Wanderer

“Sandstorm on the singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Kazakhstan.”

Photograph: Alesya Osadchaya / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Hidden Gates

“An amazing floating iceberg with a beautiful arch, seen while sailing in western Greenland. One of the best days spent in the Arctic, with no wind and no clouds; almost still water allowed us to see great reflections.”

Photograph: Marek Biegalski / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Patterns of Glacial River

“Aerial view of the bridge and the Glacial River in Iceland. The ground-up rock from the mountain below the glacier mixes in the water giving it color that you see in this image.”

Photograph: Manish Mamtani / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Green Turtle and Sunset – Sea Turtle

“A green turtle going to breathe just after sunset.”

Photograph: Gaby Barathieu / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Dewy Dragonfly

“On a cool morning in August, I was out looking for insects and came across this very dew-covered wandering glider dragonfly. He was a captive model that gave me a fair amount of time to get some nice shots. I was in heaven!”

Photograph: Teri Zandi / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Fast Food

“After many hours with this mother fox, I gained her trust. I noticed her posture changed all of a sudden and in the blink of an eye she pounced into a hole and came out with a rabbit for her kits. As she left to deliver the food, she looked back at me as if to show off her catch—an amazing wildlife experience.”

Photograph: Shane Kalyn / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Lan Ha Bay

“Lan Ha Bay is in the largest of the 367 islands called Cát Bà, a part of Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam. There is a small floating village around Lan Ha Bay where people are living and farming fish.”

Photograph: Son Tong / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Hanuman

“A monkey flies across the top of a temple dedicated to the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman, near the ancient ruins of Hampi.”

Photograph: Par Parekh / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

Curious Calf

“It’s somewhat impossible to describe what it was like being in the water with humpback whales. It felt like it was just a dream and there were times, like when this calf swam directly towards me, the time seemed to slow. I could have sworn we made eye contact, and the curiosity emitting from this beautiful being was palpable. Maybe he was trying to figure out what we were. He must have been thinking: ‘What could these tiny creatures be that just descended into the water with me and my mom?”

Photograph: Daina Buchner / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year