The Our Nature Environmental Photo Award is an annual competition that highlights the most inspirational nature and environmental photography from across the globe. This prestigious award aims to celebrate the untouched natural treasures that need our protection, draw attention to human impact and our evolving relationship with nature, and address the challenges we face in the pursuit of sustainability.
It serves as an international platform for showcasing not only breathtaking photography but also the journalism and environmental issues that threaten our planet. The competition is organized by the FotoKozma Festival and supported by the Blue Planet Foundation and Veolia, under the esteemed patronage of former Hungarian president Mr. János Áder.
This year’s competition received an exceptional response, with over 2,000 remarkable photographs submitted by 187 photographers from 41 countries. The distinguished jury has selected 35 exceptional images, with four of them receiving top honors.
Scroll down and inspire yourself. You can check their website for more information.
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#1. Our Nature – Image of the Year: "The bitter death of birds" by Mehdi Mohebi Pour, Iran
"In the years 2021 and 2022, tens of thousands of migratory birds died in the Miankala wetland located in the north of Iran, which was caused by the dumping of sewage into the wetland and disease."
#2. Nature: Winner – "Goliath in lilliput" by Tom Shlesinger, Israel
"Decades ago, following a severe decline in the population of the Goliath Grouper, Florida banned their fishing, leading to an increase in the population. Now, there are new plans to reopen fishing, which may put their future in danger once again."
#3. Nature: Finalist – "Unreal atmosphere" by Alexandre Bès, France
#4. Nature: Finalist – "Looking around from a porthole" by Federica Cordero, Italy
#5. Nature: Finalist – "Dawn’s whispers" by Hermis Valiyandiyil, United Arab Emirates
#6. Our Footprints: Winner – "Stuck in Life" by Alex Pansier, Netherlands
"This photo of a seal, taken on the island of Dune, touches me. The animal seems to have cataracts and has also become entangled in a fishing net. Literally Stuck in Life. Yet it is as if the creature has a smile on his face and he seemed used to the net. This contrast really appealed to me. Taking the photo in high-key allowed me to approach this contrast even more."
#7. Our Footprints: Finalist – "The last two" by Matjaz Krivic, Slovenia
#8. Our Footprints: Finalist – "Flamingos in lagoon" by Matjaz Krivic, Slovenia
#9. Our Footprints: Finalist – "Plastic collector" by Mithail Afrige Chowdhury, Bangladesh
#10. Solutions: Winner – "Black soldier fly – sustainability and food security" by Maurizio di Pietro, Italy
"Insects are rich in high-quality proteins and highly sustainable due to their minimal environmental impact both in terms of greenhouse gases and water and soil consumption. As a result, researchers are studying the most sustainable and cost-effective ways to promote the use of these insects as human food or as feed for fish, poultry, and pigs."
#11. Solutions: Finalist – "Injured himalayan griffon vulture" by Alain Schroeder, Belgium
#12. Solutions: Finalist – "Bird eating flowers" by Alex Pansier, Netherlands
#13. Solutions: Finalist – "Floating vegetable farming" by Azim Khan Ronnie, France
#14. Our Nature: Story of the Year, Winner – "The Last Two" by Matjaz Krivic
"The northern white rhino is all but extinct. The two last males died several years ago. Two females are still with us, but too feeble to bear babies.Their names are Najin and Fatu. In an Italian lab their eggs are now artificially fertilised by sperm from the three late males, and kept at minus 196 celsius, in hopes that surrogate rhinos from another sub species can carry the northern white back from the brink of extinction."
#15. Our Nature: Story of the Year, Runner Up – "Africa Blues" by Edoardo Delille / Giulia Piermartiri, Italy
"Despite contributing only 5% of pollutant emissions, Africa is the continent that pays the highest price for climate change. In 2019 only, extreme climate change has generated 2.5 million refugees. Mozambique, in particular is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. Droughts, floods and sudden storms are episodes that now alternate and repeat themselves every year, affecting and destroying entire villages and compromising the agricultural harvest. It is mainly the poorest communities that pay the price."
