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

I have a badger sett quite close to my house in St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, England, and I regularly see them foraging outside at night. During a hot summer, I started leaving my front door open to let some air into the house, and I was amazed to see a badger come into my porch for a sniff around while I was cooking one evening. Badgers have poor eyesight but an incredible sense of smell, so I presume it was the scent of my food that made it so curious.

I love badgers, and my partner gave me these slippers as a Christmas gift, which I had used to help keep the door open. I set up my camera with a wide-angle lens, a homemade motion sensor, and an extremely low-powered flash in case any badgers ever returned. I also left the light in my porch on and kept my front door open every night. For the next three weeks, I checked the camera every morning with no results until one day I woke up to find several images of this badger having a sniff around. I liked this image the most, as it looks like the badger is pausing with one paw raised near my slippers.

The photo was taken in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The filming was done from an ambush, where I observed two nearby clans of hippopotamuses. The territorial battle lasted 15 minutes.

It was an emotional and noisy scene, as the two clans fought fiercely. Hippos are most aggressive when protecting their young or defending territory, but this case was an exception. In this showdown, the young were ultimately the last to be involved. The males gave the babies a fair beating, but fortunately, all survived.

For several years now, I have been working on a photo project about raccoons with a friend. In this context, we also accompanied them on their forays into urban areas. Here they often use parked cars to hide underneath. We wanted to capture this behavior in the picture.

In this captivating photograph titled “Fierce Encounter”, the raw energy and intensity of the natural world come to life. At the heart of the image, two Red Fox kits, one sleek silver-colored and the other striking cinnamon-colored engage in a thrilling confrontation that evokes a sense of primal power.

The process of capturing this photograph involved immersing myself in the territory of the foxes, assuming the role of a nature photographer and respectfully blending into their natural habitat. On San Juan Island in the state of Washington, I spent several days studying the behavior patterns of the foxes as well as the surrounding area. Then, I selected a location where the foxes were frequently seen for shoot.

One day, I took my position amidst the island’s thickets and chose the best background and foreground for better results, patiently awaiting the appearance of the foxes. Finally, the moment arrived as the two fox kits engaged in their fierce encounter right before my eyes. Swiftly adjusting my camera settings, I aimed to capture the heightened expressions and intricate details of the foxes. Every movement presented a potentially singular opportunity, and I remained fully absorbed in capturing the essence of that fleeting moment, seeking the most authentic and vibrant composition. This process encompassed more than just technical challenges; it was a unique experience of merging with nature. I deeply felt the power of the natural world and the untamed allure of the foxes.

There are places in the world where nature still puts on a show. I’m talking about the Alentejo region in Portugal. Towards the beginning of April, the storks arrive to nest on the cliffs in the middle of the ocean, a unique event in the world. It took me several days to take this shot, waiting for the right light and the right waves.

I took this picture at a popular Sydney (New South Wales) dive site called “Bare Island”.

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