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Ready for a wild ride through nature’s coolest scenes? We've got everything from sneaky predators to serene landscapes, all captured by photographers who clearly have more patience than the rest of us. Let's dive into 62 show-stopping pics from the 2026 OurNature Awards that prove Mother Earth is basically a rockstar.
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“Eye On The Prize” By Vince Burton
2nd Place in Pure Nature - Air Category
Imagine a barn owl diving straight at you - except the photo is from your perspective, looking up. It’s from Vince’s project on nocturnal barn owls, capturing the exact moment the predator strikes like a ninja.
The contest is like a big nature buffet! You've got birds soaring (Pure Nature - Air), animals chilling on land (Pure Nature - Land), and watery wonders (Pure Nature - Water). Plus, they throw in the human effect stuff (Our Footprint), cool ideas fighting the damage (Solutions), and other fun categories for stories, videos, young photographers, and more. Basically, something for everyone who loves the outdoors.
“Dinner Is Served!” By Audun Rikardsen
1st Place in Our Footprints Category
Here’s a humpback whale caught in the act, munching herring right next to a fishing boat in Northern Norway’s polar night. It’s a split image, showing the action above and below water - you can see the feast and the freckles of danger (fishing nets).
“The Attack” By Damian Kwasek
Honorable Mention in Pure Nature - Air Category
A dramatic wild moment: a white-tailed eagle lunging at a red fox, wings spread and claws ready. Caught totally in the wild, no tricks - just raw nature action.
Top honor went to Audun Rikardsen from Norway with “A Seal's Nightmare.” Picture this: a polar bear peeks right into an underwater camera from a seal’s viewpoint. It’s like the ultimate hide-and-seek surprise moment. He also nailed wins in Water and Our Footprint categories. Talk about a triple threat!
“Hidden In Plain Sight” By Awais Ali Sheikh
1st Place in Pure Nature - Land Category
Two snow leopard cubs chilling among Himalayan rocks, so perfectly camouflaged you’ll blink twice before spotting them. Nature’s ultimate hide-and-seek champs.
“The Decisive Moment” By Turgay Uzer
Honorable Mention in Pure Nature - Air Category
This cormorant has basically been playing fetch with a big catfish - tossing and flipping it in the air to get it down just right. The photo snaps the exact second before the fish goes down the bird’s gullet.
Belgium’s Alain Schroeder snagged the best story award with his heart-melting shots of saving orangutans in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Hungary’s Imre Potyó mesmerized us with glowing moth trails moonlighting in a forest - not your everyday bug picture, that's for sure.
“Please Help Me!” By Audun Rikardsen
Honorable Mention in Our Footprints Category
This poor humpback whale got itself wrapped up in fishing nets under the polar night sky. It even came near boats, looking for help, which led to a dramatic rescue and a happy ending. Go team whale rescuers!
“The Guardian Of Silence” By Tibor Litauszki
Honorable Mention in Pure Nature - Land Category
A tawny owl kicking back inside an ancient oak tree looks all mysterious and chill. The secret? A GoPro hidden near the tree to grab this intimate owl selfie up close.
The judges zoomed through thousands of anonymous entries, picking pics that tell a story, show originality, and spark the ‘wow’ factor. Because let’s be real, a cool photo isn’t just about looks - it’s about meaning too.
“Bat Rush” By Krisztina Szakolczai
Honorable Mention in Pure Nature - Air Category
Bat squad at night! Two zoom past a flower while another sips nectar. Caught with four flashes to freeze these speedy little night ninjas in action.
“Clash Of The Titans” By Norbert Kaszás
Honorable Mention in Carpathian Basin Category
Tiny but fierce! These two ants duke it out, with backlighting making their showdown look like a blockbuster fight scene.
The award winners were announced in Budapest, and some of the best shots popped up in a free outdoor exhibit at Széna Square. So random folks can get blown away by these nature gems too. Who knew environmental photos could actually turn heads in a city square?
“Night Feeding Humpback Whales” By Audun Rikardsen
Honorable Mention in Pure Nature - Water Category
When it’s dark all day in Norway’s polar night, humpback whales still gotta eat! They herd herring to the surface, and gulls swoop in for the leftovers. This shot was a wild combo of flash, torchlight, and patience.
“Midnight Whispers” By Julián Fernandez Quilez
2nd Place in Our Footprints Category
Two nocturnal genets doing their window walk in front of a massive Moon. No Photoshop here - just pure perspective magic turning this night into a movie scene.
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