Åsmund Keilen, an acclaimed nature photographer from Norway, has won the prestigious Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 title. The competition, organized by Nature Talks, received a record-breaking 24,781 entries from photographers in over 96 countries.
Who Is the Nature Photographer of the Year 2025?
Sundance by Norwegian photographer Åsmund Keilen was selected as the overall winner of this year's competition.
Among the other winners, runners-up, and highly commended entries were some notable names from the world of nature photography. Pål Hermansen was recognized in the Mammals category and Nature Art category, Bence Máté excelled in the Other Animals category, and Sebastiaan van der Greef received accolades in the Black and White category.
Sit back and behold the overall winning photo together with many more astounding photographic masterpieces in the various categories by the other finalists. For each category, one of the judges explains why they selected a particular image as the winning entry.
Overall Winner & Winner in the Category Birds - Sundance by Åsmund Keilen (Norway)
Chairman Tin Man Lee explains why the judges selected this image of the bird against the glowing sun as the Category Winner in Birds:
”At first glance, this mesmerizing image appears to depict leaves adrift in a cosmic sky - but on closer look, each shape reveals itself as a bird in graceful flight. The photographer’s impeccable timing captured a single bird aligned against the glowing summer sun, transforming the scene into a breathtaking moment of stillness and motion intertwined. With its ethereal colors, perfect balance, and otherworldly atmosphere, the image evokes a dreamlike sense of wonder that feels both universal and timeless.”
Åsmund Keilen shares his story:
“The photo was taken just outside Oslo on a warm summer day. I was on my way to the store to buy groceries. I have a stubborn habit of leaving my coffee cup on the roof of our old Mercedes when I open the door. And then, more than once, I've forgotten it there and simply driven away.
That day, as I was backing out of the driveway, the cup fell over, miraculously remaining on the roof. A little discouraged, I reached out to pick it up. And then I suddenly envisioned the kind of photo I was about to take. Tiny orange birch seeds had fallen overnight on the blue roof of the car, and the summer sun reflected in them, alongside swifts dancing in the sky. Freedom seemed to take shape in chaos.
Using multiple exposures in the camera, I was able to recreate what my eyes saw and felt that day: an impression of a reflection - or perhaps a reflection of an impression.
As a photographer, I'm impulsive and never plan in advance what or how I'm going to photograph. For me, photography is a way to approach nature - a tool to sharpen the senses and observe with a free mind. I strive to capture the atmosphere of my encounters with nature. The slowness and stillness of nature are fundamental to my perception and are reflected in the images I create.”
Category Mammals - Polar Meal by Pål Hermansen (Norway)
Chairman Tin Man Lee explains why the jury chose this photo of a rare and powerful encounter between a polar bear and its formidable prey, a walrus:
“The composition draws the eye through bold diagonals and leading lines, balancing raw power with quiet contemplation in the predator's pose. Beyond its technical mastery, the photo delivers a haunting reminder of the harsh realities of Arctic life and the urgent need for polar bear conservation.”
Category Other Animals - Silent Scream by Bence Máté (Hungary)
Jury member Marlondag comments on the winning image in the Other Animals category:
"Through this powerful image of the strange interaction between two groups of animals in a battle for life that usually goes in the opposite direction, we discover a natural world that surprises us every day and where the predator-prey roles can be reversed in curious ways, with crabs devouring a tern chick alive, whose only option is to accept its cruel fate. Wildlife never ceases to amaze us."
Category Plants and Fungi - Inferno by Tobias Richter (Germany)
Jury member Kristel Schneider shares her thoughts on the winning image in the Plants and Fungi category:
“With wildfires becoming increasingly frequent and devastating, Inferno by Tobias Richter immediately struck us with its raw intensity. Blazing flames, glowing tree trunks, and drifting plumes of smoke, this photograph captures both the beauty and the horror of nature in crisis. I remember during the judging session how deeply this image impressed us all. The illuminated patches of fire, surrounded by charred, still-glowing trunks, create a haunting contrast. When you take a closer look, the true scale of destruction and the photographer’s ability to convey it becomes powerfully clear.”
Category Landscape - Time for a Drop by Alexander Hormann (Germany)
Jury member Kristel Schneider explains why this image has been selected as the Category Winner in the Landscape category:
“Time for a Drop by Alexander Hormann immediately stood out. Its mix of dark and light blue-grey tones creates a quiet, almost meditative atmosphere. The layered composition and subtle balance draw the viewer in, inviting a moment of pause and reflection. As the photographer himself described it, "a moment held in ice." The longer you look, the more the image reveals; faint shapes and textures begin to emerge, almost like imagined forms beneath the frozen surface. It’s an intimate landscape, fragile yet timeless, shaped by the photographer’s own creative vision, a fleeting moment that exists only for those who take the time to truly see.”
Category Underwater - Featherhome by Luis Arpa Toribio (Spain)
Chairman Tin Man Lee shares his insights on the winning image in the Underwater category:
“This mesmerizing underwater scene reveals nature's architecture at its most intricate and ethereal. The perfect symmetry and three-dimensional depth evoke the feeling of a futuristic city bathed in shimmering blue light. With its harmonious colors and delicate details, the image invites viewers into a magical, dreamlike world that few ever witness firsthand.”
Category Nature Art - Moose in Snow by Pål Hermansen (Norway)
Jury member Kristel Schneider shares her thoughts on the winning image in the Nature Art category:
“What a fantastic series of images we had to review in this category! The discussions were long and passionate, but Moose in Snow truly captured our collective attention. Using carefully placed infrared-triggered cameras, invisible to wildlife, Pål Hermansen combined technical precision with artistic vision. The result is an abstract yet deeply evocative vision, almost like a watercolour painting, where the moose’s silhouette emerges through the swirling snow. Nature itself adds the final brushstroke. The elegant form of a moose set against the purity of falling snow. A remarkable fusion of concept, technique, and subject.”
Category Human and Nature - Difficult Crossing by Xingchao Zhu (China)
Jury member Marlondag reveals why the winning image in the Human and Nature category was chosen:
"After a heated discussion at the judging table about the powerful images and stories in this category, this image stood out from the rest due to its attention to detail in the composition, the simplicity, clarity and depth of the moment that reflects our intense pressure and limits that we impose as humanity on wildlife and that affect their behavior and territories, even in spaces as wild as the habitat of this lynx."
Category Black and White - The Way of the Ridge by Sebastiaan van der Greef (Netherlands)
Jury member Amit Eshel explains why this image has been selected as the Category Winner in Black and White:
“It's an exceptional black and white image capturing a species rarely seen in such unique environmental settings. This photograph truly demands viewing at a large scale to appreciate the intricate details and special qualities it presents fully. The photographer made an excellent choice in using black and white, which effectively eliminates any distracting colors and allows the viewer to focus on the textures and contrasts.
The composition is masterfully executed, with a bold black diagonal line crossing the frame at its center, perfectly balanced by the Arctic Fox's position. Although the Arctic Fox appears quite small within the frame, it distinctly stands out against the rugged rock texture due to the striking contrast between its white fur and the darkly shaded rock ledge beneath it.”
Category Animal Portraits - Shared Wonder by Mary Schrader (USA)
Chairman Tin Man Lee shares his thoughts on the winning photo in the Animal Portraits category:
“A tender and poetic moment unfolds as a butterfly flutters gracefully beside a gorilla's face, its golden hues mirroring the warmth in the animal's eyes. The contrast between the fragile insect and the powerful primate evokes a delicate balance between strength and gentleness. This imaginative composition captures a fleeting instant of harmony.”
Category Nature of 'De Lage Landen' - Bike Tides by Sam Mannaerts (Belgium)
Jury member Amit Eshel comments on the winning image in the Nature of 'De Lage Landen' ('The Netherlands') category:
“An almost abstract drone shot that beautifully and harmoniously combines the contrasting textures and subtle colors of mud and snow with a delicate touch of red. The bicycles, so characteristic and emblematic of the area, serve as the focal anchor of the photograph, drawing the viewer's eye immediately toward them.
At the same time, they evoke curiosity and provoke thoughtful questions about their origin - how exactly they ended up there and whether they might be discarded trash that was carried away and left behind by the ebb and flow of the tide.”
Category Youth 10-17 years - Panning Bobcat by Leo Dale (USA)
Jury member Marlon Dag shares his thoughts on the winning image in the Youth category:
"This image surprised us with the execution of the technical control to create a stunning panning image of this bobcat, and above all, with the perfect timing of the connection of gazes, which made us feel invited to share its moment of successful hunting. A rarely seen mastery, surprising to come from such a young talent."
Leo himself comments about his contribution:
“I've been fortunate enough to spend dozens of hours in the field with bobcats along the California coast. As with any subject, there are certain highly improbable shots you dream of but never succeed in capturing. This photo, a sharp panning shot of a bobcat with prey, was one of those dreams.
Bobcats, unless stressed, don't usually move quickly, making panning shots difficult. They also don't often show their prey across large open areas. Furthermore, for a clear panning shot, the bobcat needs to be moving almost perpendicular to my camera lens, and I need to be able to follow the cat's movements perfectly.
So, when I managed to get into position with this bobcat on this overcast evening and all the details above went according to plan, I was thrilled.”
Category Fred Hazelhoff Award (Portfolio) - Flowerscapes by Theo Bosboom (Netherlands)
Jury member Amit Eshel explains why this portfolio was selected for the Fred Hazelhoff Award:
“A series of carefully composed photographs that offers an innovative and original perspective on the intricate plant world, immersing the viewer deeply among and beneath the flowers, as if seeing through the eyes of an insect. The unique perspective, delicate subtlety, and remarkable depth conveyed by these images evoke a strong desire in me to lie back peacefully in nature, surrounded by plants, and gaze up at the endless sky. The entire series is exceptionally meticulous and stylistically consistent, with the photographer's distinctive artistic fingerprint clearly visible in every single photograph.”
Jury Members
Members of this year’s judging panel include:
- Tin Man Lee (USA), Chair of the Judging Panel
- Kristel Schneider (The Netherlands/France)
- Amit Eshel (Israel)
- Marlon Dag (Peru)
Jury member Kristel Schneider reflects on the judging:
“Every photo competition brings its own challenges, and some categories spark more debate than others. This year, our discussions touched on impact, originality, and the very definition of nature photography. I’m delighted that many winners this year pushed boundaries - through creative vision, innovative technique, or the courage to show nature from a fresh perspective.”
All the category winners, runners-up, and highly commended photos can be found on the NPOTY website.
Supporting NGOs
With the NPOTY contest, Nature Talks also supports NGOs or other organizations that step forward in helping nature. This year's edition supports Photographers Against Wildlife Crime™.
Nature Talks Photo Festival 2025
The Nature Photographer of the Year competition is organized by Nature Talks, the organization behind the annual Nature Talks Photo Festival. Nature Talks is a comprehensive nature photography event featuring a wide range of genres, including macro, landscape, underwater, wildlife, and storytelling. In addition to inspiring and educational talks by world-class photographers, Nature Talks hosts live Q&A sessions and masterclasses.
The Nature Talks Photo Festival 2025 will take place on November 15th, 2025. During this event, visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite photo in the People's Choice Award.
Looking Forward to the Nature Photographer of the Year Contest 2026?
The entry period for the Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 edition will open on December 8th, 2025.
Header image by Syahdannugraha from Pixabay. Feature image by Åsmund Keilen / NPOTY 2025.
