Featured Post

21 Stunning Photos from The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest 2019


The Wildlife Photographer of The Year contest is celebrating its 55th year. The prestigious competition attracts naturalists, and photographers alike and to be selected a winner is a prestigious crown of glory in the photography fraternity.  This year there have been some mesmerizing photographs and the winner was Yongqing Bao for an outstanding photograph of a spontaneous moment that was both terrifying and comical.  Take a look at 21 of the best wildlife photos of 2019.

1. The Moment" By Yongqing Bao, China, Behavior: Mammals, Grand Title Winner

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
This was the winner and the overall best wildlife photo of 2019. It showed a Himalayan Marmot just out of hibernation being suddenly attacked by a female Tibetan Fox who had three of her own hungry cubs to feed. The lightning reflexes of the photographer captured the moment with the fox baring its teeth and the marmot startled out of its wits.

2. "Bee Line" By Frank Deschandol, France, Behavior: Invertebrates, Highly Commended 2019

Frank Deschandol photographed these solitary bees as they buzzed in the long grass and preparing for suitable resting places. The females had built their nests for resting nearby.

3. "Lucky Break" By Jason Bantle, Canada, Urban Wildlife, Highly Commended 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
When a shy raccoon poked her head out of an abandoned car, it was a golden opportunity for photographer Jason Bantle. The raccoon and her five cubs had found a nice hideout to stay in that kept them hidden from predators.

4. "Land of the Eagle" By Audun Rikardsen, Norway, Behavior: Birds, Winner 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
This is a spectacular photograph taken from a camera trap set up by photographer Audun Rikardsen. It took him three years to get this photograph right when he captured  the power of the eagle flying to land with its outstretched talons.

5. "Portrait of a Mother" By Ingo Arndt, Germany, Animal Portraits, Highly Commended 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
When you are eye to eye with a puma, you are obviously going to get such a dramatic photograph. The photographer explained that it isn’t easy tracking big cats. It requires lugging heavy gear over long distances in extreme temperatures. The cats respected him enough to allow him such an intimate family portrait.

6. "Cool Drink" By Diana Rebman, USA, Behavior: Birds, Highly Commended 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
Diana Rebman braved temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius to get it's beautifully choreographed shot of long-tailed tits trying to peck at an icicle. Long-tailed tits live across Europe and Asia and in winter they nibble on snow and ice for water.

7. "Snow Landing" By Jérémie Villet, France, Rising Star Portfolio Award, Winner 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
This is a stunning bald eagle focused on its prey and landing on a snowy covered riverbank. Photographer Jeremie Villet took a week of observation to reach a good position for capturing the portrait. Almost 3000 bald eagles collect at Chilkat River in Alaska to feed on salmon.

8. "If Penguins Could Fly" Behavior: Mammals, Highly Commended 2019: By Eduardo Del Alamo, Spain,

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
A Gentoo penguin fleeing as a leopard seal suddenly jumps out of the water to attack it.

9. "Sky Hole" By Sven Začek, Estonia, Earth’s Environments, Highly Commended 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
This is a drone photograph that was taken directly above a small lake in Karula National Park in Estonia.

10. Big Cat and Dog Spat" By Peter Haygarth, UK, Behavior: Mammals, Highly Commended 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
Photographer Peter Haygarth captured an unusual spat between a lone cheetah and African wild dogs. Because they were in a group, their confidence grew to try and attack the cheetah but the cat fled soon after.

11. "Snow-Plateau Nomads" By Shangzhen Fan, China, Animals in Their Environment, Winner 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
A winning photograph of a herd of male chirus making its way to the warm area of the Kumukuli Desert. Antelopes are specialists in high altitude traveling and are found only on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

12. The Equal Match" By Ingo Arndt, Germany, Behavior: Mammals, Joint Winner 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
High drama unfolding in the wild with a puma attacking a guanaco who is terrified. This photo is the result of months of tracking wild pumas and bearing up extreme cold.

13. "Night Glow" By Cruz Erdmann, New Zealand, 11-14 Years Old, Grand Title Winner

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
This incredible shot was taken when the photographer was enjoying a night dive with his father. He spotted the pair of big fin reef squid in the shallow water and he instantly photographed it after adjusting his camera. Big Reef Squid are masters of camouflage and keep changing their body color and patterns through reflective and pigmented skin cells.

14. "Humming Surprise" By Thomas Easterbrook, UK, 10 Years and Under, Winner 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019

15. "Tapestry of Life" By Zorica Kovacevic, Serbia/USA, Plants, and Fungi, Winner 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019
This is one awesome photograph of a Monterey cypress tree with its arms twisting to create a surreal canopy festooned with orange and velvet.

16. "Cradle of Life" By Stefan Christmann, Germany, Wildlife Photographer Portfolio Award, Winner 2019

www.andrewalpin1.blogspot.com-wildlfe –photgrapher-of-the-year-2019

17. "Face of Deception" By Ripan Biswas, India, Animal Portraits, Winner 2019


Biswas found this crab spider mimicking a weaver ant whose colony it had infiltrated. Crab spiders usually do that for a quick meal. The photo was taken from a macro setting.

18. "Frozen Moment" By Jérémie Villet, France, Rising Star Portfolio Award, Winner 2019



19. "The Huddle" By Stefan Christmann, Germany, Wildlife Photographer Portfolio Award, Winner 2019


"Face of Deception" By Ripan Biswas, India, Animal Portraits, Winner 2019    Biswas found this crab spider mimicking a weaver ant whose colony it had infiltrated. Crab spiders usually do that for a quick meal. The photo was taken from a macro setting.

20. "The Albatross Cave" By Thomas P Peschak, Germany/South Africa, Animals In Their Environment, Highly Commended 2019



21. "Early Riser" By Riccardo Marchegiani, Italy, 15-17 Years Old, Winner 2019


"Face of Deception" By Ripan Biswas, India, Animal Portraits, Winner 2019    Biswas found this crab spider mimicking a weaver ant whose colony it had infiltrated. Crab spiders usually do that for a quick meal. The photo was taken from a macro setting.
A female gelada monkey carrying its baby and walking across cliffs at sunrise