15 Breathtaking Photos that Captured Nature’s Essence at the 2024 OurNature Awards

The Our Nature Environmental Photo Award is an annual contest that showcases the most inspiring nature and environmental photography from around the world. This distinguished award seeks to honor the undisturbed natural wonders that require our safeguarding, raise awareness about human influence and our changing connection with nature, and tackle the obstacles we face in achieving sustainability.

The competition functions as an international stage for presenting not only stunning photography but also the journalism and environmental concerns that endanger our planet. Organized by the FotoKozma Festival and backed by the Blue Planet Foundation and Veolia, it operates under the esteemed patronage of former Hungarian president Mr. János Áder.

This year’s contest received an outstanding response, with over 2,000 extraordinary photographs submitted by 187 photographers from 41 nations. The renowned jury has chosen 35 outstanding images, four of which have garnered top honors.

Scroll down to find inspiration. You may visit their website for additional details.

For more information about the OurNature Photo Award:

#1. Our Nature – Image of the Year: “The bitter death of birds” by Mehdi Mohebi Pour, Iran

“In 2021 and 2022, tens of thousands of migratory birds perished in the Miankala wetland in northern Iran due to sewage contamination and disease.”

#2. Nature: Winner – “Goliath in lilliput” by Tom Shlesinger, Israel

“After a significant decline in the Goliath Grouper population decades ago, Florida prohibited their fishing, resulting in population recovery. However, new proposals seek to resume fishing, potentially endangering their future 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 photograph of a seal, taken on Dune Island, resonates with me. The creature appears to have cataracts and is ensnared in a fishing net. Literally stuck in life. Yet, it looks as if the animal is smiling and seems accustomed to the net. This juxtaposition captivated me. Using high-key photography enhanced this contrast even further.”

#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 provide high-quality protein and are widely regarded as sustainable owing to their minimal impact on the environment concerning greenhouse gas emissions and water and soil usage. Consequently, scientists are investigating the most sustainable and economical methods to promote these insects as food for humans or 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 essentially extinct. The last two males passed away several years ago, while two females remain, but they are too weak to reproduce. Their names are Najin and Fatu. In an Italian laboratory, their eggs are currently being artificially inseminated with the sperm from the three deceased males and preserved at minus 196 degrees Celsius in the hopes that surrogate rhinos from another subspecies can help revive the northern white from the brink of extinction.”

#15. Our Nature: Story of the Year, Runner Up – “Africa Blues” by Edoardo Delille / Giulia Piermartiri, Italy

“Although Africa contributes merely 5% of the total greenhouse gas emissions, it is the continent that bears the heaviest burden of climate change. In just 2019, extreme climate events caused 2.5 million people to become refugees. Mozambique, in particular, is among the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts. Droughts, floods, and sudden storms are phenomena that now alternate and recur every year, devastating entire communities and jeopardizing agricultural yields. The most impoverished communities bear the greatest consequences.”

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