“Kalsoy island and Kallur lighthouse in sunset light in the Faroe Islands.”

Photo: Wojciech Kruczynski/ 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

”Spain has many impressive landscapes and fascinating destinations, but one of the most amazing natural resorts are the salty pink lakes in Torrevieja. In this beautiful coastal resort you can find two beautiful salt lakes: A blue-green one called La Mata lagoon and the other, of an impressive pink color, known as Torrevieja lagoon. Both are connected to the sea by canals.”

Photo: Wellington Rodrigues/2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

”Football lovers live in Lofoten Islands, Norway. Shot was taken from a small plane.”

Photo: Stas Bartnikas/2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

”Dear future generation, I hope we will still be able to see the Arctic wildlife as we do now. It is threatened as the environment is changing. I was able to witness many scenes of wildlife and I can guarantee you this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Here, the polar bear might be interpreted as holding back the melting sea ice. Incredible and unique, this was shot six meters above a polar bear during wildlife reportage in Nunavut and Greenland during the summer of 2017.”

Photo: Florian Ledoux/2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

‘A supercell thunderstorm on the Kansas Plains appears to explode in all directions right before our eyes in May of this year. We were able to stay in position and photograph this storm for over 4 hours. We watched it become a supercell and we watched the supercell die. One of my favorite chase days to date.”

Photo: Ryan Wunsch/2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

”This photo was made in my hometown, Thiersee, a small village in the heart of the alps. I had to wait until Lake Thiersee, which is frozen all winter, began to melt in the spring. For just a few days you can see these natural patterns in the melting ice—but not without a drone. So I told my daughter to make a boat trip with her red kayak.”

Photo: Stefan Thaler/2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

‘This is one of my favorite photos of my favorite critter. Shot with a +25 magnifier, it really brings out the detail in this otherwise very small skeleton shrimp. It’s face is clear, it’s reddish eyes are visible, and the way it faces my camera with it’s arms wide makes it almost symmetrical. It’s clear color matches the hydra that it is living on. Plus the colors in the background really make this an interesting and beautiful photo.”

Photo: Adam Silverman/2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

”A ferruginous hawk surprises a prairie dog in Colorado.”

Photo: David M./2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year