Some photographs make you stop scrolling. Others make you stop and think. The winning images from the third annual Nature and Humans Photo Competition manage to do both. Bringing together photographers from 49 countries and regions, this remarkable contest shines a spotlight on the complicated relationship between people and the animal world.
What makes this competition so powerful is its contrast. One moment, you’re looking at breathtaking wildlife photographs that celebrate the beauty, resilience, and wonder of animals in their natural habitats. Next, you’re confronted with uncomfortable realities, images that expose the darker side of human interaction with animals, including controversial factory-farming practices and other forms of exploitation. It’s a visual journey that moves between admiration and reflection.
Directed by Spanish nature photographer Arturo de Frías, the competition was created to celebrate conservation photography and inspire meaningful conversations about the future of wildlife. Alongside the category winners, runners-up, and finalists, those delivering equally compelling stories through their lenses.
One of the most talked-about entries came from a photographer of human cruelties, an animal rights investigator, whose winning series, Uncovering What’s Hidden, earned the top prize by Dawid Rakoczy in its category and a €1,500 award. The work pulls back the curtain on practices rarely seen by the public, using photography as a tool for awareness and change.
Together, these 31 award-winning images remind us that photography isn’t just about capturing beauty; it’s about revealing truth, inspiring empathy, and encouraging action.
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#1. Conservation Photography, Series – Winner: Uncovering what’s hidden by Dawid Rakoczy
#2. Conservation Photography, Series – Runner-Up: Between Fear and Understanding by Kianoush Saadati
#3. Conservation Photography, Series – Finalist: The tale of the Italian wolf by Gianluca Damiani
#4. Conservation Photography, Series – Finalist: The Blackchin Tilapia Threat An Alien Invader in Thailands Waterways by Arnun Chonmahatrakool
#5. Conservation Photography, Series – Finalist: Traded for Karma by Yann Bigant
#6. Conservation Photography, Single – Winner: Screaming in the wind by Francisco Negroni
#7. Conservation Photography, Single – Runner-Up: In the Chaos by Florian Ledoux
#8. Conservation Photography, Spain – Winner: I want my soda by Javier Murcia Requena
#9. Conservation Photography, Spain – Runner-Up: Walls of iron and salt by Julio Martínez
#10. Nature, narrated by Women – Winner: Out of Sight, Out of Mind by Louise Jorgensen
#11. Nature, narrated by Women – Runner-Up: A Little (Teeny Tiny) Good News by Patricia Homonylo
#12. The Beauty of the Planet – Winner: Shaking Off While Eating by Daniel Valverde
#13. The Beauty of the Planet – Runner-Up: Run I’ll bite you by Daniel Valverde
#14. The beauty of Spain – Winner: Power Struggle by Daniel Valverde
#15. The beauty of Spain – Runner-Up: Food in the snow by Jesus Baron Thaidigsmann
#16. Mammals – Winner: Bat Bath by Hira Punjabi
#17. Mammals – Runner-Up: Revelry in a river by Karthik Subramaniam
#18. Birds – Winner: Cormorhunt by Andrea Izzotti
#19. Birds – Runner-Up: Silent Symphony by Lalith Ekanayake
#20. Oceans – Winner: Ghost of the Kelp Forest by Lesley Rochat
#21. Oceans – Runner-Up: Midnight Bus by Jade Hoksbergen
#22. Other Animals – Winner: Master of Disguise by Lalith Ekanayake
#23. Other Animals – Runner-Up: Guardian of the Light by Avilash Ghosh
#24. Landscape – Winner: Flysch by Javier Herranz Casellas
#25. Landscape – Runner-Up: The Golden Beach by Andrea Izzotti
#26. Creative – Winner: Wings of Ghosts by Lalith Ekanayake
#27. Creative – Runner-Up: Caterpillar in Chaotic light by Anirban Dutta
#28. Special Prize Young Photographers (15 to 18) – Winner: Vergonya by Jofre Cutal Gallifa
#29. Special Prize Young Photographers (15 to 18) – Runner-Up: Among Giants by Miguel Sanchez García
#30. Children’s Special Prize – Winner: A break at 40°C by Alberto Román Gómez
#31. Children’s Special Prize – Runner-Up: Humpback Whale by Panitbhand Paribatra Na Ayudhya
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Nature and Humans Photo Competition?
The Nature and Humans Photo Competition is an international photography contest that celebrates conservation storytelling through powerful images. It highlights both the beauty of wildlife and the challenges animals face due to human activities, encouraging awareness and positive change.
How many countries participated in the competition?
Photographers from 49 countries and regions submitted entries to the third annual Nature and Humans Photo Competition. Their diverse perspectives helped create a global showcase of wildlife, conservation efforts, environmental issues, and meaningful human-animal interactions captured through photography.
Who organized and directed the competition?
The competition was directed by Spanish nature photographer Arturo de Frías, who also oversaw the jury process. His vision emphasizes conservation photography as a powerful medium for education, storytelling, and inspiring greater respect for wildlife and natural ecosystems worldwide.
Why was the series “Uncovering What’s Hidden” important?
The winning series by human.cruelties exposed hidden aspects of animal exploitation, bringing attention to practices often unseen by the public. The project demonstrated how photography can be a powerful investigative tool that raises awareness and encourages conversations about animal welfare.
What makes these winning photographs special?
These photographs combine artistic excellence with meaningful storytelling. They capture both inspiring wildlife moments and difficult conservation realities, creating images that are visually striking while encouraging viewers to think more deeply about humanity’s relationship with animals and nature.
