, which are found from western Venezuela to Bolivia, were captured by Daniel Mideros, of Ecuador, who set up camera traps along a wildlife corridor used to reach high-altitude plateaus.

The bears have suffered massive declines as the result of habitat fragmentation.

The image of an osprey sitting on a dead tree as it waits for the fog to lift was caught by Ismael Dominguez Gutierrez, of Spain.

Out of the fog by Ismael Dominguez Gutierrez, winner of the Young Wildlife Photography of the Year 11-14 years category.
Ismael Dominguez Gutierrez/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
Out of the fog by Ismael Dominguez Gutierrez, winner of the Young Wildlife Photography of the Year 11-14 years category.

The courtship display of a Canary Islands houbara bird was caught in the light of the moon by Jose Juan Hernandez Martinez, of Spain. He dug himself a low hide and caught the bird’s puffed-out profile as it took a brief rest.

Daniel Nunez, of Guatemala, used a drone to capture the contrast between a forest and the algal growth on Lake Amatitlan.

He hopes the photograph will raise awareness of the impact of contamination on the lake which takes in about 75,000 tonnes of waste from Guatemala City every year.

An image of the reproductive dance of a giant spawning sea star was taken by American/Japanese photographer Tony Wu and shows water filled with sperm and eggs.

The “dancing” shape of the spawning sea star as it rises and sways may help release eggs and sperm, or help sweep the eggs and sperm into the currents where they fertilise together in the water.

Shooting star by Tony Wu, winner of the Underwater category.
Tony Wu/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
Shooting star by Tony Wu, winner of the Underwater category.

An exhibition of the top images submitted to the competition opens at the Natural History Museum in London on October 14, before going on a UK and international tour.

Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum said: “Wildlife photographers offer us unforgettable glimpses into the lives of wild species, sharing unseen details, fascinating behaviours and frontline reporting on the climate and biodiversity crises.

“These images demonstrate their awe of and appreciation for the natural world and the urgent need to take action to protect it.”

Here are some of the other winning images.

House of bears by Dmitry Kokh, winner of the Urban Wildlife category.
Dmitry Kokh/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
House of bears by Dmitry Kokh, winner of the Urban Wildlife category.
Ndakasi's passing by Brent Stirton, winner of the Photojournalism category.
Brent Stirton/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
Ndakasi's passing by Brent Stirton, winner of the Photojournalism category.
Heavenly flamingos by Junji Takasago, winner of the Natural Artistry category.
Junji Takasago/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
Heavenly flamingos by Junji Takasago, winner of the Natural Artistry category.
The magical morels by Agorastos Papatsani, winner of the Plants and Fungi category.
Agorastos Papatsani/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
The magical morels by Agorastos Papatsani, winner of the Plants and Fungi category.
The great cliff chase by Anand Nambiar, winner of the Behaviour: Mammals category.
Anand Nambiar/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
The great cliff chase by Anand Nambiar, winner of the Behaviour: Mammals category.
The listening bird by Nick Kanaki, winner of the Behaviour: Birds category.
Nick Kanaki/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
The listening bird by Nick Kanaki, winner of the Behaviour: Birds category.
The dying lake by by Daniel Nunez, winner of the Wetlands - The Bigger Picture category.
Daniel Nunez/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
The dying lake by by Daniel Nunez, winner of the Wetlands - The Bigger Picture category.
The Cuban connection by Karine Aigner, overall winner and winner of the Photojournalist Story Award category.
Karine Aigner/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
The Cuban connection by Karine Aigner, overall winner and winner of the Photojournalist Story Award category.
New life for the tohora by Richard Robinson, winner of the Oceans: The Bigger Picture category.
Richard Robinson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
New life for the tohora by Richard Robinson, winner of the Oceans: The Bigger Picture category.
Battle stations by Ekaterina Bee, winner of the Young Wildlife Photography of the Year 10 Years and Under category.
Ekaterina Bee/Wildlife Photographer of the Year via PA Media
Battle stations by Ekaterina Bee, winner of the Young Wildlife Photography of the Year 10 Years and Under category.
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