From a mother elephant leading a pack to a watering hole to a seahorse carrying a plastic cottonbud, 13 of the finalists photographs have been released from this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017. Needless to say, they are stunning.
Over 50,000 photographs from 92 countries were entered into the esteemed competition, just 100 making the final exhibition which returns to the Natural History Museum on 20th October.
From those selected, a jury of international experts will then choose the winning images based on their creativity, originality and technical excellence. These will be selected before the opening, on the 17th October.
1 of 13Saved but caged by Steve Winter, USA Sumatran tiger cub whose back leg has been amputated. Finalist 2017, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single Image
2 of 13Bold eagle by Klaus Nigge, GermanyA soaked bald eagle. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits
3 of 13 The insiders by Qing Lin, ChinaAnemone fish showing off the parasitic isopod's that live inside their mouths. Finalist 2017, Under Water
4 of 13 Winter pause by Mats Andersson, SwedenA squirrel keeps warm on a cold February morning. Finalist 2017, Black and White
5/13 Swim gym by Laurent Ballesta, FranceA mother and cub play under a sheet of ice. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Mammals
6 of 13 The power of the matriarch by David Lloyd, New Zealand/UKA mother elephant leads a pack to a watering hole in Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits
7 of 13 Resplendent delivery by Tyohar Kastiel, IsraelA resplendent quetzals. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Birds
8 of 13 Arctic treasure by Sergey Gorshkov, RussiaAn arctic fox carries a stolen egg. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits
9 of 13 Sewage surfer by Justin Hofman, USA tiny seahorse uses a plastic cottonbud to travel downstream. Finalist 2017, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single Image
10 of 13 Glimpse of a lynx by Laura Albiac Vilas, SpainAn elusive lynx, captured at the Sierra de Andújar natural park in Spain. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years
11 of 13 Saguaro twist by Jack Dykinga, USThe Saguaro cacti in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert National Monument. The plant over grows over 12 metres tall. Finalist 2017, Plants and Fungi
12 of 13 Romance among the angels by Andrey Narchuk, RussiaSea angels, who are both male and female, prepare to insert their copulatory organs into each other. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Invertebrates
13 of 13 Bear hug by Ashleigh Scully, USA young cub hugs her mother. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years
