Amazing nature photos from Sony World Photography Awards 2019
- Published
"Huddle": Nadia Aly took this picture on a cold, snowy, and windy day at Snow Hill in Antarctica. The chicks were patiently waiting for their parents to return from sea with a meal. They huddled up in a group to keep warm against the ice and frozen winds.
"Intense": Photographer Yung-sen Wu was inspired by these Pacific salmon which come to the west coast of Canada from the distant sea every autumn, then return to their birthplace up through an inland river. There, the parents leave their fertilised eggs which will be the next generation who will follow the same lifecycle.
"Underwater Gannets": These gannets were snapped by photographer Tracey Lund on a trip to Shetland, trying to see them catch fish underwater. Tracey said: "To be able to capture what goes on under the water was an unbelievable experience and one I will never forget"
"Circle of Power": Sandi Little took this amazing photograph of eagles fighting and said: "It was worth standing for hours in minus 10 degrees to capture this shot of wildlife's amazing beauty. It makes us realize that wildlife just can't go pick up food at the grocery store, they have to hunt and be strong and smart about it - even among its same species"
"The Assault": David Salvatori took this amazing picture of a sardine run off the coasts of Mbotyi River, in South Africa. A group of dolphins trap a small shoal of sardines in a net of bubbles, before trying to eat them. When the fish moved to the surface, they also fall prey to dive bombing birds. It's called a feeding frenzy. Each year from May to July, millions of sardines migrate along South Africa’s eastern coastline going north, following cold winter currents toward the warm Indian Ocean.
The Ethiopian wolf is one of the rarest animals in the world and at risk of extinction. There are only 500 left, almost all concentrated in the Sanetti plateau, in Ethiopia, Africa. This photo was taken by Roberto Marchegiani in the Sanetti Plateau National Park which is about 3600 meters high.
"Nocturnal Hunter": The Chordeiles minor is a migratory bird that arrives in Colombia fleeing from the cold in the northern part of the American continent. Photographer Guillermo Ossa snapped this bird hunting insects in the middle of a rainy night.
Ahhhh - don't we all love an upside down swim sometimes? This chap is a grey seal who was photographed by Greg Lecoeur. Grey seals have been hunted by humans for their fur and fat and they have disappeared from many areas. They are currently protected by national and international laws, but still suffer from being accidentally caught, from poaching and from pollution.
"Bedraggled Hare Ballet": Nick Edwards from the UK took this picture - he's been photographing a group of hares on a local farm on the Isle of Wight: "I noticed that they often gathered at dawn and as we had a very wet Spring, the animals were often bedraggled and creating spray as they ran. It was then a matter of waiting for very many days for light, hares and their antics to come together for a photograph."
"Arabian Red Fox": The Arabian Red Fox is a subspecies of the Red Fox and is native to Arabia and adapted to life in the desert. It inhabits almost every environment in Arabia from cities along the coast to desert and mountains.
"Agony & Ecstasy": Yawn or roar? It's hard to tell what this male sea lion is up to. The photo was taken by Pedro Jarque Krebs from Peru
"Owl sitting on a lantern": this photo was taken by Jeroen Beekelaar from the Netherlands. Many owls are nocturnal animals which mean they often come out at night to hunt. But as the lamp isn't lit, it suggests this owl is out in the daylight.
"Face to face": this picture was taken by Spanish photographer Manuel Enrique González Carmona in Saltee Islands, Ireland. By means of a double exposure in his camera, a single common murre has been shown in two different positions. He intended to create a minimalist image showing mainly the white lines of the bird.
- Published24 July 2018
- Published14 September 2018
- Published1 December 2017
