Unseen Moments: 76 Stunning Wildlife Photos That Captivated the NPOTY People’s Choice Over the Years

I’ll never forget the moment I pressed the shutter. Right in front of me, a humpback whale suddenly shot up, its enormous mouth wide open. It swallowed an entire school of herring in one dramatic gulp. The scene unfolded north of the Arctic Circle in Norway during the winter. What makes the photo even more remarkable is the invisible teamwork behind it: a pod of orcas had spent minutes herding the fish into a tight ball, herding them with precision. And then, from the depths, the humpback whale suddenly appeared, taking advantage of the chaos to feed.

Through my lens, I captured not only the power of this moment but also the complexity of ocean life: a web of competition and cooperation, of survival and opportunity. It reminded me that every photo is more than a frozen image; it tells a story about connection, timing, and the fragile balance that sustains marine life.

The photo shows a young Adélie penguin in Antarctica in the final stages of molting. He’ll soon be jumping into the water and flying out. The photo was taken on the Antarctic Peninsula, south of Peterman Island. I saw a group of molting youngsters at the water’s edge, and they looked very interesting, especially this male with his hairdo.

During safaris, photography in the middle of the day is usually avoided because of the harsh light and the reduced activity of animals that tend to rest in the shade. But on this occasion, while relaxing after the morning drive, we noticed elephants visiting the waterhole only about 300 meters from our tents. Instead of letting the opportunity slip by, we asked our guide to take us closer by vehicle, so I could try for a tighter composition. My goal was to capture only the head, the trunk, and the spray of mud suspended in the air.

The subject was a solitary bull African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. In the late morning heat, he was fully engaged in his natural skincare routine, scooping up mud and flinging it across his massive body. To the eye, the mud seemed to fly in a random, chaotic pattern, but when frozen by the camera, it revealed unexpected and almost sculptural shapes. The elephant spent only a few minutes at the waterhole before continuing on his way, leaving us with a fleeting but powerful reminder of how even the simplest behaviors can become extraordinary when seen through the lens.

Emperor penguins, native to Antarctica, display remarkable family dynamics. These majestic birds engage in an intricate dance of cooperation and nurturing to ensure the survival of their chicks in the harsh polar environment. Both parents actively share the responsibilities of caring for their offspring, taking turns incubating eggs and braving the cold conditions to secure food. Parental care is crucial for the chicks’ survival, with each chick always being looked after by one of its parents.

Before capturing this image, I spent hours lying flat on the sea ice, allowing the penguins to become accustomed to my presence. Gradually, I began photographing them from different angles. This image is especially dear to me as it depicts the deep family love and affection between the penguins, highlighting the strong bond they share. In their synchronized warmth, these fluffy youngsters find comfort and strength in the heart of the frigid wilderness.”

The salmon migration is one of the greatest migrations on Earth. Every year, I have the opportunity to witness the salmon run and photograph it, and it’s always exciting. I had been photographing brown bears chasing after salmon for many years and was happy with the photos I was getting. However, I started to seek a new perspective beyond just eye level with the bears. Finding an area that could provide the shot I envisioned was challenging. I explored many locations where brown bears chase fish, but none of them offered the perspective I was looking for.

When I found this cliff, so close to the river, I was thrilled by the possibilities that vantage point could offer. However, salmon runs vary each year in terms of how many fish return and when they return, so you never know what the salmon run will be like until you arrive on location. With salmon runs dwindling in many parts of Alaska, I wasn’t sure if the type of shot I was hoping for would even be possible. But when the day finally came and all the elements aligned—the salmon at peak migration, a large return of fish, the weather, and a brown bear swimming by—it was an incredible moment. I was able to capture so many sockeye salmon swimming around the brown bear in the river as it tried to catch them!

Taken in Katmai National Park. Ursus arctos horribilis and Oncorhynchus nerka.

I took this image in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. This Ezo sika deer was the talk among photographers, and I also wanted to take pictures of him. I drove to the east and looked for this double-headed deer. It did not take much time to find him, and he walked towards me in a snowstorm. At first sight, I was shocked because this poor deer has to live through a harsh winter with a rotting skull locked in his antlers. At the same time, I was touched by his will to live. I don’t know if he is still alive or not. But I will never forget this encounter.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14