BigPicture: Natural World Photography
A black bear emerges from the inky North Carolina night to investigate a well-lit back porch. A kelp plant succumbs to an urchin invasion. An orphaned baby wombat and a veterinary student relish a nose-to-nose nuzzle at a sanctuary outside Melbourne.
Each of the winning images in the BigPicture: Natural World Photography exhibition enshrines a fleeting moment that might otherwise escape our attention. Visit the exhibition at the Academy to embark on a visual odyssey around the world, where the triumphs, tragedies, and textures of our planet are on dazzling display.

Winners and finalists
This year’s winning photographs were selected from more than 7,300 submissions representing 58 countries. Head to the BigPicture website to view the winning images from all seven competition categories, learn about our initiatives, and subscribe to BigPicture news.
Above: “Livin' On The Edge” by Amit Eshel (Terrestrial Wildlife finalist)

Eyes on the prize
Chaired by world-renowned wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas, BigPicture's esteemed panel of seven judges includes international photo editor Sophie Stafford and award-winning nature and conservation photographers Diana Caballero Alvarado, Gunjan Menon, Susan Middleton, Cristina Mittermeier, and Ami Vitale.

Get the backstories
Visit bioGraphic, the Academy’s online magazine about nature, conservation, and regeneration, for a showcase of 10 winning images paired with captivating context about the science behind the scenes.
Above: “Stunning Cephalopod” by Heng Cai (Aquatic Life finalist)

A new BigPicture book!
Curated by BigPicture co-founder Rhonda Rubinstein and with a foreword by Sylvia Earle, Seeing It All: Women Photographers Expose Our Planet is a stunning collection of photography and essays highlighting the work of 11 remarkable female photographers—all award-winners and jurors of BigPicture.
BigPicture: Natural World Photography is open daily. Find it in the Piazza on the Main Floor.
