IN PICTURES
More than a dozen highly-commended images have been unveiled by the Natural History Museum for this year’s competition. It comes ahead of the winners being announced at a ceremony hosted by TV presenters and conservationists Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin on October 8.
Among the newly-released images, which received highly commended awards in their categories, are Jose Manuel Grandio’s joyous image of a stoat jumping high into the air over fresh snow (above) and young photographer Sasha Jumanca’s shot of two curious tawny owlets.
Randy Robbin’s photo of the frosted body of a deer on the forest floor was also unveiled as the first-ever awarded smartphone image.
A jaguar delivering a fatal bite to a caiman in the Pantanal in Brazil was captured by British photographer Ian Ford.
Meanwhile, Theo Bosboom’s image showed how mussels bind together to avoid being washed away from the shoreline in Sintra, Portugal.
This year’s competition, judged anonymously by an international panel of industry experts on their creativity, originality and technical excellence, attracted a record-breaking 59,228 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 117 countries and territories.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London, supported by Associate Donor The William Brake Foundation.
Below are the rest of the selection released ahead of the winners announcement on October 8.
Stormy Scene : Mating lions in Svalbard, Norway - highly Commended in the Behaviour: Mammals section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE WILLIAM FORTESCUE FROM UK
Going with the Floe: Crabeater seals taking a nap among the sea ice in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica - highly Commended in the Animals in their Environment section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE TAMARA STUBBS FROM UK
Precious Rocks : A jackdaw brings stones to its nest in Bushy Park, London - highly Commended in the Behaviour: Birds section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE SAMUEL STONE FROM UK
Moonlight Hunter: A Pallas's cat in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia, China - highly Commended in the Behaviour: Mammals section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE XINGCHAO ZHU FROM CHINA
Hooked: The bycatch of a requiem shark in International waters, South Atlantic Ocean - highly Commended in the Oceans: The Bigger Picture section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE TOMMY TRENCHARD FROM SOUTH AFRICA
The Disappearing Ice Cap: The Brasvellbreen glacier in Svalbard, Norway - highly Commended in the Oceans: The Bigger Picture section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE THOMAS VIJAYAN FROM CANADA
Ziggy Spider: A vibrantly coloured David Bowie spider carrying an egg sac in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia - highly Commended in the Behaviour: Invertebrates section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE LAM SOON TAK FROM MALAYSIA
Attention: A ball of male Dawson's burrowing bees vying for access to a female Near Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia - highly Commended in the Behaviour: Invertebrates section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE GEORGINA STEYTLER FROM AUSTRALIA
Spotlight: Two Indian peafowl in Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India - Runner-Up in the 10 Years and Under section of the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. PICTURE SHREYOVI MEHTA FROM INDIA
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