National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year 2017 Editors’ Top Picks Of The Week 2

The 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest is now accepting submissions. We’re looking for spectacular pictures that tell the story of animals, lands, and environments around the world. The deadline to enter is November 17 at 12 p.m. EST.

This photo was made in my hometown, called Thiersee, a small village in the heart of the Alps (Tyrol, Austria). I had to wait till the lake thiersee, which is frozen all the wintertime, begins to melt in spring.Just for a few days you can see these natural patterns in the melting ice. But not without a drone. So I told my daughter to make a boat trip with her red kayak. Till now nobody in my hometown tell me how the patterns grow. (Because nobody know that they exist). (Photo and caption by Stefan Thaler/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

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My daughter and herbest friend on their backs in a clearing, just between planted fir forest and natural beech forest. (Photo and caption by Anders Andersson/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

This image was captured in lower Ice Lake Basin outside of Silverton, CO. The rain had come and gone a number of times throughout the trip. This was the scene that unfolded on the last evening. it was such a site to behold and a great way to end the trip. (Photo and caption by Jeff Stoddart/National Geographic Nature Photographer ofthe Year contest)

A male African lion teaches a lesson to a hyeena pack for trying to steal its kill. (Photo and caption by Aaron Baggenstos/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Bear from the water Kamchatka, Russia. (Photo and caption by Mike Korostelev/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Like mostseals the Australian Fur Seals are very inquisitive and playful. I was lucky to spend a couple of hours playing with this small colony of female seals until the bull male got tired of the lack of attention and made it clear I wasn’t welcome anymore. (Photo and caption by Richard Wylie/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Dear future generation, I hope we will still be able to see the Arctic wildlife as we do now. It is threatened as the environment is changing. I was able to witness many scenes of wildlife and I can guarantee you this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Here the polar bear might be interpreted as holding backthe sea ice melting. Incredible and unique shot 6 meters above a polar bear in Nunavut, Baffin area during wildlife reportage in Nunavut and Greenland during summer 2017. (Photo and caption by Florian Ledoux/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Every summer, a thousands of belugas come back in the shallow whater of Nunavut. They spend summer in estuaries, scratching their skins on the bottom. We can see them really close to the shore,in a turquoise water that make you feel you are not in the arctic. The photo was taken during a wildlife reportage in Nunavut and Greenland during summer 2017. (Photo and caption by Florian Ledoux/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

The image was taken from Hallstat Village in Austria right after sunrise. I had to walk some distance to reach this village view point. It was worth every step that I took as the scene turned out to be magical with the fog movement. Luckily the fog did not cover up the mountains. (Photo and caption by Shanof K./National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Great White Shark at Guadalupe Island, Mexico. (Photo and caption by Alejandro Cupi/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

We found them early one morning feasting on a new kill of a springbok. It was an intense sight to watch them feed -our close proximity to them gave usan opportunity to observe their relationship with one another. It was fascinating to watch the brothers intermittently embrace each other and lick the blood off each other’s faces while the mother kept guard. This photograph captures the harshness of the wild and yet softens us to witness the strong bond between the brothers. (Photo and caption by Sonalini Khetrapal/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Kalsoy island and Kallur lighthouse in sunset light, Faroe Islands. (Photo and caption by Wojciech Kruczyński/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Bongoyo Island, located just off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is a beautiful island that’s very common for people to visit for a day trip. Not only is it a wonderful, luxurious resort-feeling island featuring relaxing beach-side food and drink service, but it also harbors adventure and exploration. You can explore the “jungle-like” main part of the island and check out other beaches and discover the elusive “shark Lagoon.” (Photo and caption by Nick Johanson/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Spain has many impressive landscapes and fascinating destinations, but one of the most amazing natural resorts are the salty pink lakes in Torrevieja. In this beautiful coastal resort you can find two beautiful salt lakes: a blue-green one called La Mata lagoon and the other, of an impressive pink colour, known as Torrevieja lagoon; both connected to the sea by canals. (Photo and caption by Wellington Rodrigues/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

The young Whale Shark was swimming in the Gulf of Thailand at a popular dive site called Sail Rock near the island of Koh Pha Ngan. The brief encounter was was captured whilst diving the remote reef which the graceful giant was using as cleaning station, a sort of car wash for big fish. (Photo and caption by Dan CHARITY/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Great Gray Owl Taking Off in winter. (Photo and caption by Tin Sang Chan/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Went to the very north of Denmark, skagen, at sunrise and found this willing model. (Photo and caption by Lars Lykke/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Morning at Koruldi Lakes in Georgia (country). (Photo and caption by Witold Ziomek/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

A spectacular sunrise at the old man of storr, on the isle of Skye, Scotland. (Photo and caption by Neil Jackson/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)

Lilac Roller, Masaai Mara, Kenya, September 2017. (Photo and caption by NICHOLAS WILSON/National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest)