2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest has released select images of finalists.
Now in its 53rd year, this year’s competition received almost 50,000 entries from 92 different countries. As a reward for capturing the unique beauty of wildlife, winners receive a trip to the London awards ceremony, as well cash prizes of up to £10,000 (about $13,000).
Finalists also get to participate in a travelling exhibition that tours galleries and museums around the world.
Here in this post, we look at some of the finalists from the 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest.
Swim gym by Laurent Ballesta (France). A mother introduces her pup to the icy water in east Antarctica in early spring. The pair slide effortlessly between the sheets of the frozen water. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Mammals. (Photo by Laurent Ballesta/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Arctic treasure by Sergey Gorshkov (Russia). An arctic fox carries its egg trophy from a raid on a snow goose nest and heads for a suitable burial spot. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits. (Photo by Sergey Gorshkov/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Sea angels are molluscs related to slugs and snails, with wing-like lobes used as swimming paddles. They are both male and female and here they prepare to insert their copulatory organs into each other to transfer sperm in synchrony. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Invertebrates. (Photo by Andrey Narchuk/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
The insiders by Qing Lin (China). Finalist 2017, Under Water. (Photo by Qing Lin/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Winter pause by Mats Andersson (Sweden). On a cold February morning, the red squirrel encapsulates the spirit of winter as it closes its eyes for a moment, paws together, fur fluffed, then resumes its search for food. Finalist 2017, Black and White. (Photo by Mats Andersson/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Saved but caged by Steve Winter (US). Finalist 2017, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single Image. (Photo by Steve Winter/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Bold eagle by Klaus Nigge (Germany). Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits. (Photo by Klaus Nigge/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Sewage surfer by Justin Hofman (US). The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single Image. (Photo by Justin Hofman/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Saguaro twist by Jack Dykinga (US). Plants and Fungi. (Photo by Jack Dykinga/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
After fishing for clams at low tide, a mother brown bear leads her spring cubs back across the beach to the nearby meadow. But one young cub wants to stay and play. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years. (Photo by Ashleigh Scully/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Glimpse of a lynx by Laura Albiac Vilas (Spain). Laura travelled to the Sierra de Andújar natural park in Spain in search of the lynx and struck lucky on her second day – a pair were relaxing not far from the road. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years. (Photo by Laura Albiac Vilas/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
The power of the matriarch by David Lloyd (New Zealand/UK). In Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve, a herd of elephants trekked to their evening waterhole. The mellow light from the fast-setting sun emphasised every wrinkle and hair. The female leading the herd looked straight at the photographer, her eye a glowing amber dot in the heavy folds of skin. Her gaze was full of respect and intelligence. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits. (Photo by David Lloyd/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
Tyohar watched the pair of resplendent quetzals for more than a week as they delivered fruits to their two chicks. Resplendent quetzals usually nest in thicker forest, but this pair had picked a tree in a partly logged area in the Costa Rican cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota. The additional light made it easier for Tyohar to catch the iridescent colour of the male’s dazzling emerald and crimson body plumage and tail streamers. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Birds. (Photo by Tyohar Kastiel/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)