15 Standouts from the 2017 Nat Geo Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

National Geographic invites photographers from around the world to enter the 2017 Nature Photographer of the Year contest. The grand-prize winner will receive $10,000 (USD), publication in National Geographic Magazine and a feature on National Geographic’s Instagram account, @natgeo.

Eligible contestants can visit natgeo.com/photocontest to submit photographs in any or all of four categories: Wildlife, Landscapes, Underwater and Aerials. The entry fee is $15 (USD) per photo, and there is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant. The contest entry period ends Friday, Nov. 17, at 12 p.m. EST.

Our friends at National Geographic were kind enough to let us share some of the notable entries from the contest. Enjoy!

Courage

Photo and caption by Adam Zaff / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

This photo was taken in amboseli, kenya. a group of hyenas were the aggressors in attempting to take on two female lionesses who they had sensed to be old or injured. The standoff lasted about 30 minutes, but in the end the hyenas were no match for the two lionesses who were able to get away unscathed.

Prairie Dancer

Photo and caption by Derek Burdeny / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Rotating supercell thunderstorm dances across the Kansas farmland

Rock Pool

Photo and caption by Todd Kennedy / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

A rock pool in sydney, Australia at high tide. Waves crash over the edge. a long swimmer is undeterred.

Don’t come any closer

Photo and caption by Marc Hornig / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Orange Anemonefish, (Amphiprion Sandaracinos) or most commonly referred to as “Nemo” to most was shot amongst this vibrant, iridescent and highly toxic anemone. This reef habitat was situated in the pristine waters of Sipadan Island, Sabah Borneo Malaysia.

Great Gray Owl

Photo and caption by Harry Collins / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

A great gray owl hunting rodents in a field in New Hampshire, US. This bird was a rare visitor to this area and was worth the 7 1/2 hour drive to see it. The owl was not baited or called and this photo is during a natural hunt. Baiting has become a hot topic recently and it is very unfortunate that many people do it for the sake of a photo. With these owls in particular if you are patient enough you will see them hunt. They are not shy nor very intimidated by people.

Over the lake

Photo and caption by Philip Chang / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

The picture was taken from a helicopter over lake natron. A flock of flamingos were flying over the lake.

Kamokuna ocean entry, November 2016

Photo and caption by Grant Kaye / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Lava flows into the ocean at sunset, kamokuna, Kalapana, hawaii

Rush Hour

Photo and caption by Wai Hoe Mok / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Isla del Coco, or Cocos Island is a National Park off the shore of Costa Rica. The marine ecosystem is locked in a time-capsule and everything is huge; from the underwater currents to the biodensity of marine life. In this photo, I encountered a 25 meter giant school of horse-eyed jack fish. As I approached, a predator must have spooked the school from the other side. The massive school suddenly swam towards me and before I knew it, I was engulfed in this storm of silvery fish.

Atlantic Puffin

Photo and caption by Harry Collins / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

An Atlantic Puffin on the remote nesting island of Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine.

Swimmer over the sleepers

Photo and caption by Franco Banfi / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Free diver swimming over a pod of sleeping sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, Vulnerable (IUCN). The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales. Sperm whales are known to dive as deep as 1,000 meters in search of squid to eat. Image has been shot in Dominica, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean. Photo taken under permit n°P 17-01/02 Fis-4.

Sword

Photo and caption by sanjeev bhor / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

This photograph is taken at Ecuador. It’s very difficult to take sharp photograph of hummingbird when the bird is in action. Light conditions was very bad and to get higher shutter speed I used higher ISO. The sword-billed hummingbird is the only species of bird with a bill longer than the rest of its body. This adaptation is to feed on flowers with long corollas such as Passiflora mixta. The tongue is therefore also unusually long.

Arctic Reflection

Photo and caption by Andro Loria / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

It is difficult to get a sense of purity and calm in our modern hectic world, unless you are in Arctic, watching icebergs floating by… reflection of an iceberg (about 100-120m tall), Scoresby Sound, Greenland ’17

Shy little cowry

Photo and caption by Kenny Lee / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Calpurnus verrucosus Little Cowry eating soft coral @ Pulau Weh, Indonesia

Lightning bridge

Photo and caption by Alexis Darden / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

Spectacular view of the Golden gate bridge during a rare bay area lightning and thunderstorm

Sunrise of maasia mara

Photo and caption by Jay ruan / National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

During month of AUGUST and SEPTEMBER, there are millions of WILD BEASTS, zebra, and other animal in Maasia mara game reserve. On this september morning, a wild beast eating glass intersected the sun coming out of the horizon, creating this image. It was one of the most beautiful sunrise i had seen so far.