• Curiosity by Mikhail Korostelev, Terrestrial Wildlife Winner, South Kamchatka Sanctuary, Russia.
    Curiosity by Mikhail Korostelev, Terrestrial Wildlife Winner, South Kamchatka Sanctuary, Russia.
  • Taking Center Stage by Audun Rikardsen, Grand Prize Winner, Tromsø, Norway.
    Taking Center Stage by Audun Rikardsen, Grand Prize Winner, Tromsø, Norway.
  • Clouds of Salt by Chiara Salvadori, Art of Nature Winner. Salar de Antofalla, Argentina.
    Clouds of Salt by Chiara Salvadori, Art of Nature Winner. Salar de Antofalla, Argentina.
  • Resilience by Julie Fletcher. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. In 2018, Australia experienced its third-hottest year on record—temperatures that, coupled with historic droughts, created prime conditions for bushfires. For slow-moving koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), the odds of surviving fast-burning blazes like these are slim. Which made photographer Julie Fletcher’s discovery on this day all the more surprising. Having set out to document the desolate, fire-ravaged forests on Kangaroo Island off South Australia, Fletcher watched as the determined koala, its fur tinged burnt sienna, climbed a tree and began to munch charred, crispy leaves. “He was watching me the whole time,” she says, “with an intensity that told the story."
    Resilience by Julie Fletcher. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. In 2018, Australia experienced its third-hottest year on record—temperatures that, coupled with historic droughts, created prime conditions for bushfires. For slow-moving koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), the odds of surviving fast-burning blazes like these are slim. Which made photographer Julie Fletcher’s discovery on this day all the more surprising. Having set out to document the desolate, fire-ravaged forests on Kangaroo Island off South Australia, Fletcher watched as the determined koala, its fur tinged burnt sienna, climbed a tree and began to munch charred, crispy leaves. “He was watching me the whole time,” she says, “with an intensity that told the story."
  • Sea Dragon by Pier Mané. Aquatic Life Winner, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
    Sea Dragon by Pier Mané. Aquatic Life Winner, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
  • Boneyard Waltz by Daniel Dietrich. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist, Kaktovic, Alaska.
    Boneyard Waltz by Daniel Dietrich. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist, Kaktovic, Alaska.
  • Bohemian Skirt by Jinggong Zhang. Aquatic Life Finalist, Anilao, Philippines.
    Bohemian Skirt by Jinggong Zhang. Aquatic Life Finalist, Anilao, Philippines.
  • The Human Touch by James Gifford, Human/Nature Winner, Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
    The Human Touch by James Gifford, Human/Nature Winner, Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Traveling to the Edge by Buddy Eleazer. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist. Namib-Naukluft Desert, Namibia.
    Traveling to the Edge by Buddy Eleazer. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist. Namib-Naukluft Desert, Namibia.
  • Losing Wings by Piotr Naskrecki, Winged Life Winner. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.
    Losing Wings by Piotr Naskrecki, Winged Life Winner. Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.
  • Duality by Armand Sarlangue, Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora Winner. Senja Island, Norway.
    Duality by Armand Sarlangue, Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora Winner. Senja Island, Norway.
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11 Winning images from the global BigPicture photography competition

22 May 2019
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The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco has announced the winners of this year’s BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition.

Over 6,500 photographic submissions were entered by world-class photographers representing 67 countries—all capturing captivating moments of life on Earth that inspire action to protect and sustain it.

Taking Center Stage by Audun Rikardsen, Grand Prize Winner, Tromsø, Norway.
Taking Center Stage by Audun Rikardsen, Grand Prize Winner, Tromsø, Norway.

This year’s Grand Prize image, titled “Black Grouse Showing Off” by photographer Audun Rikardsen of Tromsø, Norway, provides a glimpse at the showy display of a black grouse looking to impress female birds from atop his coastal lookout.

Rikardsen spent three years preparing for the shot, and while his original goal was to photograph majestic golden eagles, it was a happy coincidence that this charismatic grouse frequently returned and became comfortable in front of the camera. Rikardsen, who grew up in a small Norwegian fishing community, draws inspiration from his lifelong fascination with the Artic’s rugged landscape and wildlife.

"This year's Grand Prize winner is a stunning photo that combines technical skills and creative brilliance," says Suzi Eszterhas, BigPicture Jury Chair.

"Here, the photographer has managed to capture the grouse’s breeding display in a way that transports the viewer to the scene. It is a testament to how patience, dedication, and deeply knowing your subject can produce a remarkable image. In this case, Audun spent years trying to capture this photograph, and I am so grateful that he persevered, for it is truly a gift to us all."

Resilience by Julie Fletcher. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. In 2018, Australia experienced its third-hottest year on record—temperatures that, coupled with historic droughts, created prime conditions for bushfires. For slow-moving koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), the odds of surviving fast-burning blazes like these are slim. Which made photographer Julie Fletcher’s discovery on this day all the more surprising. Having set out to document the desolate, fire-ravaged forests on Kangaroo Island off South Australia, Fletcher watched as the determined koala, its fur tinged burnt sienna, climbed a tree and began to munch charred, crispy leaves. “He was watching me the whole time,” she says, “with an intensity that told the story.
Resilience by Julie Fletcher. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. In 2018, Australia experienced its third-hottest year on record—temperatures that, coupled with historic droughts, created prime conditions for bushfires. For slow-moving koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), the odds of surviving fast-burning blazes like these are slim. Which made photographer Julie Fletcher’s discovery on this day all the more surprising. Having set out to document the desolate, fire-ravaged forests on Kangaroo Island off South Australia, Fletcher watched as the determined koala, its fur tinged burnt sienna, climbed a tree and began to munch charred, crispy leaves. “He was watching me the whole time,” she says, “with an intensity that told the story."

Kangaroo island-based Photographer Julie Fletcher took out the Terrestrial Wildlife category with her image 'Resilience', showing a determined koala that had survived 2018's devastating forest fires on Kangaroo Island.

Awards include $12,000 in cash prizes and all 50 winning images will be featured in the annual BigPicture photography exhibit, set to open on July 26, 2019 at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

These images originally appeared on bioGraphic, an online magazine about science and sustainability and the official media sponsor for the California Academy of Sciences' BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition, and have been shared with permission.
 
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