BigPicture: Natural World Photography
Golden light bathes a monarch butterfly-cloaked forest. A school of tadpoles becomes a soaring squadron when seen from below. A long exposure transforms an Alaskan wolf into an ethereal specter.
Each of the winning images in the BigPicture: Natural World Photography exhibition enshrines a fleeting moment that might otherwise escape our attention. Visit the exhibition at the Academy to embark on a visual odyssey around the world, where the triumphs, tragedies, and textures of our planet are on dazzling display.
BigPicture: Natural World Photography is open daily through April 13, 2025. Find it in the Piazza.
This year's winners
2024's winning photographs were selected from more than 7,300 submissions from 70 countries. Visit BigPicture to learn more about the eight winning images and 40+ finalists from all seven competition categories.
The votes are in...
This year's competition included an all-new category: People's Choice. Nearly 5,000 total votes were cast for the 20 finalists, with Hunting Cape Gannet by Wayne Lai receiving the most votes. Congratulations, Wayne!
Beyond the captions
Visit bioGraphic, the Academy’s online magazine about nature, conservation, and regeneration, for a showcase of 11 winning images paired with captivating backstories about the science behind the scenes.
Above: Terrestrial Wildlife finalist A Moment in the Sun by Kathleen Borshanian
Eyes on the prize
Chaired by world-renowned wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas, BigPicture's esteemed panel of seven judges includes international photo editor Sophie Stafford and award-winning nature and conservation photographers Jahawi Bertolli, Sandesh Kadu, Karen Kasmauski, Jo-Anne McArthur, and Kiliii Yuya.
