25 Stunning Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust


Wildlife photography has a unique power—it connects us to the wild, stirs our emotions, and often sparks an intense desire to explore the natural world. In this collection of 25 stunning award-winning wildlife photos, you’ll witness the untamed beauty of animals captured in their most raw and breathtaking moments. These images not only celebrate the skill of world-class photographers but also highlight the awe-inspiring diversity of our planet.

From the icy grip of the Arctic where polar bears roam, to the lush rainforests echoing with the call of exotic birds, these photographs transport you to every corner of the globe. They showcase animals in their natural habitats—hunting, playing, nurturing, surviving—often in split-second moments that reveal deep emotion or majestic stillness.

Each photo in this selection has earned recognition in prestigious photography competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature’s Best Photography Awards, and National Geographic contests. But more than just awards, these images tell powerful stories. They speak of the delicate balance between predator and prey, the challenges of climate change, and the urgent need for conservation.

What makes these photos truly inspiring is their ability to awaken wanderlust—that deep longing to witness the wild with your own eyes. Whether it’s a lion’s piercing gaze on the African savanna or a humpback whale breaching in open waters, these scenes ignite a sense of adventure and admiration for nature’s grandeur.

So let these award-winning wildlife photos transport you to the heart of the wilderness. Let them fuel your dreams, spark your creativity, and remind you of the wild places still worth exploring—and protecting.

#1. British Wildlife Photography Awards, Overall Winner: “A Look to the Future” by Charlie Page

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#2. Wildlife People Choice Awards: “Holding On” By Igor Altuna

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#3. Kenya’s Maasai Mara Wildlife, Winner: “Hallelujah” by Preeti and Prashant Chacko

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#4. Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, Winner: Air Guitar Roo by Jason Moore

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#5. Wildlife Photographer of the Year, People’s Choice: Ice Bed by Nima Sarikhani

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#6. Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Winner: “The ancient mariner” by Laurent Ballesta

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#7. NBP International Awards, Highly Honored: Brown Bear and Salmon by Daniel D’Auria

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#8. NBP International Awards, Highly Honored: Brown Bear and Cub by Jennifer Smith

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#9. Fine Art Photography Awards, Winner: The Beauty Of Swans by Peter Čech

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#10. Fine Art Photography Awards, Professional Nominee: Fierce Fighting by Xingcan Chen

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#11. Sony World Photography Awards, Open Photographer Of The Year: Dinorah Graue Obscura, Mexico

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#12. Sony World Photography Awards, Shortlist: Pietro Formis, Italy

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#13. Sony World Photography Awards, Shortlist: Protap Shekhor Mohanto, Bangladesh

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#14. Fine Art Photography Awards, Nominee: Anger by Elizabeth Yicheng Shen

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#15. One Eyeland Photography Awards: Lars Beusker, Germany

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#16. One Eyeland Photography Awards: Monica L Corcuera, Mexico

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#17. Wildlife Photographer Of The Year: Fight to the death by Jasper Doest, the Netherlands

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#18. British Wildlife Photography Awards, Animal Portraits: Winner – “Sleeping With Dandelions” by Lewis Newman

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#19. Wildlife Photographer Of The Year People’s Choice Award: “A Golden Huddle” By Minqiang Lu

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#20. Wildlife Photographer Of The Year People’s Choice Award: “Caribbean Crèche” By Claudio Contreras Koob

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#21. European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Overall Winner: Maternal Care by Javier Aznar González de Rueda

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#22. European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Runner Up – Nest building by Solvin Zankl

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#23. Sony World Photography Awards: Shortlist: Charly Clérisse, France

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#24. Sony World Photography Awards: Shortlist: Jose Manuel Grandio, Spain

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

#25. Sony World Photography Awards: Shortlist: James Hunter, United States

 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust


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