A dramatic underwater shot of two gannets battling for a fish in Scotland’s Shetland Islands has been crowned the winner of the World Nature Photography Awards 2024! Captured by Tracey Lund from the UK, this incredible image beat out thousands of entries to claim the top prize of $1,000.
Lund, who was on holiday at the time, snapped the photo using a waterproof camera housing lowered into the sea from a boat. “It was an amazing sight to see so many gannets diving for fish,” she said. “Taking the picture was even harder! I ended up with 1,800 photos, but only two were usable.”
© Jouni Erola
©Lukas Walter
©Partha Roy
© Rafal Dymarkowski
© Alex Brackx
© John Seager
© Nicolas Remy
© Elizabeth Yicheng Shen
© Karthik Ak
© Laskshitha Karunarathhna
© Michael Stavrakakis
The competition featured various categories beyond wildlife, including landscapes, plants, and animal behavior. Ivan Pedretti from Italy took home the Planet Earth’s Landscapes and Environments award with a magical winter scene of Stokksnes, Iceland. The photo captures the dramatic contrast between the snow-capped Vestrahorn mountain and the black sand beach with its wispy yellow grass.
© Ivan Pedretti
Launched in 2020, the World Nature Photography Awards not only celebrate stunning photography but also environmental responsibility. They plant a tree for every competition entry. “Photography has the power to change how people see the world,” the organization states on their website. “We hope these images inspire people to adopt habits that benefit our planet.”
Adrian Dinsdale, co-founder of the awards, echoed this sentiment: “Every year, our winners amaze us with their breathtaking photos. The talent on display is truly inspiring!”
