The World Nature Photography Awards (WNPAs) have announced their winners from a pool of entries received from all corners of the globe.
The top award and cash prize of $1,000 went to Maruša Puhek from Slovenia for her outstanding image, ‘Run.’ Other winners were selected across various categories, including Nature Art, Animal Portraits, Behaviour – Amphibians and Reptiles, Behaviour – Mammals, Behaviour – Invertebrates, Behaviour – Birds, People and Nature, Plants and Fungi, Underwater, Urban Wildlife, Planet Earth’s Landscapes and Environments, Black and White, Animals in Their Habitat, and Nature Photojournalism.
Scroll down to explore the 42 best photographs from the finalists and read our interview with the overall winner, Maruša Puhek.
Plants And Fungi, Bronze: The Colour Out Of Space By Irina Petrova
Underwater, Gold: Lenuk Tasi By Daniel Flormann
Behaviour Mammals, Bronze: Might As Well Jump By Donna Feledichuk
The winning photo beautifully captures both movement and stillness. We were curious to know Puhek’s thoughts on what makes a simple moment like this so powerful. Here’s what we found out: “I believe minimalism was key. Only the essential elements remained, showing what truly matters. The snow created perfect stillness, while the running deer added movement. The photograph primarily highlights contrasts—between enclosure and freedom, stillness and movement, life and death, as well as between vertical and horizontal elements in the composition. These opposites make the simplicity even more powerful.”
Behaviour Invertebrates, Gold: Powerless By Niki Colemont
Behaviour Amphibians And Reptiles, Gold: Mudskipping By Georgina Steytler
When asked about her dream scene—one she would love to capture anywhere in the world, with no limitations—Maruša responded: “That’s one hell of a question—it really made me think. My biggest dream was to capture the aurora, which I finally did last year. Since then, I haven’t had a specific nature scene in mind. I’ve realized that emotions excite me much more than places, and I tend to be drawn to the simplicity and rawness of the moment. I can’t imagine my perfect scene in advance, but I’ll definitely know it’s the one when I start editing it.”
Nature Photojournalism, Gold: Reclaim By Ael Kermarec
Animals In Their Habitat, Silver: Atchafalaya Dawn By Irene Amiet
Lastly, we asked the photographer about any upcoming projects or personal goals she’s excited about. The 2025 WNPA winner shared: “This recognition has been a huge motivation for me. It showed me that my work can compete internationally and that my perspective is unique. At the moment, my occupation is quite intense, leaving me little space for creativity. I feel like this award came at the right time to nudge me toward a path I would truly enjoy.”
Urban Wildlife, Silver: Critical Moment By Elizabeth Yicheng Shen
Behaviour Amphibians And Reptiles, Silver: She Who Dares By Jules-Oldroyd
