The Nature Conservancy is proud to announce the winners by category of our 2021 contest. Check out the images that amazed our judges the most—and the winner of this year’s People’s Choice Award, selected by you!
Australian Grand Prize Winner
Hannah Le Leu, SA
@hannahmitchell_photography
![Hatchling swimming to the surface of the water.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/australia/aus-winner.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2508%2C1567&wid=640&hei=400&scl=3.91875)
Quote: Hannah Le Leu
Wow that is incredible! I really can’t believe I am the overall Australian winner! I am so honoured!
Global Grand Prize Winner
Anup Shah, United Kingdom
![Western lowland gorilla female 'Malui' walking through a cloud of butterflies she has disturbed in a bai. Bai Hokou, Dzanga Sangha Special Dense Forest Reserve, Central African Republic. December 2011.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/Grand_Prize_ANUP_SHAH.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Quote: Ben Folds
I like photos that keep dragging you in. The face. Tolerance or bliss. It’s really hard to tell and the insects draw you there.
Global People’s Choice Winner
Prathamesh Ghadekar, India
@prathamesh.ghadekar
![Just before Monsoon, these fireflies congregate in certain regions of India and on a few special trees like this one, they are in crazy quantity which can range in millions.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/p/e/Peoples_Choice_PRATHAMESH_GHADEKAR.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Australian, Landscape Winner
Global Honorable Mention, Landscape
Scott Portelli, NSW
@scott.portelli
![Aerial view of the Gulf of Carpentaria](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/australia/landscape-winner.jpg?crop=0%2C52%2C2508%2C1567&wid=640&hei=400&scl=3.91875)
Quote: Christian Fletcher
I loved this aerial photograph as it captures the amazingly complex tidal river systems typical of the north of the country. I love the way nature is able to thrive closer to the water source and how it struggles further from it.
Global First Place, Landscape
Daniel De Granville Manço, Brazil
@danieldegranville
![Carcass of a Pantanal alligator (Caiman yacare) in the dry soil on the banks of the Transpantaneira highway, municipality of Poconé (Mato Grosso).](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/l/a/Landscape_1_DANIEL_DE_GRANVILLE_MANCO.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Second Place, Landscape
Denis Ferreira Netto, Brazil
@denisfotos
![In a helicopter flight through the sea mountain range, I came across this white cloud cover, which resulted in this magnificent image that resembles the head of a dinosaur.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/l/a/Landscape_2_DENIS_FERREIRA_NETTO.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Third Place, Landscape
Jassen Todorov, United States
@jassensf
![If you have flown into San Francisco International Airport, you may have seen these colorful salt ponds over the bay. This aerial image was taken while flying my plane.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/l/a/Landscape_3_JASSEN_TODOROV.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2670%2C1773&wid=828&hei=550&scl=3.2246376811594204)
Global Honorable Mention, Landscape
Kim-pan Dennis Wong, Hong Kong
![At Hung Hom, the rising of full moon could be found every month thanks to its facing the east.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/l/a/Landscape_5_HM_KIM_PAN_and_DENNIS_WONG.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C3387%2C2250&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.090909090909091)
Australian, People and Nature Winner
Scott Portelli, NSW
@scott.portelli
![giant Australian cuttlefish (Sepia apama)](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/australia/peopleandnature-winner.jpg?crop=0%2C52%2C2508%2C1567&wid=640&hei=400&scl=3.91875)
Quote: Adrian Alford
I think all the elements flow so beautifully in this photograph, from the seaweed into the cuttlefish and the streams of light flowing down through the top of the water. A wonderfully composed image.
Global First Place, People and Nature
Alain Schroeder, Belgium
@alainschroeder
![The whole SOCP team works together to prepare Brenda, an estimated 3-month-old female orangutan (she has no teeth yet), for surgery.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/p/e/People_1_ALAIN_SCHROEDER.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Second Place, People and Nature
Tom Overall, Australia
@tom.overallphotos
Global Third Place, People and Nature
Sebnem Coskun, Turkey
![New danger to underwater life as medical waste used during the pandemic reaches the seas.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/p/e/People_3_SEBNEM_COSKUN.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Honorable Mention, People and Nature
Minqiang Lu, China
Global Honorable Mention, People and Nature
Wax Leung, Hong Kong
@waxismine
Australian, Water Winner
Lewis Burnett, WA
@huntingforparadise
![A manta ray gliding on the ocean floor](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/australia/water-winner.jpg?crop=0%2C52%2C2508%2C1567&wid=640&hei=400&scl=3.91875)
Quote: Sean Scott
I loved this image as the balance and composition was perfect. Using natural light and capturing the Manta Ray in perfect shape with the Remora and beautiful small fish just added that extra depth in both colour and contrast.
Global First Place, Water
Kazi Arifujjaman, Bangledesh
@kazi_arifujjaman_
Global Second Place, Water
Joram Mennes, Mexico
@jorammennesphotography
![Three levels of leisure: swimmers, freedivers and divers enjoy their respective sport/recreational activities in a Fresh Water mass know locally as the Cenotes.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/a/Water_2_JORAM_MENNES.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2479%2C1646&wid=828&hei=550&scl=2.993961352657005)
Global Third Place, Water
Man Wai Wong, Hong Kong
Global Honorable Mention, Water
Jorge Andrés Miraglia, Argentina
@yosoytato
![As temperatures rise and glacial ice melts, air is released and caught inside. This air bubbles were caught by a frozen layer on top.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/a/Water_4_HM_JORGE_ANDRES_MIRAGLIA.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C3000%2C1992&wid=828&hei=550&scl=3.6231884057971016)
Global Honorable Mention, Water
Manh Cuong Vu, Vietnam
![The lotus ponds across Vietnam are entering the growing season, flourishing.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/a/Water_5_HM_MANH_CUONG_VU.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Australian, Wildlife Winner
Harrison Warne, QLD
@harrisonwarnephotography
![dragon and hopper on a rock](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/australia/wildlife-winner.jpg?crop=0%2C52%2C2507%2C1566&wid=640&hei=400&scl=3.9171875)
Quote: Ben Goode
The simplicity of this photo was the first thing that stood out to me. The soft pastel colours and the abundance of negative space makes it so easy on the eye. The pose of the lizard and its soon to be prey is perfect.
Global First Place, Wildlife
Buddhilini de Soyza, Australia
@captures_by_buddhilini
![Five male cheetahs, were looking to cross this river in powerful currents. It seemed a task doomed to failure and we were delighted when they made it to the other side.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/i/Wildlife_1_BUDDHILINI_DESOYZA.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Second Place, Wildlife
Mateusz Piesiak, Poland
@mpwildlife
![This year due to a high water level a giant field of sunflowers could not been mown. In winter it attracted thousands of different species of birds.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/i/Wildlife_2_MATEUSZ_PIESIAK.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Third Place, Wildlife
Viktor Vrbovsky, Czech Republic
![Pike has caught a large perch. How did it end up? I don’t know. The situation hasn’t changed much in an hour. I had to emerge because I was running out of air.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/i/Wildlife_3_VIKTOR_VRBOVSKY.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Honorable Mention, Wildlife
Kristhian Castro, Colombia
@kristhiancastro
![Galapagos sea lion calf (Zalophus wollebaeki), waiting for its mother in the sand on the beach, San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/i/Wildlife_4_HM_KRISTHIAN_CASTRO.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C3200%2C2125&wid=828&hei=550&scl=3.864734299516908)
Global Honorable Mention, Wildlife
Thomas Vijayan, Canada
@thomasvijayan
![Orangutans are accustomed to live on trees and feed on wild fruits like lychees, mangosteens, and figs, and slurp water from holes in trees.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/w/i/Wildlife_5_HM_THOMAS_VIJAYAN.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2657&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.830917874396135)
Global Honorable Mention, Wildlife
Anup Shah, United Kingdom
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