Wildlife photography usually shows us what nature looks like. The 2025 Chromatic Awards take it a step further—they show us how nature feels. In this year’s Amateur Wildlife category, the winning images go way beyond documentation. They blur the line between observation and art, turning raw encounters into visual poetry. These 25 exceptional photos prove that wildlife photography isn’t just about being in the right place—it’s about seeing with intention.
At the top of the list, Kevin Yu Shi from the United States claimed 1st Place with his intense image Hunting. Shot in Chile’s Torres del Paine, the photograph captures a rare, heart-pounding moment: a female puma locked in pursuit of a guanaco. Pumas are powerful but not guaranteed winners—especially females, whose hunting success rates are low. That’s what makes this frame hit so hard. It’s not just about predator and prey; it’s about survival, patience, and the brutal honesty of the wild.
The 2nd Place winner, Sea Model by Rachel Irene, shifts the mood completely. A young seal lounges confidently on rocks outside Astoria, Oregon, turning a quiet coastal moment into a portrait full of personality. There’s softness here, a playful calm that feels almost human—proof that wildlife doesn’t always need drama to command attention.
Rounding out the podium, Stefano Petitti from Italy took 3rd Place with The Flamingo’s Toilet. Captured in the Venetian lagoon, the image freezes a flamingo mid-grooming during a rare moment of stillness. Elegant, humorous, and perfectly timed, it turns a simple act into something oddly mesmerizing.
Together, these winners—and the full collection—show how wildlife photography can transform fleeting natural moments into lasting art.
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#1. 1st Place Winner: "Hunting" by Kevin Yu Shi, United States
"Chile’s Torres Del Paine is famous for its stunning landscapes, but it’s also home to a fierce predator – the puma. These majestic creatures primarily feed on guanacos. However, the hunting success rate for pumas is not very high, especially for female pumas. They primarily rely on the abundance of guanacos for their survival. It’s a rare treat to see a puma hunting right in front of you."
#2. 2nd Place Winner: "Sea Model" by Rachel Irene, United States
"Young seal on rocks outside of Astoria, OR."
#3. 3rd Place Winner: "The Flamingo’s Toilet" by Stefano Petitti Stefano Petitti, Italy
"The flamingo’s grooming in the Venetian lagoon in a moment of calm."
Honorable Mentions
#4. "Untitled" by Daniela Retzer, Germany
#5. "Against the Storm" by Abhisek Bagaria, India
"This photo was taken during a sandstorm in the Thar Desert, where a Toad-headed agama was standing on a sand dune. Getting an agama during a sandstorm, where the composition, posture everything falls in place, was really difficult and challenging. But it was worth experiencing the moment."
#6. "Bathtime" by Emma Grace Gullapalli, United States
"While traveling with my sister on a safari in the Serengeti National Park, the sky opened up and a family of lions took the opportunity to take a bath in the warm rains."
#7. "Behind the leaves" by Eva Karlowatz, Germany
"Young fox behind the leaves near his fox den, watching something."
#8. "Bison Ridge" by Pamela Hymer, United States
"As the bison start to lose their winter coats and calves arrive, spring has arrived. The herd mentality takes over as they watch over each other."
#9. "Breakfast at the nest" by Benoit Rondelet, Belgium
"Gorillas need restful sleep to stay healthy. At dusk, they take the time to create a safe and comfortable place to rest: the nest. It can be on the ground or in the trees, depending on the gorilla’s age and the type of habitat. Mountain gorillas gather leaves, twigs, and soft grasses to form a cozy structure that provides comfort and protection during the night. They prefer to build a new one each night to avoid parasites and bacteria that can accumulate in old nests."
#10. "Catch me Mom!" by Jim Guerard, United States
"In a game as old as time, a mother cheetah uses her hind feet to toss her cub into the air and then catch her again."
#11. "Curious Piglets" by Sven Thamm, Germany
"I spotted a sow with three piglets in the tall grass from a distance. I stalked her for a few meters, then settled down and waited. The little ones actually came straight through the tall grass toward me and then suddenly appeared in front of me. Click, and the moment was captured, and the portrait was in the box."
#12. "Deer in the meadow" by Paweł Horodyski, Poland
"Beautiful Polish autumn with a deer in the meadow."
#13. "Full Display" by Caroline Peppiatt, United States
"Great White Egret commanding our full attention"
#14. "Insect glamour" by Martina Petrová, Czech Republic
"At home, I create various colorful backgrounds and straws, which I take into nature and photograph insects in an improvised ‘photo studio’. With dragonflies, it’s more complicated—they need to cooperate and land on the prepared spot."
#15. "It is up to you" by Graeme Guy, Malaysia
"Cheetahs are one of the most endearing African species. The females though generally have a tough life. A male will mate and then move on leaving the female to raise the cubs. Up to 8 cubs may be born but only 2-3 will survive to adulthood. The wellbeing of the cubs is entirely dependent of their mother and her hunting skills. While she is very fast they are easily out-muscled but a number of other species…..their kills may be stolen. She also must not sustain injuries that nullify her speed advantage. In the image shown the cub on the left looks up to her mother as if to say ….’it is all up to you Mom"
#16. "King of the Forest" by Terhi Paavola, Finland
"On a cold spring morning in Finland, a male capercaillie begins its majestic courtship. In the crisp air, its breath turns to mist as the sound of its display carries across the silent landscape."
#17. "Not Ready to Fly" by Pamela Hymer, United States
"Perched in their leafy fortress, fledglings plot world domination – or at least how to get a second breakfast. With feathers that look like dandelions, they do not yet know flight, but have mastered presence."
#18. "Orange Elegance" by Anja Pires, Switzerland
"An American Flamingo in all its grace. These birds inhabit the countries around the Caribbean Sea and Galapagos Islands."
#19. "Rising amongst bubbles" by Shravan Rao, Australia
"Macaroni penguin, South Georgia Island, November 2023. This was more difficult than anything I had ever photographed before. Landings were few due to growing avian influenza amongst the penguins, seals and skuas. That also meant we were not allowed to get down on the ground whenever we did land. This one was from a bobbing zodiac. "
#20. "Serenity" by Patrycja Dzianok, Poland
"This photo was taken at the end of the rutting season in the Bialowieza Forests of Poland. I discovered a breathtaking meadow that provided the perfect viewpoint for the sunrise, and at that precise moment, the landscape was bathed in a dazzling golden glow. After spending several days in this setting, I was nearly ready to give up hope when, finally, a red deer emerged from the radiant light. It was an incredible moment."
#21. "Sibling Rivalry" by Somdutt Prasad, India
"In a burst of raw energy and youthful power, two sub-adult tiger siblings engage in a spirited play-fight on the forest floor. One tiger is airborne, muscles taut, all four paws lifted clear off the ground, its face turned toward the camera with an expression that is half play, half challenge. The other, seen from behind, rises on powerful hind legs, reaching up to meet its sibling’s leap — forepaws outstretched, tail arched in balance, every sinew alive with motion."
#22. "Star Appeal" by Anja Pires, Switzerland
"I call him Elvis…this Green-billed Toucan posed like a superstar for me. Picture taken in the wild, Tapirai, Sao Paulo State Brazil. 2022"
#23. "Sunflower" by Dong Zhu, China
#24. "The Moment Before" by Wojciech Kuśnierczyk, Poland
"In the stillness of the evening, a bird watches an insect in the air. Everything else doesn’t matter — there’s only this one moment."
#25. "Upside Down Kiss" by Somdutt Prasad, India
"On a vast expanse of Arctic pack ice, a tender moment unfolds between a mother polar bear and her playful cub. The cub lies on its back, its face tilted upward in delight. Above it, the mother leans down, her massive form both powerful and gentle, her muzzle just brushing the cub’s open mouth. Their breaths mingle in the cold air, and for an instant, the harsh whiteness of the frozen world softens into warmth."
In Summary
What are the Chromatic Awards?
- The Chromatic Awards celebrate outstanding color photography across genres, including wildlife.
Who won 1st Place in Wildlife at the 2025 Chromatic Awards?
- Kevin Yu Shi won for his powerful photo Hunting, featuring a puma in Torres del Paine, Chile.
Where was the 2nd Place photo taken?
- Rachel Irene’s Sea Model was photographed near Astoria, Oregon, USA.
What is unique about the 3rd Place image?
- Stefano Petitti captured a flamingo grooming itself in the Venetian lagoon, turning a quiet moment into art.
Why are these wildlife photos special?
- They combine storytelling, emotion, and artistic composition—not just documentation.
