The best photos and runners up of the 2019 Nature Photographer Of The Year photo contest have recently been announced, and as always, the standards are incredibly high. The presentation of the award at the Nature Talks Photo Festival in the Netherlands marked the end of a photography contest at which over 14,000 stunning pictures were submitted by both amateur and professional photographers from 73 different countries.

Entries are divided into 11 nature photography categories including Birds, Mammals, Plants and mushrooms, Landscapes, Underwater, and Man and Nature. Category winners are then pitted against each other to decide the Grand Prize: the prestigious title of Nature Photographer Of The Year.

Scroll down below to see a comprehensive list of the beautiful photos from this year’s competition, and let us know which ones you liked best in the comments below!

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#1 Category Mammals Highly Commended: ‘Colorful Night’ By Mohammad Murad (Kw)

© Photo: Mohammad Murad

This year’s overall winner was Hungary’s Csaba Daróczi, who scooped the prize with a beautifully-timed black and white capture of two rabbits leaping playfully through the air. Nature Talks explained that the jury chose this image because of the atmosphere, the timing, the beautiful light and the perfect sharpness and composition. 

“This photo proves once again that you don’t have to put rare or exotic animals in front of the lens to make a perfect nature photo. If you have a good idea and a vision of nature photography, you can also make a great album close to home,” said Keith Wilson, chairman of the jury. “It is also remarkable that it is a black and white photo, but it is precisely because of this that the energy pops out of the photo.”

#2 Overall Winner And Black And White Category Winner: ‘Jump’ By Csaba Daroczi (Hungary)

© Photo: Csaba Daroczi

#3 Category Mammals Highly Commended: ‘Climbing To The Sweet’ By José Juan Hernández (Es)

© Photo: José Juan Hernández

The photographer himself explained that while he is not particularly passionate about rabbits, he found their lively, leaping behavior to be well worthy of capturing. “I took this photo in Kiskunsag, near my village of Bócsa,”he told Bored Panda.

“I found a colony of rabbits when I went out taking pictures. I was watching them for a while, and I found out where was the best spot to take photos of them. I gave them a little food to come closer to me and they got more and more confident. In 2018 I spent 72 mornings taking photos of them. I made a few good ones.”

While watching the rabbits I realised that sometimes they jump at each other in the air. I knew in the moment, that I have to take a picture of this scene. So I gave them food, and the stronger rabbits were protecting their share from the others.That’s what caused this scene.”

#4 Category Birds Winner: ‘Greeting The Sun’ By Peter Cech (Cz)

© Photo: Peter Cech

#5 Category Plants And Fungi Winner: ‘The Fallen Idol III’ By David Frutos Egea (Es)

© Photo: David Frutos Egea

#6 Category Underwater Winner: ‘ Up In The Air’ By Alexey Zozulya (Ru)

© Photo: Alexey Zozulya

#7 Category Youth Winner: ‘Symphony N°5’ By Giacomo Redaelli (It)

© Photo: Giacomo Redaelli

#8 Category Mammals Highly Commended: ‘Wolf Attack’ By Martin Steenhaut (Be)

© Photo: Martin Steenhaut

#9 Category Birds Runner-Up: ‘Golden Eagle Landing’ By Audun Rikardsen (No)

© Photo: Audun Rikardsen

#10 Category Birds Highly Commended: ‘Fjord Fight’ By Bernt Østhus (No)

© Photo: Bernt Østhus

#11 Category Underwater Runner-Up: ‘Dancing In The Light’ By Domenico Tripodi (It)

© Photo: Domenico Tripodi

#12 Category Man And Nature Highly Commended:’ Sunsets’ By Pedro Narra (Pt)

© Photo: Pedro Narra

#13 Category Black And White Highly Commended: ‘Brothers’ By Luke Massey (Es)

© Photo: Luke Massey

#14 Category Landscape Winner: ‘A Stormy Day’ By Ales Krivec (Si)

© Photo: Ales Krivec

#15 Category Mammals Highly Commended: ‘Deer On The Crest’ By François Nowicki (Fr)

© Photo: François Nowicki

#16 Category Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award Winner: ‘Cuejdel My Lake’ By Gheorghe Popa (Ro)

© Photo: Gheorghe Popa

#17 Category Underwater Highly Commended: ‘Duck Photo Bomb’ By Paul Colley (UK)

© Photo: Paul Colley

#18 Category Plants And Fungi Highly Commended: ‘Survivor III’ By David Frutos Egea (Es)

© Photo: David Frutos Egea

#19 Category Youth Highly Commended:’poplar Stars’ By Carlos Perez Naval (Es)

© Photo: Carlos Perez Naval

#20 Category Landscape Highly Commended: ‘Flower Power’ By Brandon Yoshizawa (Us)

© Photo: Brandon Yoshizawa

#21 Category Birds Highly Commended: ‘La Dama Blanca’ By Stanislao Basileo (It)

© Photo: Stanislao Basileo

#22 Category Other Animals Highly Commended: ‘Hunting Ants’ By Petr Bambousek (Cz)

© Photo: Petr Bambousek

#23 Category Plants And Fungi Highly Commended: ‘Frozen Spring’ By Csaba Daroczi (Hu)

© Photo: Csaba Daroczi

#24 Category Other Animals Runner-Up: ‘Gorgon’ By Alena Shevtsova (Ru)

© Photo: Alena Shevtsova

#25 Category Other Animals Highly Commended: ‘Hunt In Sun’ By Wei Fu (Th)

© Photo: Wei Fu

#26 Category Mammals Winner: ‘Under The Snow…’ By Stefano Quirini (It)

© Photo: Stefano Quirini

#27 Category Mammals Runner-Up: ‘Tapir Diver’ By Marcio Esteves Cabral (Br)

© Photo: Marcio Esteves Cabral

#28 Category Other Animals Highly Commended: ‘Fly’ By Radomir Jakubowski (De)

© Photo: Radomir Jakubowski

#29 Category Youth Highly Commended: ‘Little Curious Learner’ By John Peter Wewin Pandian (In)

© Photo: John Peter Wewin Pandian

#30 Category Other Animals Winner: ‘Golden Rain’ By Norbert Kaszás (Hu)

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© Photo: Norbert Kaszás

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