Two tigers enter the water gracefully—one a dominant male, the other an older female. Suddenly, in a test of reflexes, the female surprises the young one with a sudden attack. Splashing water and their lightening movements shatter the otherwise tranquil setting. It’s not a real confrontation—the mother is teaching her son how to fight, and the scene is forever captured through the lens of Indian photographer Mangesh Ratnakar Desai.
It’s the winning photograph in the 2024 Nature’s Best Photography International Awards, chosen from over 25,000 entries from 62 countries.
“Over the years, I have witnessed this young male tiger become more confident and assert dominance over his siblings,” Desai said in a press release. “His path toward independence as an adult starts with the challenge of learning to define and safeguard his territory. This image illustrates a pivotal life lesson as the mother teaches her cub how to fight, giving a masterclass in survival.”
The photo competition, organized by Nature’s Best Photography magazine, will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. The publication’s mission is to showcase the beauty, diversity, and significance of nature by engaging photographers of all skill levels and inspiring them to advocate for greater respect for the natural world.
The organization awarded the title Youth Photographer of the Year to 9-year-old Alberto Roman Gomez from Spain for his photo of a stonechat perched on a gate. He captured the image after noticing the bird diving to the ground repeatedly in pursuit of insects.
“One time the bird landed briefly on a fence, and I was able to take this photograph,” Roman Gomez said. “At this moment, it appeared to be guardian of the territory.”
One contest category, Conservation Story, invited photographers to submit multiple images that worked together to shape a narrative about preserving nature. The winner, Jaime Rojo from Spain, followed the monarch butterfly migration through Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Rojo’s photo essay highlighted the monarch butterfly’s importance as a long-distance migrant, environmental indicator, and flagship species within the pollinator family. He emphasizes that conservation actions aimed at protecting their habitat will benefit many other species. Rojo believes photography can play a key role in promoting conservation efforts.
“In a world flooded with beautiful but often manipulated images, documentary photography offers an honest glimpse into our planet’s reality,” he said.
Other categories include Art in Nature, Wildlife, Birds, Nature in Motion/Video, Outdoor Adventure, Landscapes, Animal Antics, Polar Passion, Conservation Single Image, and Ocean Views.
